LilSugar

Texts and Tunes: How to Hold a Pencil

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 08:00:30 PST

Before putting a pencil in your lil one's hand, take a look at how you hold your own. Do you hold it too close to the tip, or too far up the top? Perfecting the "tripod grip" requires some practice and if not taught properly, it affects lil ones' writing abilities.

Megan Hirsch's How to Hold a Pencil ($8) is a visual guide to teaching tots the proper writing utensil technique. Packed with large photos and simple instructions, writing newbies will quickly learn to pinch their pencil and then support it with another finger. Diagrammed images show both correct and incorrect form, giving kids models to copy as they perfect their own grip. In a world where tykes are learning to type before they write, it's nice to know that your child will at least know how to hold their pencil when their technology fails them.

Simple or Swank: Wooden Colored Pencils

LilSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:00:08 PDT

I've learned simple arts and crafts projects can delight my children more than any fancy toys or videos. Color pencils are a superb tool for aspiring artists who have graduated from crayon use, but haven't started reading and writing yet. They are sturdy and allow lil ones to get used to the feeling of holding a pencil or pen for future handwriting, but will help create pretty pictures.

Simple: Derwent Studio Colored Pencils ($36 for 36) are an inexpensive alternative to the chunky set. The art supply staples will allow your tots to experiment with color without you worrying about them losing a pencil.
Swank: Twig Crayons ($150 for 60) were once featured in Vogue, but they are a bit pricey for art time unless your little one is a mini René Magritte. Despite their name, they are in fact, very fancy colored pencils.

Preen Fall 2012

Hannah Weil — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:34:05 PST

Drawing inspiration from Victorian-era scrapbooks and abstract expressionists, Preen's Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi crafted a set of clean, cool silhouettes washed in bold color, florals, and collage-like prints for Fall '12. It's a cool-girl juxtaposition that plays out in this collection - minimalist separates dressed up in textured, overlapping prints and sequins create an almost literal scrapbook effect on dresses and tops. Still, it all works flawlessly - while some collections feel disjointed, there's no sense of losing the theme here or feeling disconnected. There isn't a look that doesn't speak to the overarching palette, structure, or playful printing, giving the whole collection a cohesiveness and effortlessness. Even in botanicals, sequins, flirty lace, and peplum, each piece carries with it an underlying ease - shapes are simple, sporty, even, with drawstrings on pencil skirts and color-contrasted collars and sleeves to counter the intricacies of every embellished cuff or printed silhouette.

Trends: Florals, graphic print, peplum, lace, sequins; textured, overlapping prints.
Colors: Camel, navy, white, red, black, and soft pink and moss-green florals.
Key Piece: The white fur coat with orange cuffs; the navy lace peplum knit.
Accessories: Neutral and floral-printed platform lace-ups.
Who Would Wear It: The modern sophisticate with an eye for clean lines and cool-girl flair; Kate Bosworth, Jaime King, and Rachel Bilson.

See Catherine Malandrino's Fierce Fall 2012 Collection

FabSugar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:00:38 PST

Catherine Malandrino's Fall 2012 collection was inspired by the 1982 version of Cat People, an erotic horror film - which explains why sexy silhouettes dominated. Bustier jackets, electric pencil skirts, and bright, hip-hugging dresses were equal parts chic and fiercely seductive. Take a look at her entire collection here!

Derek Lam Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:40:59 PST

Derek Lam's runway show today at St. John's center was worth the freezing trek through wind tunnels. For Fall, Lam mixed his ladylike style with a sportif twist melding chic separates with a menswear twist. Pretty ivory floral satin bomber jackets were paired with pencil skirts and finished off with eye-catching cap-toe ankle boots and metallic loafers. Additionally, there were sharp metallic suit sets, quirky collars, and pleated wide-leg cropped trousers made in wool, leather, and, for a glitzy touch, sequins. Lam's effortless style was also translated into a beautiful array of ivory and black languid silk gowns paired with textural cable-knit sweaters. For outerwear, the designer melded luxury and sport, creating puff jackets and vests adorned with fur collars. More details from Lam's feminine cool collection below.

Trends: Wide-leg cropped trousers, floral print, bomber jackets, side-slit details.
Colors: Maroon, black, ivory, dark mustard yellow, gray.
Key Piece: We loved the ivory cable-knit sweater layered over the fluid silk dress - gorgeous!
Accessories: Cap-toe leather booties, metallic loafers, floral booties, floral bags.
Who Would Wear It: Fashion-forward celebs like Diane Kruger and Kirsten Dunst.

