For many years skincare has been the sole preserve of the ladies. After all, men don’t need it, do they?

As I came downstairs to breakfast the other day, my wife stroked my cheek lovingly.

‘Your skin is so soft!’ she said almost wonderingly. ‘I really don’t know how you manage it!’

Now my wife is a dear, dear woman but she thinks that a soft skin is only achievable by using amounts of night cream, day cream, anti-wrinkle cream (not that she has any anyway!), protein cream and just about any other cream that the cosmetic companies can dream up.

She, like many other ladies, is convinced that many men have made a pact with the Prince of Darkness in return for facial skin that is not only soft but free from spots and blemishes. I will probably be marked for use as a bridge support filler or receive a nice pair of concrete overshoes from the League For Excessively Scratchy Chins for revealing the truth but I can contain myself no longer: men really do use skincare products!

There. I’ve said it. What a relief to finally ‘come out’ (about men’s skin, that is). The thing that is different about men’s facial skincare and that used by women is that men don’t pay anywhere near as much for theirs – and that’s because men do something to their faces every day that women never, ever do. They shave.

Now I know women shave their legs and sometimes other unmentionable bits. All we men know that. But they don’t do it every day. So why does that make a difference?

Oh, well, the cat’s out of the bag now so I may as well tell you everything. The act of shaving, when done daily, is an excellent exfoliant. A razor doesn’t only take away the stubble from the chins and cheeks of the average male, it also removes quite a few of the old dermal cells. This tends to leave our homely pans soft and smooth – especially if you use (as an increasing number of today’s guys do) a straight razor.

That’s the reason why – when we’re freshly planed off – the facial skin of your everyday male is as soft as a woman’s that has had enough cream on it to make a raspberry pavlova. The only problem is that it doesn’t last. Hence the tendency in recent years for an increasing number of guys to reach for the bottle.

The skincare-for-men bottle, that is. I’m not convinced that I am the first to have uttered this truth as to the original method of skincare for men – shaving – and doubtless the cosmetic companies’ intelligence task force has been keeping their ear well and truly stuck to the floor over the years. So what do we have now? You got it in one – cream for men.

Oh, they don’t call it ‘cream’. Far too girly. It’s called ‘rejuvenating facial cream’ or something equally crafty – it simply wouldn’t do to call it ‘day cream’ or ‘cool night cream’, would it? It’s done like this. After we men have carefully eradicated all traces of stubble, in proper manly fashion with some horribly sharp steel, we are smiled at from some webpage by an incredible hunk with biceps like footballs and a six-pack made of very large ballbearings who suggests that it would be a good idea to – moisturise our skin!

And do you know what the worst thing about it is? Yep. It works. Guess what I got for Christmas last year? Worse still, guess what I bought recently? Resistance, as has been said, was futile.

The male skincare culture steamroller is gathering momentum. We poor males, hapless victims of our own primitive but effective skincare method, have been sucked into mainstream skincare by forces we can hardly comprehend. What happened to the good old days when the only perfume men wore was good, honest sweat and we all changed our socks once a week even if they were reasonably pong-free? When boxer shorts were things boxers wore and after-shave lotion was considered only fit for wearing on a hot date?

Don’t know about you but I sure thank my lucky stars they’re firmly in the past! Now where’s my anti-aging wrinkle-destroying masculine protein emollient?

Steve Dempster is a recent and happy convert to modern men’s skincare and doesn’t mind anymore who knows it. Learn more here about shaving and skincare products for men.

Ever had the experience of walking into a room and felt faint from the smell? Just imagine, you will be in a suit or a gown, which is warmer than most of your outfits. There may be some dancing which will make people sweat. Add to it the smell of hundreds of colognes or perfumes and it can be overwhelming experience.

This rule applies to everyone present at your event, not just the wedding party: tone down the perfume. The target is to smell fresh and clean, not to overwhelm the guests with your smell. It is best if they can only detect your cologne if they are about ten inches away from you.

Clue: If people can smell you from across the room, you’ve put on too much cologne. If they can smell you coming long before they see you, yes, you’ve put on too much. If the empty elevator smells like you, you definitely reek!

Keep in mind:

- It pays to find a perfume that truly suits your body chemistry.

- Put the cologne or perfume on your pulse points using just a dab or two. No need to spray the way they do in commercials – we all know those are exaggerations.

- It’s best to put it on your skin not on your clothes. Some scents will stain your gown and that’s something to avoid. Worse, when your cologne evaporates it will leave only the smell of the alcohol.

- Choose a scent that blends well with your soap – it will be more appealing to your new spouse and guests; in fact, check if your favorite manufacturer created a complete line of grooming products. It’s a sure bet that their soap, cologne and any lotion or aftershave will match each other and blend to make you smell beautiful not overpowering.

