Sunday, September 7, 2008

Love is Everything

At the age of eighteen, Ashley Paige ventured out on what would be one of the greatest adventures of her lifetime. She left Florida with three suitcases, three-hundred dollars in her pocket, and a dream. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, she put herself through school. It was no easy task, but the tenacity and belief in her dream, allowed her to stay on the path toward becoming the innovative designer that she is today. She is known for her custom-knit bikinis, and the best part is, you don’t have to be a celebrity to own one!

The designs of Ashley Paige can be seen on celebrities and world-famous models on the pages of magazines such as, Vogue, Sports Illustrated and 944. Her designs are truly extraordinary and are in the closets of many A-list stars. The list of celebrity patrons includes Mariah Carey, the Hilton sisters, Carmen Electra, and Kim Kardashian, to name a few.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Tanya Hutchison, a Detroit native and mother of five, won TV Land's competition

Tanya Hutchison, a Detroit native and mother of five, won TV Land's competition this summer for middle-aged models on "She's Got the Look" with Kim Alexis.
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What contributed to her win, she says, is the confidence she developed while dealing with the reality show of her youth, growing up with a mother who struggled with drug abuse.

Tanya, who graduated from Western Michigan University, credits teachers and coaches at Highland Park High School for believing in her when she doubted herself.

At home: Tanya lives in Orange County, Calif., a mother to four sons and one daughter, ages 8-16. She met her husband of 18 years, Charles Hutchison, on a Valentine's Day blind date in Los Angeles.

Before TV Land: Tanya was a former Ebony Fashion Fair model. She also produced fashion shows, etiquette seminars and pageants and started a nonprofit called Phenomenal Women Inc. An essay she wrote -- "Never Ever Give Up" -- was published in "Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul."

What she won: She has a contract with the Wilhelmina Models and a spread in the August issue of Self magazine.

What it feels like: It's a sense of accomplishment," says Tanya, "just knowing that if you stay true to yourself and believe in yourself, the impossible can happen."

Beauty dos: "First thing in the morning, I wash my face and head to the gym. That stimulates my inner body and mind, and it makes me feel awesome."

Childhood obstacles: "People see me and think: 'She's had a charmed life,' " says Tanya. "I grew up in Detroit with a mother that was not very responsible. I was left alone, and my siblings and I were placed in foster care. I was legally adopted by my grandparents and was reared by them."

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Dollard swimsuit photographer and fashion models

The majority of fashion photographers born to a chilly climate fantasize about the moment in their careers when they can feel sand sift through their feet and a salty breeze blowing in the air. Dollard des Ormeaux’s Norm Edwards, a self taught, portrait photographer since 1999, is no stranger to capturing a turquoise landscape in panoramic view, with a sparingly clad supermodel, also in view.

On Aug. 25 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico he will be competing in the internationally recognized Ujena Bikini Jam 2008 contest, an event that unites 75 photographers with over 150 models from around the world.

Regardless of the eye candy factor, working with eight or more supermodels from six a.m. until 11 p.m. in Mexico isn’t just a laid back day at the beach, “You get up at sunrise, you shoot all day, its non-stop,” Edwards said. Contrary to what a lot of people think, when you’re working all day with them you don’t see them that way.

This year, Edwards has the added pressure of being the only Canadian photographer representing his nation at the Ujena jam. I am a bit disappointed there are not more photographers from Canada. I am proud to print the Canadian flag on all of my shirts.

But Edwards, established as he is in the realm of photography, is himself a relative newcomer to the industry, as well as to the West Island. Bikini models plays a good roll in fashion photography. His life reads like a racy novel; he ran away from his home in St. Jerome at the age of 16, moved to Vancouver where he joined the army and spent time in the Middle East, owned a business or two before finally settling down in the West Island with his wife, who is a family owner of the well known hip hop dance school, 8 Count, for love, marriage, and a lot of picture making. I’ve always been a fan of photography. Since I was a boy I owned every magazine from National Geographic to Playboy.

Monday, August 4, 2008

The gowns and garments on the catwalk at Hamilton's Founders Theatre

Models sashayed along, in makeup and high heels, but what adorned their bodies was far from expensive. Most items were sourced from rubbish bins, industrial and business waste and op shop finds.

