2. South Beach Miami
3. Dreamer Miami, Matcha/Acai Bowl/Juice Bar
4. Wynwood Walls
5. SLS Hotel, Hyde Beach
Honorable Mentions:Â Versace Mansion, Nobu, and Mr. Jones Nightclub
Whenever I watch a TED talk…BOOM! Inspiration hits me and out comes an article! Christina Dean is the founder of Redress. She cares so much about sustainability in the fashion industry that she was inspired to wear clothing picked out of a landfill for A YEAR. The outfits she found in dumpsters were perfectly good clothes, except for maybe a few spots. She found designer items that were in perfect shape, except for a missing button or a stain. So many things that are thrown away are repairable! She stresses the fact that landfills wouldn’t be so full of clothes if we loved our clothing more.
I thought, “How cool would it be to do what she did, but maybe just for a week and join the #LoveYourClothes movement?!” But then, I remembered that I did something like this once but with a much more special piece of clothing! In December, I volunteered at a wedding dress warehouse to sort through sample dresses that people could buy. Proceeds benefited Wish Upon a Wedding. WUAW is a nonprofit that gives terminally-ill brides the weddings of their dreams. I was overwhelmed at how many dresses there were in this full warehouse! My job was to sort through and literally THROW OUT gowns that would never sell because of rips or stains. At the end, we had dumpsters full of beautiful gowns. Us volunteers were heartbroken, so I decided to take home some of the gowns that I could still potentially get use out of. After looking at what I had taken, I realized that some of them were almost still perfectly fine. I wore one to a photoshoot, and might even wear it for my next pageant. It goes to show what putting a little TLC into your wardrobe can do. I included a photo of this dress that I brought back to life below!
Fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world, after oil. Fast fashion stores like H&M, Forever 21, and others cycle new clothes into their stores every 1-2 weeks. It doesn’t add up. How are they constantly making so many new clothes for so cheap? Workers in Bangladesh and India probably aren’t getting paid fairly for the constant work they are doing in polluting garment factories. I surveyed my followers on Instagram, and 70% of them consistently shop at fast fashion stores instead of investing in higher quality pieces. Instead, shop in stores like Everlane and Madewell that openly share their supply chain transparency. These brands are sustainable and ethical. Make the switch! Stop buying poorly made clothes that you’ll trash after a few wears, and invest in yourself and your style.
If you want to learn more about sustainability and how you can be a smarter consumer, watch this TED talk Youtube video, or watch “The True Cost” documentary on Netflix. I encourage you to join the #LoveYourClothes movement and bring a garment back to life, like Christina and I did!
This article is for all of my pageant girls and aspiring models!
Photoshoots can be overwhelming because there is so much to think about, like outfits, hair/makeup, posing, photographers, and preparation. Here are a few of my tricks that I’ve learned throughout my years of modeling and pageantry to make sure you get the best shots possible!
My #1 tip: Have photos you want to recreate. If you are not experienced with posing, having a few images that you want to recreate will help immensely to create your “vision.” I always find photos of celebrities or models that I love, so I bring a similar outfit and pose the way they did in the photo! Works every time for me, and I am always satisfied with the image.
Practice posing often with a photographer or friend. I shoot often with my friend David of DSW Photo in Cleveland, and I’ve become so comfortable with posing because of the practice and seeing how I look in images. Learn your own style and learn how YOU work the camera!
Get a spray tan a few days before, and bring lotion so you don’t look dry or ashy in photos. Unless you have naturally darker skin, you should consider getting a spray tan or using self tanner before your shoot so you don’t look washed out in photos. Make sure you shower at least once before your shoot so you don’t look orange! Also, make sure your nails are done.
Bring LOTS of outfit options. You may discover that a certain outfit you planned doesn’t photograph well, so bring a backup! DO NOT wear small, detailed patterns in your photos. These will not show up well and are very distracting, especially for a headshot. Solid colors are the way to go. Also, bring appropriate jewelry options (sparkly earrings, hoops, studs, etc!).
