en-us We take a look at the pieces that'll work as part of a pared-down sporty wardrobe.


Acne Wesley  top, $160, www.acnestudios.com


Christopher Shannon tasseled shorts, $254, www.oki-ni.com


Christopher Shannon KIDDA paisley tank, $84, www.asos.com


Lanvin sweatpants, $495, www.mrporter.com


Topman letterman sweatshirt, $55, www.topman.com



]]> http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1143287--sports-apparel-has-shaken-off-the-social-stigma Wed, 16 May 2012 16:40:45 -0400 RICHARD PECKETT, METRO WORLD NEWS LONDON http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1143287--sports-apparel-has-shaken-off-the-social-stigma
This collection, available today in stores and online, is part of Macy's "A Magical Journey to Brasil" campaign, which enlists a variety of designers to celebrate the country's vibrant culture. Ten percent of sales from these collections will benefit the Amazon rainforest. We spoke to Costa about how he captured his native Brazil with these looks.

Which elements of your home country did you want to  evoke with this collection?

Architecture, for me, is the most important thing. I have great love for architecture, and Brazilian architecture really signified a lot for me growing up ... [such as] the gorgeous sunset over the [Niteroi Contemporary Art] Museum, which is basically cement and steel -- very basic elements. That's my color palette: the sunset colors over the cool cement, and the white and black and gray.

The cool colors and minimalism probably aren't what people usually associate with Brazil.

Well, it is very festive -- and very sophisticated. There is a tremendous sophistication in Brazilian architecture and art. I think there's a misconception of Brazil as Carnival. The stereotypical Brazil is great, but there's a love of sophistication there that is represented through my designs, through the fabrication, colors and wearability.

Are there any major differences in Brazilian and American style?

Brazilian women are very sensuous. Maybe there's a little more sensuality in the way they present themselves -- a little less puritan, maybe. ... There's an easiness about the culture, the weather, what have you -- the less fussy, the better. There's a level of confidence in Brazilian women -- and they're not all the same, you know, it's not all perfect bodies. They're not all Gisele [Bundchen], but they're all confident, which is really nice.


$160



$135


$155 ]]> http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1143141--francisco-costa-s-new-line-is-more-calvin-than-carnival Tue, 15 May 2012 16:34:06 -0400 REBECCA FINKEL, NEW YORK http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1143141--francisco-costa-s-new-line-is-more-calvin-than-carnival
An added bonus to buying golf gifts for that special lady in your life is that you're working within a familiar universe. Not to generalize (OK, I guess to generalize), but my guess is that if you're a guy shopping for Mother's Day, you're going feel a tad more in your element browsing the ladies clubs at Golf Galaxy or picking our shoes at Golfsmith than you would be looking for that elusive purse or the perfect perfume.

Even if you think you'll just wander in and pick up a pink version of something you use, think twice. There are a lot of options out there, but I've boiled down a list of gift ideas ranging from the extravagant to the whimsical. These items have crossed my desk in recent months and should all prove to be a real hit for Mother's Day.





Annika Academy
Golf Instruction, Orlando, Fla.
From $1,900 up to $9,245
Is this an extra special Mother's Day? Maybe the new baby's been keeping her up through the nightfor months? Or maybe the last of the kids has gone off to college? Did you just get a nice bonus and want to say thanks like never before? If you want to indulge her, how about a few days at Annika Sorenstam's golf school in Orlando? Whether mom's looking to take her game to the next level, has always wanted to learn to play the game or simply wants a few days away to play some golf, pick up a few pointers and unwind, an Annika Academy package is perfect.

The options range from the Players Package — three days of group instruction and golf ($1,900) — up to the Soren-Slam Package ($9,245) that includes lunch and a clinic with Annika herself, as well as playing nine holes with the LPGA legend. All attendees will get a true Annika experience as the academy features many of Sorenstam's closest confidants, including her swing coach, fitness instructor and even her sister, LPGA player Charlotta Sorenstam.





Adams Women’s Idea a12 OS Integrated Sets
Golf Equipment
$899.99 
If mom’s just taking up golf or if her equipment needs to be replaced, these integrated sets have everything to make the game all the easier, and more enjoyable, to play. Designed specifically for women, with chic patterns and an abundance of pockets, the 14-piece Idea a12 OS Integrated Sets merges the award-winning Idea a12 OS hybrid irons, fairway woods, driver and putter with a stylish cart bag and matching head covers. All sets are available in jade, onyx, sandstone and sapphire (pictured), and with the newly introduced sterling.