Lesley-Ann Graham runs WeddingTrix.com – a valuable wedding planning resource with articles, tips and advice to help you plan your perfect wedding. Visit Lesley-Ann’s wedding blog for more free wedding planning help and advice.

Is your long distance relationship thriving…or just surviving? Are you madly in love with someone but cannot find a way to live in the same city? How do you support your relationship when you have very real physical distance between you?

I have seen couples fall apart because they could not sustain their relationship due to the distance between them, and I have seen others who find creative, romantic ways to keep the love alive. I know people who had a long distance relationship for years, complained about it, and finally got together in the same city, only to break up months after they lived near each other. Some people have long distance relationships and like it that way. And some couples don’t like the distance at all, but manage to still stay close.

How do they do that? Here are some of the challenges that exist when you have an out-of-town romance, and what you can do about it:

* Commitment

If you have just met, take care to spend enough time to truly know each other before you get in a committed relationship. There is no substitute for face-to-face communication. You need to meet each other’s friends, family, and co-workers. You need to experience good times and stressful ones together. Once you do, decide what your expectations are for your relationship. Be open and honest. How much commitment are you willing to give each other? This clarity is important to minimize misunderstanding.

* Trust

Once you can determine if you are both on the same level of investment in the relationship, trust and honesty become paramount to the success of your future. These elements are at the heart of all lasting unions, but distance challenges the security of your connection.

* Communication

Be dedicated to the way you stay in touch. Phone calls, emails, and chatting on-line are important. Set up a regular time to visit with each other, building a routine. But add some surprises such as, homemade videos, collected poems put in a special book, or self-decorated greeting cards. Stretch your imagination further with a lock of your hair in a unique box; an absorbent piece of cloth with your perfume or after-shave scent; your favorite flower, pressed and framed. If the other person does not call often, make time for you, or send appropriate communications, do not hang on. Let go and get on with your life.

* Plan your reunions.

Decide where to meet, how often, and how you want to spend the time when you see each other. Be very clear about what your expectations are for the time you have together. This is where many relationships break down. His idea of the perfect weekend could be sitting in front of the TV with her at his side, watching football. Hers could be visiting friends, attending a romantic movie, and later sharing secrets of the heart. He may expect her to cook his dinner; she may expect him to take her out. We all have old scripts that play out in new relationships, and unless we communicate what we want from each other, this is a recipe for misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

Finally, decide how long you want to live apart, and set a date for the move. It is true that when one of you moves to the other one’s town, you are taking a risk. However, most people say that even when it doesn’t work out, at least they gave love a chance. They didn’t want to spend their life longing to be somewhere else, continuing–a long distance relationship.

Visit http://www.tonjaweimer.com or http://www.singlesdatingtips.com for more tips, skills, and insight on dating, relationships, singles, and love. Subscribe to our F*ree Savvy Dating Newsletter from master single’s coach, life coach, and syndicated columnist, Tonja Weimer. Copyright 2006, Tonja Weimer. (Please note source if reprinting this article.)

One of the leading names in international fashion, Dolce&Gabbana was started in 1985 in Milan by Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

Specializing in high-end fashion, they maintain two main lines of clothing and accessories, which appeal to fundamentally different tastes – the stylish and fashionable Dolce&Gabbana and the more casual and informal D&G.

Their collection ranges from classy suits and dresses, underwear and lingerie to beachwear, sunglasses, leather and footwear to fragrances, jewelry and timepieces. They even carry corrective eyewear. The fashion house distributes its wide range of products in over 80 countries worldwide.

With fashion collections that have frequently garnered raves from fashion critics such as “devastatingly sexy” or “fetishistic and provocative”, they want to make blatant fashion statements.

Still and all, the aesthetic is remains characteristically Italian, which has drawn the loyal patronage of such big celebrities as Madonna, Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Isabella Rossellini, Kate Hudson and Eva Mendes, among others.

The two designers met in Milan in 1980, while working in a fashion design enterprise. Dolce, who grew up in Sicily, had studied fashion design and had worked in their family’s modest clothing factory.

Gabbana grew up in Milan and was trained as a graphic designer. They combined their unique creativity and started their own business in two years.

Now the huge fashion empire that they created employs over 2000 people and has 261 stores worldwide. Sales in 2006 topped $1 billion, establishing them in the same league as Giorgio Armani, Max Mara and Prada Group.

Notwithstanding this remarkable success story, they have not been free of controversy. In January 2007, the fashion house was roundly criticized Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for featuring models wielding knives in one of its advertising campaigns.