And it was the designers who suffered for fashion, rather than the models.

Sara Devcich, who was runner up in the Avant-Garbage section, made a sexy evening gown out of eel skins. Devcich convinced the Eel Trading Company, in her hometown of Levin, to send her the left over skins.

"They stunk," Devcich told the judges. Over a period of weeks, she cured them out in the carport, rubbing them down with kerosene and baking soda.

"Our neighbour thought something had died in the bushes," said Devcich.

The finished result was worth all the nose holding, although last minute handstitching and tweaking meant the cured skins began to release odour during the judging that would have appealed to any stray cats in the area.

Entrants told of broken sewing needles, damaged irons covered with melted plastic bags, and digging through rubbish.

Alana Scott, who won the evening's Creative Award for her angelic mini skirt, six foot-long sweeping train and giant wings, also got dirty to impress the judges. The piece took approximately 27,000 white duck feathers and 500 hours to complete. Scott said the feathers, from a local duck farm, arrived "soggy, smelly and yellow," and had to be washed and dried before being turned into a stunning piece. Innovative ideas makes fashion modelling a place for creative designers.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

New pants of bikini fashion from Japan

Outrageously sexy bikini pants from Sanna's Brazil Fashion, a Japanese clothing company, blur the line between blue jeans and a string bikini. And you know what? I'm all right with that!

Low-riding blue jeans are a fashion trend that seems to have long legs - pun definitely intended. The only question is, how low can they go? Sanna's Brazil Fashion seems to have given us the answer with their new line of bikini pants that combine ultra low-cut blue jeans with an integrated string bikini bottom. The effect is stunning... super sexy yet extremely flattering, and without showing more skin than a normal bikini displays.

The eyebrow-raising, super sexy design is practical as well as provocative, as the bikini portion helps keep the pants securely hitched to the hips. From the rear, the bikini portion can also serve to mask another fashion trend whose 15 minutes expired some time ago: the trashy "tramp stamp" tattoo.

If you'd like to set a new model bikini fashion trend in your neighborhood - or get expelled/fired/ogled as the case may be, you can order the "bijini", to coin a phrase, at the Sanna's Brazil Fashion website. They're surprisingly inexpensive at just $88 plus shipping and are made in Brazil... to whom those who appreciate the female form now owe mucho gratitude! Many thanks also to Neil Duckett for the TV show images.

Friday, July 18, 2008

G Plus and Adidas Originals host a fashion show

G Plus and Adidas Originals host a fashion show model search. On July 10 (and also July 17 &24), a professional photographer will take a picture of YOU (photo booth at the main entrance of club G plus).

All the pictures of the candidates will be sent to Adidas headquarter. On July the 31st, the marketing Director of Adidas Originals China will announce 10 winers to take part of the Summer 2008 Adidas originals fashion models show on August. But more importantly there's drink specials: free selected cocktails for ladies from 10pm until midnight. No cover. Hip hop on the system. July 10: Music: R&B, HIP HOP Dress

Fashion models as smart entrepreneurs

Fashion models almost always have pretty faces and beautiful physique. Their asset is their bodies and they earn good income out of it just by walking on the catwalk and posing for the covers of top magazines and commercial labels. However, would you believe that many of the most famous models we have today are also successful businesswomen?

Our famous fashion models are smart entrepreneurs.

Heidi Klum has her own line of jewelry collection as well as a skin-care line. Aside from hosting the famous reality series, Project Runway, she also works as its executive producer.

Kate Moss owns the clothing label Topshop and the fragrance line Coty.

Tyra Banks has her Bankable Productions which owns 25 percent of the high-rating reality show, America's Next Top Model, syndicated to more than 100 countries worldwide.

Cindy Crawford is a successful furniture designer.

Marisa Miller takes partnership with shoe brand Vans as a designer.

Kathy Ireland owns Kathy Ireland Worldwide – a successful company that produces a collection of socks and other home design and apparel.

Iman established her own cosmetic company, I-Iman Cosmetics.

Jennifer Flavin Stallone owns a skin-care company later established Seriesse, a direct-sale company of wellness products.

And of course our very own Hilary Rowland become a successful web entrepreneur from being an international top model.