Ask to look at a few of your photos during the shoot. Some photographers don’t like to reveal your photos right away, but they are YOUR photos that you are paying for. Make sure that you don’t have a stray hair in your face or something silly!
Ask to use natural lighting if possible. Trust me, studio lights are awesome, but natural light beats them every time!
Ask your photographer about how they retouch or edit images. Its personal preference: some people like lots of retouching, others do not want themselves edited at all. Some photographers charge extra for certain types of retouching which may include: smoothing out flaws, skin retouching, teeth whitening, and hair editing.
Have a mirror nearby to check up on your hair/makeup and outfit every so often. You sometimes can’t tell if something is out of place, but when a mistake shows up in your photos, you will be very upset! This has happened to all of us, guaranteed!
Finally, make sure that you are getting the photos you want, and you should feel comfortable with your photographer. Remember that YOU are paying for these photos (unless the photographer is using you as a model to build his/her portfolio), so you need to be happy with the final images. Read reviews of the photographer and look at their past work. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
Safety tip: Make sure you are shooting somewhere safe, like a studio or in public, or else bring a friend/parent with you. Especially if you don’t know the photographer.
Below are some of my photos from past shoots. Photographers have very different styles, as you can see.
In the fashion industry, the new hot topic is of course, sustainability, which means avoiding the depletion of our natural resources to maintained a balanced ecosystem. You would not believe the amount of water, fabric, energy, and other resources it takes to make clothes. Especially with fast fashion stores like Forever 21, Zara, and H&M, we are constantly throwing out and buying clothes we don’t need.
So instead of throwing out your clothes, the logical thing to do is donate them, right? Well, of course this takes a little extra effort. But what if I told you that donating your clothes can benefit YOU? Brands are trying very hard now to be more sustainable, so they are incentivizing customers to come recycle clothes in ANY CONDITION their stores.
H&M: Recycle any clothes/fabric, receive a 15% off coupon
MAC: Recycle any 6 MAC packaged makeup items, receive a free MAC lipstick
Eileen Fisher: Recycle any clothes, for every item, receive $5 reward card
Levis: Recycle any clothing or shoes, receive 20% off any item
LUSH: Recycle any LUSH 5 packaging tubs, receive a free face mask
Madewell: Recycle an old pair of jeans, receive $20 off a new pair of jeans
Monki: Recycle any clothes/fabric, receive a voucher
Kiehls: Recycle any 10 full-size Kiehls container to receive 10 stamps, receive a free Kiehls travel item
The North Face: Recycle any clothes or shoes, receive a $10 off $100 or more coupon
& Other Stories: Recycle old beauty packaging and clothes, receive a 10% off purchase
So, keep a pile of recyclable clothes/fabric to bring shopping with you, and you will be rewarded! Cleaning your closet, saving money, and saving the environment all at the same time! Take advantage of these innovative programs!
Charlene and Hanna (my style bff/blog sis) here! We wanted to get together to show you some of our favorite fall and winter trends this season. We shopped all around Columbus’s local boutiques to see what was trending for cooler weather.
Items from Columbus stores:
CHUNKY ARMADILLO @chunkyarmadillo *Texas Glam*
JOLIE OCCASIONS @jolieoccasions *Feminine Chic*
VAMP OFFICIAL @vamp.official *Edgy Monochromatic*
FABRIK @fabrikeaston *Classic Luxury*
CHARLENE’S LOOK:
HANNA’S LOOK:
CHARLENE’S LOOK:
HANNA’S LOOK:
CHARLENE’S LOOK:
HANNA’S LOOK:
Check out more of our style! Follow Hanna (@runwayandrosefashion) and I (@firstaidphysique and @charlene_westfall) on Instagram.
All photos by David Wingate of DSW Photography
Today in my graduate class with Dr. Nancy Rudd, we discussed the risk of eating disorders and how to gain perspective. Most people know very basic facts about eating disorders, but I wanted to share even more that I learned that really opened my eyes and allowed me to gain more empathy for those with an ED.
