Fashion by the book

June 22, 2007

By LaMONT JONES
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Summer is always a good time to catch up on reading, and there are some new books on the market that address fashion trends and advice. Here are three that caught my eye:

More than 20 million American women are 5 feet, 4 inches or shorter, which in fashion qualifies them as petite.

However, millions of petite woman buy clothes that don't flatter them. Such women are petite whether they are size 2 or size 16, whether they are shaped like a pear or a carrot or a circle or an hourglass.

Kim Williams Dahlman, a petite fashion specialist, has made it her mission to help petites understand that and to use that knowledge to dress their best. "The Petite Handbook," written in 2004 and in its second printing, is full of information to help petites shop wisely and dress with confidence. With a shape finder, accessories advice and shopping checklist, the colorful spiral-bound booklet can fit easily in a purse.

"I wanted sort of a 'Petite Dressing 101,'" said Dahlman. "Everything you need to know in a nutshell. Other books are textbook style, where you really have to study them."

The author, a petite herself, knows her stuff. Over the past 20 years, she has worked as petite sportswear buyer for Allied Department Stores, corporate petite buyer for Belk Stores Services and director of sales for Susan Bristol Petites. She's appeared on numerous national television shows to share her expertise and travels the country presenting fashion shows, workshops and motivational programs for petites.

"I saw a huge need for a specialist in the field who would go out and do events and work one-on-one with customers," said Dahlman, who is based in Florida. "There are so many petite women out there that don't realize they should be wearing petite clothing and would get a better fit in the petite department."

"The Petite Handbook" (Fidelity Press, $10.95) is available at thepetitehandbook.com and amazon.com.

How to pursue modeling

I routinely receive phone calls and e-mails from people who want advice about how to launch a modeling career. They want to know things such as where to get training, which agencies are credible and how to connect with clients.

Now, there's a great, updated resource I would highly recommend. It's "The Compete Idiot's Guide to Being a Model, Second Edition," written by former big-time model Roshumba Williams with New York freelance writer Anne Marie O'Connor (Alpha Books, $18.95).

Williams appeared on the covers and pages of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue and other magazines before moving into a career in television. But she didn't forget all the lessons she had learned in modeling, and she passes them on.

There's loads of information, from portfolio contents, interview tips and advice on finding an agent to open calls, model searches and making it through those first stressful photo shoots.

Beauty beyond 40

At a time when increasing numbers of women are paying big bucks for cuts, slices and injections to fight signs of aging, makeup artist Bobbi Brown wants to show them how to look younger with cosmetics.

She does that with her fourth book, "Bobbi Brown Living Beauty" (Springboard Press, $29.99). It targets women over age 40 with numerous step-by-step techniques, including how to use makeup to plump lips, lift cheeks and even out skin tone.

There are also explanations of dermatological techniques and photos and words of inspiration from famous over-40 beauty icons such as Vera Wang, Lorraine Bracco, Marcia Gay Harden and Vanessa Williams.

Brown, 50, has built an industry on her expertise in creating a flawless face. She expanded her company to include makeup accessories and perfumes, writes a monthly column in Prevention women's health magazine and authors a feature on makeup tips at oprah.com.

Boost your beauty with honey

May 30, 2007

By ELISE MINTON and PAIGE HERMAN
newbeauty.com
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Honey has become a staple ingredient in some of today's most sought-after beauty products -- and for good reason. Besides its deliciously sweet scent, this natural moisturizer is hailed for its wide variety of therapeutic properties, such as the ability to keep skin hydrated and moist, as well as the power to fight against the signs of aging. Plus, honey is an anti-irritant, so it is safe to use on even the most sensitive skin.

Benefits of honey

Derived from the hives of honeybees, honey is a natural humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture. Honey contains essential vitamins such as B5 and panothenic acid. It's also full of minerals like zinc and magnesium, which increase the skin's moisture retention. And it improves cell production and scalp circulation. Honey also contains loads of enzymes and amino acids, making it a powerful antibacterial ingredient that is excellent for treating acne, as well as reducing redness and inflammation. Rich in antioxidants, honey also helps regenerate damaged tissue, deflect free radicals and improve skin tone and elasticity. To reap the full benefits, look for dark-colored honey, which contains more antioxidants than light-colored versions.

History of honey for cosmetic purposes

Using honey in beauty rituals dates back to ancient Egypt, when Cleopatra would bathe in a mixture of honey and milk to keep her skin feeling soft and looking young. Roman emperor Nero's wife, Poppea, was also a devotee of honey and milk, although she preferred to mix the ingredients together into a paste for a facial mask. Renowned Greek physician Hippocrates used honey to cure skin infections, infected wounds and ulcers on the lips, while Queen Anne of England would blend honey and oil together to form a hair serum that helped keep her locks thick, shiny and lustrous.

Can honey help prevent sun damage?

We all know that it's crucial to use sunscreen on a daily basis, but many chemical and physical barrier sunscreens contain ingredients that can cause skin irritation and reactions. Since honey is suitable for sensitive skin and is a natural moisturizer, it is currently being considered as a substitute ingredient for some of the harsh chemicals found in most sun blocks. Thanks to its natural antioxidant properties, honey also helps the skin to protect itself from the sun's damaging UV rays and also aids in skin cell rejuvenation.

Product picks

Facial cleanser: Soothe and soften skin with L'Occitane Comfort Cleansing Fluid, which features a blend of compounds from Provengal honey hives, protein-rich royal jelly and bisabolol extract. $20; usa.loccitane.com

Facial scrub: Regular exfoliation is a must for a clean, clear complexion. In addition to honey (its thick consistency makes for the perfect base), Collective Wellbeing Honey Buff is jam-packed with natural ingredients like vitamin C to fight the signs of fine lines and wrinkles; rose hip seeds and lemon peel to exfoliate and echinacea to keep pore-clogging dirt at bay. $13; collectivewellbeing.com

Face mask: Great for avid travelers who experience dry skin from constantly being on the go, Apitiva Skin Food Mask with Honey leaves skin soft, refreshed and hydrated, thanks to a blend of honey and cereal proteins. The individually packaged masks also boast vitamins C, E and F for cell regeneration. $24 for a box of 6; bigelowchemists.com

Facial moisturizer: Suitable for all skin types, Mario Badescu Honey Moisturizer neutralizes damaging free radicals that destroy collagen and elastin. Subtly scented and greaseless, this extremely absorbent moisturizer contains honey and orange extract to hydrate and nourish skin, leaving it velvety smooth. $25; mariobadescu.com

Shampoo: Formulated to calm itchy, dry, irritated scalps, Frederic Fekkai Sensitive Scalp Shampoo features a mixture of lavender and manuka honey to heal while moisturizing. A melange of botanicals gently removes excess sebum without drying or stripping the hair and scalp. $20; neimanmarcus.com

Paige Herman is an editor at New Beauty, a semi-annual magazine about cosmetic enhancement. Reach her at editors (at)newbeauty.com. For more columns visit www.scrippsnews.com