In February 2007, it was forced to withdraw advertisements in Paris and Madrid after consumers’ groups complained to authorities that one of its ads was illegal and humiliating to women.

Nonetheless, owing to its secure niche in the international fashion world, especially as it apparently gains strong acceptance among the young professionals in China, they will continue to make waves – and get raves – in the industry.

If you enjoy Dolce & Gabbana, visit http://sumostrawberry.com for discount Dolce & Gabbana Perfume and Dolce & Gabbana Sunglasses at great prices.

Most people have joined in the revolution of buying products online. Clothes, gifts and even food can be purchased online, yet there can be problems associated with purchasing some items on the internet. This is especially true if it is a new item such as a piece of clothing or a pair of shoes.

Perfumes online can prove problematic as well. While you can sniff the perfume of your choice at a department store, that cannot be done with an online purchase of a high price or discount perfume.

If you are buying your standard, tried and true perfume and cologne choices from an online store, then that is fine. But if you are buying new, untried women fragrances, then that is a bit risky. Buying perfumes online does not give you the luxury of testing out a new fragrance before you make that purchase. Sure a friend may wear the stuff all the time, but unless you give it a try you will not know how it will react on you.

So if you are buying a new perfume online, then this can be a risky. You have no real idea what it will smell like. The answer is to go to your local department store that features a perfume and cologne counter, and spray or dab a fragrance on your skin. Here is the trick: you are only going to be able to do this one at a time.

Most people make the mistake of smelling the cards and going from there. You need to actually spray your wrist and walk away for a bit. Let it have a chance to do its work. Do not make the mistake of going back and trying on a different scent that same day. Wear the one for the rest of the day.

Okay, so you have worn the perfume and you love the way it smells on you. However, if you have worn the fragrance and it does not seem to be sitting well, or seems to have a cloying feel about it, then go back and try a different scent until you find one you do like.

Then go ahead and buy your perfumes online. You may even want to try some designer fragrances. It is a great way to save a ton of money and will minimize the risk of having fifteen bottles of unused perfume sitting on a shelf.

Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our perfumes portal for more great information on perfumes online, and leave a comment at our fragrances blog.

The following are travel packing tips based on experience. I have gone to other countries for a month or more with nothing but a carry-on bag that weighed ten pounds. In fact, my number one travel tip is to go light whenever you can. The simplify of traveling light makes almost any trip more enjoyable.

Unfortunately, going with only carry-on luggage is getting more difficult due to the newest rules about what you can actually carry on a plane. If you do want to keep it to just one bag that goes with you on the plane, check the latest regulations and leave behind anything that isn’t allowed. It doesn’t add that much expense to a trip to just buy these things at your destination.

In fact, buying things as you go is a great way to simplify packing. Why bring twenty things just in case you need them, and then have to lug them around for the sake of the six you actually use? If it is a vacation in particular, why not plan just a little extra expense, and buy necessities as you travel? Many have found that this is more practical and relaxing than over-planning a trip and over-weighting the luggage.

Some Other Travel Packing Tips

- Jewelry and other valuables are usually not covered by the luggage insurance the airline provides. Pack these items in your carry-on bag.

- Silk shirts can be rolled carefully so they will wrinkle less in soft-sided luggage.

- To conserve space, buy low-bulk items for travel. A down coat, for example, will compress to a fourth of the size of other coats, and keep you just as warm.

- Lightweight travel pants, made of soft nylon derivatives are very light, tough, and pack small. They are often found where they sell outdoor gear, but some styles are dressy enough for use almost anywhere.

- To bring more in less space, set aside your thinnest socks, lightest clothes and smallest items for travel. A small hairbrush may work just as well as a large one, for example. You might get to bring many more potentially useful items, and still have a smaller bag in this way.

- If you buy a bulky gift for a family member or friend back home, you may want to send it to them instead of carrying it around for weeks while traveling.

- Don’t overstuff your luggage. remember that it may be opened and inspected, and the security officials may not know how to fit it all back in.

- Don’t pack important documents, like passports and identification, in your luggage. Carry these on your person, preferably in a security pouch or interior pocket.

- Be careful when packing shampoo, perfume, skin cream and other liquids. Plane cargo areas are often not pressurized fully, so the tops can pop off of bottles and other containers. For added safety, pack such items in a sealed ziplock bag.

- Carry a list of what is in your luggage, in case you need to file a claim for lost bags.

In addition to using the travel packing tips above, have a good packing routine. For example, start by considering every circumstance you may be in during your trip, and making a list of items you’ll need. Then, after packing, consider each item, and remove anything that really isn’t likely to be used – especially if it can be easily obtained at your destination.