Tibi Fall 2012

Hannah Weil — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:37:16 PST

Delivering pretty bird prints and slick metallics with polish and restraint, Tibi's Amy Smilovic offered an understated, menswear-inspired take on Fall '12. Complete with cropped trousers and boxy boyfriend coats, Smilovic zeroed in on a borrowed-from-the-boys style with womanly wearability. Proportions were done just right, as were the designer's bird prints that felt more sophisticated than playful paired with a cool crop of flat ankle boots and perfectly fit knits. Suiting too was worked with easy sophistication - even her emerald green, bright cobalt, and metallic suit separates spoke to a more modern, minimalist sense, tempered in slim silhouettes. Smilovic tempers her femme offerings with the same style - dresses are cut from the same creamy fabrics and finished with the same accessibility.

Trends: Menswear, metallics, leather, peplum.
Colors: Black, white, emerald green, cobalt blue, burgundy.
Key Piece: The creamy white v-neck sheath; the metallic pencil skirts and slouchy knit sweaters.
Accessories: Flat white and black zip-up ankle boots; heeled calf-hair ankle boots.
Who Would Wear It: Girls with an eye for modern classics; Olivia Palermo and Kate Bosworth would rock the ankle boots and cropped pants.

Jill Stuart Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:54:45 PST

Jill Stuart's feminine interpretation of Fall was a botanical experience blooming with florals in all shapes and sizes. The show, attended by stylish celebs like Olivia Palermo and Nikki Reed, highlighted the designer's unapologetic feminine flair, with pretty party dresses - the floral dresses with the delicate lace detailing and Peter Pan-collared little black dresses were the highlights of the show - and luxe ladylike outerwear. Adding a modern effect were leather touches throughout; pencil skirts featured leather panels and coats were trimmed with thin leather piping. The latter showed an outstanding leather-trimmed navy coat paired with trousers, floral top, and fur collar. We can already see the front-row celeb attendees checking off their wish list . . . The full breakdown below.

Trends: Floral prints, fitted sheath dresses, printed trousers.
Colors: Black, gold, Winter white, purple, mauve, aubergine.
Key Piece: The floral and lace dresses were the perfect mix of sexy and feminine.
Accessories: Platform sandals, fur collars, leather belts, patent leather and velvet boots.
Who Would Wear It: We can already picture front-row celebs like Olivia Palermo and Nikki Reed wearing every piece from this collection.

Look of the Day: Polished Panache

FabSugar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:00:11 PST

Looking for ways to style up your Jason Wu For Target takeaways? Fab reader Jenny in Jacquard paired her blush-hued Wu blouse with a ladylike white pencil skirt. For a polished finish, she topped her blouse collar with a chunky black gemstone necklace, toted a large black envelope clutch, and donned a pair of classic nude pumps. We think this sharp ensemble is front-row perfect for the likes of Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, and Carolina Herrera. Take notes on this sleek, well-executed way of dressing up a casual combo.

Congrats Jenny in Jacquard!

Everyone else, submit your looks, and we might just feature you on FabSugar!

How to Throw a The Artist-Themed Oscar Viewing Party

Shannon Vestal — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

The Oscars air on Sunday, Feb 26, and any movie lover already has the date penciled in. In case your plans are even grander than simply watching the show and you want to throw a viewing party for friends, then why not pick a theme based around one of the best picture nominees? I'm suggesting The Artist as inspiration, the delightful silent film that's been creating a deafening award season buzz. Here's how to pull it off.

How to decorate: All your decorations should be black and white, with art deco accents. Play The Artist movie soundtrack or big band music while guests are arriving. And if you know anyone who owns a Jack Russell Terrier, borrow him and pretend he's Uggie.
How to dress: In glam 1920s Old Hollywood garb. Think tuxes for men, and flapper dresses or diaphanous gowns and long pearls for women.
What to serve: Lots of champagne, of course, along with Manhattans and Sidecars, cocktails popular in the '20s.
How to act: Ask everyone to be as silent as possible, but expressive with their face and hands. It sounds crazy, but at least you won't have to shush anyone when the show starts.

Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company

Eyeliner Smudge Solutions

Michelle Phan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:24:00 PST

YouTube star and beauty guru Michelle Phan is all about beauty, and she always has a trick or two up her sleeve. This week, Michelle helps us make raccoon eyes a thing of the past:

Hi everyone,
A reader named Anastasia recently asked me the following question: "I'm from Singapore which is pretty hot, so how can I keep my eyeliner from smudging? I don't want to look like a panda!"

Meet cellulite's worst enemy: coffee

Eyeliner that won't stay put over time - whether we're talking over the course of the day or just a few short hours - is a common makeup mishap. This usually happens as the result of long wear time, using the wrong products, or being in hot and humid environments. Since we all encounter this problem every once in a while, I thought it would be helpful to share my answer, along with some of my favorite tips for keeping your liner in place.