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses associated with life threatening medical and psychiatric issues that can affect anyone, even children. The youngest person diagnosed with an ED was a 2 year old child. People with anorexia experience the highest fatality rates. But, over 60% of eating disorders are classified as EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) in a clinical setting. This means that behaviors do not fit a specific disorder. Some extreme behaviors that we discussed were mind-boggling, but very real. Eating cotton balls, cosmetics, and hair so as not to consume calories was one of them. Our professor even helped find treatment for a 14 year old girl (5’2″) that was down to 60 pounds, ate one apple, and did 200 stair climbs per day.
The highest risk sports for developing an eating disorder are gymnastics and swimming for women, and wrestling and gymnastics for men. Among others at risk sports are ballet, ice skating, cross-country, and track and field. But, one does not have to be underweight nor an athlete to be suffering from a life-threatening eating disorders.
A problem of treatment providers when treating patients with an ED is that they don’t know what to treat first. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa include the “nervosa” component in the name because it suggests an obsessive compulsive behavior associated with the eating and exercising practices. So, does a treatment provider treat the malnourishment first? Or the obsessive behavior, or the depression and anxiety? I never even knew that all these destructive behaviors were a part of an eating disorder.
In summary, ALL eating disorders are dangerous. There is also no “look” to an ED. Check out NEDA for more information or call the help hotline at 800-931-2237.
This is my list of the top ten most visually appealing and aesthetically pleasing fancy lipstick tubes/packaging. I love having gorgeous makeup…it makes it so much more fun and glamorous! They are arranged from most to least expensive! Happy scrolling!
Luxurious, high class, $90
History of Whoo Luxury Lipstick
Enchanted, glamorous, $35
Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Tint-In-BalmÂ
Elegant, customized, $34
Anna Sui Lipstick V: Vivid Star
Bold, structured, $30
Anna Sui Lipstick S: Sheer Flower
Artistic, romantic, $30
Pretty Vulgar Bury Them with a Smile Lipstick
Floral, feminine, $24
TOO FACED La Crème Mystical Effects Lipstick
Lively, playful, $22
Besame Cosmetics Classic Color Lipstick
Vintage, classic, $22
Whimsical, fresh, $14
Personal, nostalgic, $8
This .25 mm dermaroller for the face is sponsored by Linduray Skincare! This tool is SO affordable, less than $30 because Linduray is having a SALE right now! Click the above link to check it out. Many brands sell dermarollers, not just this website!
Before you ask, NO it is not painful because the needles are only .25 mm long! It feels more like a massage, if you are gentle and use the tool correctly. Obviously, don’t jam the needles into your skin or use it near your eyes…hoping that is self-explanatory!
Why should you dermaroll?! To…
It’s like microneedling in a way, but not nearly as expensive, you can do it at home, and it is less painful. However, you need to continually use the dermaroller to see results. I recommend a few times per week. Warning: it leaves your skin red for a few minutes!
As a reminder, always sanitize and disinfect your dermaroller with isopropyl alcohol before and after every use. Roll it on your clean face 4-8 times in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal directions. Wait 2 days before your next treatment to let your skin heal! Watch how to use in the video below. Ask me any questions in the comments 🙂
Metabolisms are like a black box that not even researchers can fully understand. Why can I eat a plate of fries and not be affected, but my friend has to count every calorie of them so as not to gain weight!?
Found a GREAT article on Vox.com that debunks some of the facts we think we know about metabolism. For example, when diet ads claim to “boost your metabolism,” they can’t really do that. Some food like coffee, chili, and spices can raise your metabolism for a very short time, but not enough to have a true effect on your body measurements. Click the link for the full article!
I just got back from Rio, Brazil for a study abroad music program with The Ohio State University. I wanted to do a little research on why so many models are Brazilian and about Brazilian beauty in general!