Copyright Steve Gillman. For travel stories, tips and a free Travel Secrets Ebook, visit http://www.everythingabouttravel.com

Giorgio Armani is a popular menswear brand of clothing all over collection world. The fashion house is also a source of superior and signature apparel. Through the years, the label has been making Italy proud because the designer and founder of the company is a pure Italian by heart and by legacy.

Like many other fashion designers, Armani had humble beginnings. While young, he was confused and tried entering a few other professions. He got into medicine before shifting gears to pursue a career in photography, which did not work out. From there, he worked as a window dresser in an Italian department store before finally getting into fashion designing.

With his skills and sheer talent for styling and designing clothes, Armani was able to establish his own design house in 1974. Together with venture partner and friend Sergio Galeotti, he put up a company called Giorgio Armani SpA. Initially, the company carried all men’s wear. A year after, lines for women were also unveiled.

Taking the lead from other fashion designers, Armani developed and launched his own perfume line in 1982. As usual and typical of the brand, perfumes were originally targeted for the male population. Fragrances for women followed afterwards. Among the most famous of the brands perfumes are the Emporio, Acqua di Gio, Remix, and Attitude, all for men, while for women there are striking names like Sensi, Beyonce Knowles’ and Armani Le Perfum.

Such perfumes are well known around the world. Demand for the products has also been very high since the company has actively distributed them. After perfumes, many other personal products came from the Armani brand like sunglasses, shoes and even several business accessories.

It might be because of competition, but another characteristics that separates and distinguishes Giorgio Armani from the rest is his unusual dislike for fellow Italian designers Valentino and Gianni Versace. As much as possible, he has always been emphasizing that he do not want anything to do with the two designers.

Giorgio Armani is one of the most admirable designers of the current generation. People around the world should be proud and satisfied that they could still get the chance to wear designs and clothing from this wonderful brand.

Find Giorgio Armani perfumes and colognes at Perfume Center. Read more about Giorgio Armani perfumes

One such leading lady is Diane von Furstenberg (DVF), named President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2006, and well-known fashion designer. DVF began her legacy in 1970 with a thirty thousand dollar investment, and by 1973 was known for her revolutionary design of the “wrap dress,” which is on display in the Costume Institute section of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After several decades of successful businesses, to include a cosmetic line, publishing house, design and marketing studio and home-shopping venture – DVF has created a line of women’s high-end apparel, and was also The International Center in New York’s Award of Excellence recipient. With such a long and distinguished career DVF is truly a leading lady in the fashion industry.

Wielding the command to make or break designers is an awesome responsibility in the fashion industry, and there are those who are of the opinion that the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, has just such powers. Despite Vogue’s status as the top publication in prestige and circulation among fashion magazines, Wintour has chosen to use her powers for the positive and has brought the magazine to a broader audience by giving marriage tips and mentoring struggling designers. “I have always believed that it is important to understand Vogue’s mission in broad and socially responsible terms,” says Wintour, who has spearheaded several functions creating jobs and benefiting charities. To wield such power for the benefit of others is why she has been chosen as one of our leading ladies.

Another leading lady of fashion magazines is Linda Wells, Editor-in-Chief of Allure. While most fashion magazines highlight trend setting runway designs and beauty tips, this powerhouse editor, from Greenwich deals with the hard hitting issues that women face in this day and time. “We were the first women’s magazine ever to write about the dangers of breast implants,” Wells states. “We did the first story on models who were addicted to heroin.” This revolutionary approach for a women’s fashion magazine has sky rocketed Allure’s circulation to award winning status from the advertising and publishing community. With an impressive career legacy which include (just to name a few) editorial assistant at Vogue, beauty editor for The New York Times Magazine, guest appearances on Oprah and “Entertainment Tonight” – her leading lady status is not at all surprising.

Our next leading lady of fashion has a reputation for being unique and groundbreaking in her knowledge of fashion, and her approach as editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar. The notable Glenda Bailey, who also served as the editor of Marie Claire’s U.S. edition in 1996, after serving as the founding editor for eight years for the British Marie Claire in 1988, brought the magazine to such heights as to be awarded the status of Adweek’s Top 10 Hottest Magazines four years in a row. Along with three Magazine Editor of the Year Awards, five time winner of Magazine of the Year, and Amnesty International Awards winner twice, Bailey earned a fashion design degree from Kingston University in England. Awards of this magnitude are indicative of the formidable influence that this leading lady of fashion exhibits.