Callaway Solaire II 14-Piece Set
Golf Equipment
$899
Elegance meets performance with the new Solaire II 14-Piece Set, which is built for  women golfers to achieve ideal distance separation between clubs, promoting confidence to play from anywhere on the course. The set consists of an all-titanium driver, three stainless steel fairway woods, three hybrids, two irons, three wedges, a mallet putter and a versatile cart bag. Through years of research  with women golfers, Callaway has created an "Energy Efficient" design that optimizes every element of a golf club to maximize performance for a woman’s swing. The end result is higher ball flights, longer distance, better accuracy and improved forgiveness.



Fila Golf Outfit
Women's Apparel
$80
Go from the playground to the first tee in this adorable, sporty Malaga Skort (available in silver/atomic orange, white/pine green & Fila navy/viva red, shown). And, pair it with the ever-classic, nautical-inspired Marseille Striped Shirt, which has a look that’s great for the course or a cruise (available in Fila navy/viva red, and white/pine green, shown).

Both pieces will keep mom cool, not to mention cute, with their moisture-wicking technical properties. All Fila Golf tops are available in sizes XS through XXL and bottoms in sizes 0 through 14, with lengths hitting right above the knee. Free shipping is available on any purchases more than $100 from ShopFilaGolf.com.




adidas W adicross
Golf Shoes
$80
The sporty style of adidas makes the W adicross the perfect golf shoe for Mom, whether on the course or while running around for the day. These spikeless shoes offer all the grip and traction needed while playing, but offer great versatility and comfort. The full-grain leather upper provides a a rich look and feel as well as a two-year waterproof warranty. Available in three colorways, there will be a W adicross that's perfect for your lucky lady.



Callaway Solaire Sunglasses
Eyewear
$130
Callaway offers three models of shades, all perfect for on the course or away from it. All three feature NEOX lenses, which are engineered to adjust to the decreased depth of field caused by most sunglasses. The result is the sharpest and most accurate vision available for mom while she's enjoying a day on the links. These lenses will allow her to see the angles and lines with greater sharpness and accuracy than with any other non-prescription pair of sunglasses. Neox lenses block 100% of harmful UV radiation.





Tin Cup Fore the Ladies Package
Golf Ball Marking Stencil
$30 
Help mom make her mark on the fairway with Fore The Ladies from Tin Cup. Whether flamingos, a martini glass or one of the nearly 100 designs, the golf ball marking stencil package lets you pick the Tin Cup that matches her personality perfectly. Tin Cup packages come with a leather pouch, a black clip and two pen colors. For help with her game, select marks also can be used as alignment/game improvement tools. 





Showing Love with AB Golf Designs
Driver head cover
$25
She’ll be able to show off your love at every hole with the “Think Pink” heart head cover, which fits all clubs from the big 460cc driver down to the fairway woods. The pink ribbon on the base of the contrasting green sock keeps breast cancer awareness at the forefront, and a portion of sales proceeds goes to the Maurer Foundation, a charitable organization dedicating to breast health education. ]]> http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1142698--mother-s-day-golf-gifts-these-picks-are-sure-to-please-any-golfing-mom Wed, 09 May 2012 20:12:18 -0400 RON VARRIAL, NEW YORK http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1142698--mother-s-day-golf-gifts-these-picks-are-sure-to-please-any-golfing-mom
Police said they responded to a call at 1:30 p.m. EDT to a residence in Los Angeles and on arrival confirmed that Vidal Sassoon was deceased.

"It was of apparent natural causes and there is no crime scene," Los Angeles police spokesman Kevin Maiberger said in a statement. "When the officers arrived there were family members at the residence."

Sassoon, who was born in London and whose scissors spelled the end of the beehive and the bouffant hair styles of the 1950s, earned international fame and fortune with groundbreaking styles including the "bob."

He went from being a stylist in the salon to licensing his name for hair design products that were sold around the world, earning him millions of dollars.

Sassoon was reported last year to have been suffering from leukemia. ]]> http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1142654--celebrity-stylist-vidal-sassoon-dead-at-84 Wed, 09 May 2012 16:30:14 -0400 REUTERS http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1142654--celebrity-stylist-vidal-sassoon-dead-at-84 The trends
   

1. High impact nails
   
Thakoon for Nars limited edition nail polishes inspired by the designer’s spring 2012 collection,
$18 each, www.narscosmetics.com


2. Earth tone skin
Hard Candy Glow Away Bronzer and Highlighter Duo, $6, www.walmart.com


3. Bold,statement pout
Sisley-Paris Hydrating Long-Lasting Lipstick, $55, www.neimanmarcus.com
  

4. Clean canvas
Tatcha Polished Rice Enzyme Powder, $65, www.tatcha.com


5. Rosy cheeks
MAC Reel Sexy blush in Pink Cult, $20, www.maccosmetics.com

]]> http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1142551--5-spring-beauty-essentials Tue, 08 May 2012 17:18:15 -0400 TINA CHADHA, NEW YORK http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1142551--5-spring-beauty-essentials
The main event is the red carpet — period.