“The five most famous associations with the word ‘Brazil’ in no particular order are: Football, Carnival, Beaches, Samba, and Models” says B S Prakash, Indian Ambassador of Brazil
Watch the Victoria’s Secret fashion show and you’ll see Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Gisele Bundchen, and Lais Ribeiro…all Brazilian. Why? First, the gene pool of Brazil is uniquely diverse. After the Portuguese landed in Brazil in the 1500s, gold, rubber, sugar, and coffee were discovered, leading to mass waves of immigration. On top of the natives that were in Brazil before the Portuguese settled, Germans, Japanese, Italians, Polish, Russians, and African slaves created an extraordinary and eclectic gene pool. In the deep south of Brazil, Eastern European immigrants produced beautiful features like high cheekbones, blonde hair and blue eyes, and long slender frames. The caveat to this is that there is such a wide spectrum of facial and body features that there is no way to neatly categorize an average Brazilian.
Next, the body sculpting obsession has become an epidemic. With over 5,500 certified plastic surgeons, Brazil wins second place in countries with plastic surgeries, both for men and women. Known for his Brazilian butt lift, famous surgeon, Ivo Pitanguy, opened his plastic surgery clinic and institute to train many doctors. Sexualized women are even pressured to have perfect genitals. “Latin women live in a macho culture: he is the one who rules in the office, in the home, in the sex life. Now as women … we are leading at home and in jobs and we want to lead in our sex lives,” said Lina Triana, a Colombian plastic surgeon. Perceptions of beauty are even translated frequently through pornography. There is a uniquely Brazilian expectation to be physically perfect, and it is normal for people to work body sculpting into their budgets. Even Victoria’s Secret models have acknowledged their cosmetic surgeries.
Next, the Western world is a prominent influence on Brazil and its pop culture. For example, the FIFA cup for futbol and the 2016 Rio Olympics brought a lot of fame and attention to Brazil, which brought people and fashion influences from all over the modern world. This pop culture creates an atmosphere for commodification of beauty. Commodifying beauty means that it has value and equates to fame or money. Pageantry is also popular in Latin America and South America, which puts a competitive aspect and prize on being “beautiful.”
Though it is not a direct correlation, living in a warm and coastal city like Rio de Janeiro or Florianopolis gives more opportunities for being on the beach and therefore being more exposed. Being exposed and showing more skin causes people to be more self-conscious on how they present themselves to others. Walking along Copacabana or Ipanema, there are people of all ages working out and running down the beach. Thus, living in a tropical climate is more conducive and favorable to a fit lifestyle. However, it is interesting to note that beauty standards vary in certain parts of Brazil. For example, in Bahia, pregnant and fuller figured women are seen as beautiful because they are fertile and can harvest life. Bahian women also wear long and flowing dresses that are contradictory to the skin-tight outfits of Rio. But thin and muscular women in swimsuits are preferred in more urban places like Rio de Janeiro because it has more of a Western culture that favors smaller, more fit body types.
Carnaval is a celebration in Brazil with African and Portuguese influence that marks the start of Lent. Samba dancers parade through the Sambadrome wearing glamourous outfits that typically reveal lots of skin. The samba schools are in competition and therefore try to out-shine each other with their sexy and glitzy costumes. Samba dancers practice the entire year leading up to Carnaval and therefore are actively exercising almost year-round. Who wouldn’t want to show off a fit dancer body?
As stated before, Brazil has multiple fashion influences including the Brazilian climate, African culture, the indigenous and Amazonian people, and the Western world. Pair this eclectic mix of style with the gene pool and the pop culture of Brazil, and it makes sense why there are so many uniquely beautiful people in Brazil. I saw for myself just how many striking people were on the beach with really toned and thin proportions, which is favored in the modeling industry. Even in the music schools we visited, I saw tan skinned girls with luscious curly locks and bright green eyes. This combination of naturally radiant features is pure gold to the fashion industry. Therefore, there will be generations of models to come in Brazil!
First Aid Physique 