The last, legacy perfume certainly in no way least of our leading ladies of fashion is Fern Mallis, Senior VP of New York’s IMG Fashion, one of the leading fashion event planners. She has earned this position due to her reputation by serving as Executive Director in 1993 on the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and as the organizational genius behind the first “Fashion Week” which was known as 7th on Sixth at that time. With her ability to coordinate eighty temperamental top designers with her pleasant and calm personality along with her ability to handle the paparazzi; such multi-million dollar events such as the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York is in the capable hands of this high-powered fashion trend setter. Fashion Week in New York is a defining event in the fashion world, making this multi-million dollar extravaganza a feather in the cap of our phenomenal leading lady Fern Mallis.

Skyler Nelson
Fashion Questions and Answers
http://www.fashionqanda.com
877-STYL-411

Traditionally, brides were extremely limited in their sexy bridal sweater choices. Women were expected to legacy perfume demure and virginal on their wedding nights, and bridal lingerie choices reflected that innocence. Today, however, while supporting the wedding gown remains a key function, style choices have exploded. Provided here is a guide to new and daring sexy bridal lingerie.

Buy the Dress First

Keep in mind that your bridal lingerie should be matched to the wedding dress. Therefore, it is important to buy your gown first. When dress-shopping, it is easy to take along several styles of your regular lingerie. This will allow you to try on the gown over multiple alternatives, helping you to decide what works best under your particular dress.

When shopping for your sexy bridal lingerie, it would be impractical to take the wedding dress along. Instead, bring the pieces that you wore when you purchased the gown. Sometimes it is helpful to bring along photos of the gown, which can help you more accurately remember such details as neckline and waist cinching.

Buy Multiple Items

Even with photos, it can be difficult to know precisely how your wedding gown will look over a particular piece of sexy bridal lingerie. If you have any doubts, buy multiple styles of the same basic piece. Although it may be difficult or impossible to return lingerie, you are sure to find a use for the extras on your honeymoon.

Be Decadent

Today’s sexy bridal lingerie is daring and sensual. Remember that is the first lingerie your new husband will see after the wedding ceremony. Whether it is your first time together or you have been living together for years, daring lingerie is a great way to kick off the honeymoon. Look for barely-there thong panties, a see-through bustier or a plunging neckline on a sexy chemise.

Why Not Wear Black?

A white wedding dress need not mean demure white lingerie. Wedding gowns are heavy, impossible to see through. Therefore, give yourself and your groom a hidden secret with forbidden black sexy bridal lingerie. Share the secret with your man before the ceremony or let him be shocked later that night. The choice is yours.

Sexy, Supportive and Comfortable

In today’s lingerie market, it is possible to find bridal lingerie that is not only supportive enough to hold up the dress and sexy enough to make a splash on the wedding night, but also surprisingly comfortable. Look for pieces with soft, sensual linings. Boning and underwire should be carefully encased in soft padding to prevent chafing. Remember, no matter how good the lingerie looks, red welts and scratches are not sexy.

Don’t Forget the Honeymoon

While your sexy bridal lingerie is perhaps the most important, you will have an entire honeymoon full of opportunities to show off your body. Keep the wedding theme alive with a variety of bridal lingerie styles, or scrap them altogether for something a bit wild. Either way, your lingerie choices can help to ensure a honeymoon to remember.

Amanda Cotterill has been involved in the sexy bridal lingerie market for many years. This article outlines the benefits of choosing bridal lingerie as if that needed much explaining! Please include this credit if you use this article.

The fear of being turned down at shoes very first sight, only because of the formal outfits one sports, though unwillingly, at the date table, may soon get a sweet farewell.

The newly designed bi-functional dress will ensure that the tight schedule will not take any toll of one’s sweet evenings. Interestingly, it is a brainchild of famous networking site; DatingDirect.com

Much to the amazement, they have named it: “Work to Flirt dress.” As the name suggests, it is set to bring an end to the post-work hazardous run towards home to wear the sexy outfits suitable for dating.

Rather, some simple steps like : revealing the hidden buttons or tying extra strings to it will give it a much sensuous and different look.

This fashion innovation has provided enough relief to the working women, who are reluctant to go perfumes a date in formals. They are right too because a suitable and exciting dress can do wonders on the date tables.

A survey conducted by DatingDirect.com cites that more than 33% singles admitted to avoid their dates because they did not find their official apparel suitable for the dates.

A prospective dater, when it comes evening, can change her work dress into a fashionable and sexy apparel. She needs to do only things like opening up a reversible belt which will give a short split skirt.

Adding to it, this dress may provide some glimpses of the back of the wearer too. Wonderfully, it is claimed to be one of the best versions of two-in-one’s of any kind.

Also you can see a lot of fashion apparel here too.

To read more of my blogs, please click on ExploringFashion.