This year’s gala celebrated "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations," a new exhibit around an imaginary back and forth between the two design luminaries.  But it was another improbable conversation that was blowing our minds: It seems like a group call was made by attendees to discuss outfits the night before.

A majority of stars appeared in similar looks. Gowns came either metallic and floor length, sleek and fitted with low backs, or black and textured. And if they dared to go with color, the choices were yellow or red.

On the beauty front, the major trends were: deep plum lips, sleek ponytails, and 1940s Hollywood glam. We take a look at some standouts.



Karolina Kurkova in a Rachel Zoe gold gown looked like a quirky old fashion bird from the 60s. The best kind of fashionista. 


Love this dress or hate it, it's amazing how fearless Beyonce is when it comes to fashion. Just a few months after delivering baby Blue Ivy she struts in this lacy sheer Givenchy Haute Couture gown.


Not to be outdone by Beyonce, Marc Jacobs also went with a sheer lace Comme des Garcons number.



Lana Del Rey in Altuzarra looked dark and brooding — to match her cape, perhaps.



Every year there's someone that opts for pants over a traditional gown. Apparently, Coco Rocha bought her yellow vintage Givenchy suit at the Liz Taylor auction. Her pink hair is a nod to Schiaparelli's trademark color. We think she looks adorable.



The Devil wears Prada — ha! It was too easy. Co-chair Anna Wintour wore a white gown with an embellished lobster by the designer of the hour— natch.



Florence Welch looks like a dandelion in her Alexander McQueen gown. We kinda just want to see her twirl.



Kate Bosworth in Prada worked another another major trend: the roaring '20s.



We like Kirsten Stewart's Balenciaga look for say, a nightclub, not the Met Gala.



Rihanna in sleek Tom Ford.


Hot Betty's back! January Jones wakes us up in a bright yellow Versace gown.



On the one hand, we applaud Tom Brady for taking a fashion risk and changing up his look — but on the other, that hair is just weird.  He's lucky the lady on his arm always kills it on the red carpet. Gisele Bundchen in beaded Givenchy Haute Couture.



From her hair to the emerald color of her Carolina Herrera gown, Dianna Agron looked pretty perfect.



Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake look happy in love. Their Prada (her) and Tom Ford (him) ensembles are icing on a soon-to-be wedding cake.



Jessica Alba was one of the many stars who channeled Old Hollywood glam. Dressed in a one-shoulder lame´ Michael Kors gown, she made screen sirens of the past proud.



Yeah, Amy Poehler! Funny ladies can do fashion. The actress in Fontini.



Mary Kate Olsen, fashion samurai, you went too far in this dress by The Row. ]]> http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1142439--photos-2012-met-gala-red-carpet-hits-and-misses Mon, 07 May 2012 20:59:04 -0400 TINA CHADHA, NEW YORK http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1142439--photos-2012-met-gala-red-carpet-hits-and-misses
Tip:

You don't have to expose your entire stomach area or be a model with perfectly sculpted abs to rock this trend. The real girl way to pulling off one of these tops is to pair them with a high waist. That way you're just revealing a hint of skin for a look that's sophisticated and playful.

Get the look
   

1. Mara Hoffman embroidered bustier top, $207, www.marahoffman.com
   

2. Guess 30th Anniversary Capsule Collection Claudia Corset, $98, www.guess.com
   

3. Top Shop neoprene crop bralet, $32, www.topshop.com
   

4. H&M bustier $25, www.hm.com ]]> http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1142403--bare-your-belly-this-season-it-s-in-style Mon, 07 May 2012 18:36:16 -0400 TINA CHADHA, NEW YORK http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1142403--bare-your-belly-this-season-it-s-in-style
He's standing over an intimidating pile of autographed cycling jerseys given to him by world famous champions (Smith is a longtime racing fan). That pile sits next to leaning towers of art and fashion books, numbering in the hundreds, which are in turn surrounded by walls of bookshelves filled with everything from biographies and novels to toys, cameras, soccer balls and works of photography. Limited edition bicycles and rare works of art ("this is nothing, I've got Banksys, Bruce Webers and Giacomettis in the basement downstairs") round it all out.

In short, Smith is a man who likes to be surrounded by a lot of different things. He's got a nutty professorial quality to him -- only cooler, like the badass teacher from sophomore year at college whose classes have long wait lists. For example, he created stamps for the Olympics ("it's a geeky world") that have since been collected by the queen of England, the Tate museum and David Cameron. Hardly geeky. 

"I think you can tell from this office that my head is full of curiosity," he says. "In the same way, all aspects of my collections are different and fun. Paul Smith is like a cocktail of many ingredients that are very intriguing to people," he adds, once again playing things down a bit. His brand is actually more like a jumbo smoothie -- his building houses a total of 180 employees who design 26 collections a year across his 14 lines. Those numbers would make the average person's eyes glaze over. During our time together, Smith greets every person he comes across by name, with a personal anecdote to boot. He seems to operate best as a multitasker. "It's great for business because there's something for everybody," he says.

Smith on ...

The suit: "I think of the wardrobe as a picture frame.  So a suit or a coat can be like a picture frame. You need these staples. And the rest is about what you sprinkle in it, the picture you put inside it."
   
His work process: "I used to design everything myself. Now my job is like a stylist, like starting a collection off by saying I feel like this is the mood. I want this collection to have more color or be more bohemian. And then I work with them all on the fabric
selection and colors."
  
London fashion: "It would be so much more sensible for me to show in Paris [Fashion Week] where there are more buyers and press. But I stay in London out of loyalty. It's important for brands like myself and Burberry to be in London so that we can bring the buyers and the press and in turn help the younger designers like Jonathan Saunders and Christopher Kane."
  ]]> http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1141922--paul-smith-guides-us-through-his-madcap-world-of-fashion Tue, 01 May 2012 17:27:55 -0400 KENYA HUNT, METRO WORLD NEWS LONDON http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1141922--paul-smith-guides-us-through-his-madcap-world-of-fashion
"Stars made it acceptable,"?says Robert Tateossian, whose eponymous global jewelry line is helping to  fuel the trend. He recalls the Live Strong charity band craze, which made the idea of arm adornment more acceptable.

The retail world may be slow to catch on. "A lot of retail buyers around the world still stick to their credo of 'men do not wear bracelets,'"?he admits.  But he's seen his sales increase between 10 to 20 percent over the past few years. We round up four of the most popular styles at the moment.


Eddie Borgo two-cone hardware bracelet, $350, www.eddieborgo.com


Robert Tateossian  Cubo Ibiza bracelet, $150-$250, www.tateossian.com


Luis Morais drum cross bracelet, $435, www.aloharag.com


MIANSAI utility rope with hook, $90, www.mrporter.com

]]> http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1141801--embrace-the-man-bracelet Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:47:53 -0400 RICHARD PECKETT, METRO WORLD NEWS LONDON http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1141801--embrace-the-man-bracelet When did you first become conscious of the environment and our impact on it?

For a couple of decades I've been really upset about the problem of climate change, and I couldn't bear the idea that we're still cutting down the rainforests. I just couldn't believe that the statistics were getting worse, not better. And then I read an interview with James Lovelock. He is a genius, the scientist who launched the "Gaia" Theory. Gaia is the name the Greeks gave to the earth goddess. James Lovelock thinks we are too late to stop climate change and that by the end of this century there will be only 1 billion people left. Fortunately!?The consensus among almost all scientists is that we have [until] 2020 to do something -- eight more years. And it's important for Americans to know that the [people who deny that climate change exists] are few, but they are well-funded and well-publicized.

Do you consider yourself an environmental activist??

A name I prefer is freedom fighter. I've got a voice because I've got a lot of credibility as a fashion designer. So I have been using my fashion for the last five or so years as a medium. I use slogans and graphics in lots of my designs. I also give my fashion shows titles related to saving the planet or climate change like, "Plus Five Degrees." Plus five degrees is uninhabitable, it looks good on a T-shirt and promotes awareness.

What would you say to people who view your fight to save the planet and reduce consumption from the helm of a global fashion empire as contradictory?

My aim is quality not quantity. Timeless clothes that last, for people who make choices and don't just consume. For people who can't afford my clothes, I hope to provide a standard of good design -- which will help them to choose clothes that will suit them.

What are some changes that you've made in your own life to live in a more sustainable, ecologically minded way?

I ride a bicycle for convenience and I'm a person who doesn't like to waste things. I never waste food, for example. I also don't eat meat. I'm a very privileged person living in this part of the world so I can make choices, and my preferred food really is just fruit and vegetables. You don't need other food. This is optimum health. Once you get into it, nothing else tastes so good.

Tips for living sustainably

Buy less "Buy less, choose well and make it last. I really do think that people should exercise choice and not just consume without thought -- sucking up stuff all the time, one thing after another."
   
Go to art galleries "The art lover is not consuming. He invests in the present world by engaging with the genius of the past. 'You get out what you put in' is my motto."
   
Read "The best fashion accessory is a book."
  
Prepare your own food "Buying and preparing your own food is to engage with the world. It gives you a sense of reality."
   
D.I.Y. "Wear a piece of beautiful fabric, borrow stuff from your friends and style it in with your own clothes." ]]> http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1141692--vivienne-westwood-uses-fashion-to-save-the-planet Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:50:12 -0400 KENYA HUNT, METRO WORLD NEWS LONDON http://www.metro.us/boston/life/article/1141692--vivienne-westwood-uses-fashion-to-save-the-planet