It's July, and you know what that means--the fashion houses are trying to convince us that fall is just around the corner! I look over the fall collections for inspiration.
Bold chokers and big cuff bracelets are the way to accessorize for fall. Layering chunky bracelets with smaller, more delicate bangles is also encouraged. Shiny precious metals are always in fashion, but we are also seeing bold motifs like animal and tribal prints. The McQueen fall 2011 collection features many of these big, bold chokers, studded and bejeweled to resemble dominatrix/fetish apparel.
Michael Kors's ready-to-wear also showed up with chokers. My favorite orange-hued Project Runway judge paired the bold necklaces with a low-cut collared white shirt and sparkly, tuxedo-style pants topped with an oversized, menswear-inspired jacket. Oh my--yes, please.
Time to start doing lunges and squats, because our legs are about to get a big reveal. Long skirts have long slits to match. This trend isn't just for long, leggy gals--it works on us shorties, too, and the "new slit" is positioned straight up the front, giving a long skirt nice movement when you are in motion. My favorite is from another Project Runway alum, Christian Siriano (right). His dark, romantic color palette and mix of sheen--matte tops and shiny skirts--is classic Siriano.
That's not to say the side-slit is out. Michael Kors 2011 fall collection has two uber-sexy skirts--an above-the-knee pencil and a calf-length modified A-line--that feature the traditional cut. I like this long-skirt/high-slit combo trend, because it works on women of all heights.
Do Don Henley and Stevie Nicks get royalties for this trend? Let's hope so, because leather and lace are everywhere on the 2012 fall couture and ready-to-wear runways.
Jason Wu featured lace appliqués on skirts and jackets, and then went daring with sheer, lace-embellished blouses. While a sheer blouse isn't necessarily office-appropriate, a pencil skirt with a lace detail, or a blouse with a lace collar can help you translate the trend in a more conservative way. Pick up lace camis and t-shirts for layering, and the look will take you from summer to fall, and right through the winter. I'm wild for the lace applied over the tone-on-tone ivory graphic print on the sheath dress, pictured right. Wu added polka dot nylons that are cute enough to make me want to wear nylons.
Leather and fur are not entirely surprising in fall/winter collections, and the usual suspects are making their appearance: at least one leather skirt, pant, jacket and/or boot is featured in almost every collection. Alexander McQueen for fall 2011 is a standout: The design house used white, black, and gray leather and fur to create dominatrix looks for clients ranging from, apparently, Glinda the Good Witch to the Wicked Witch of the East. My favorite: the front-zip leather walking shorts paired with a fur-trimmed sleeveless parka and opera-length leather gloves. I'm going to a wedding in Alaska this November and I think this outfit would be perfect for a ski weekend in Talkeetna.
If Diane von Furstenberg approves, then so do I. Polka dots were all over her 2011 fall collection, in a variety of sizes. I'm tiny so I tend toward small prints, and I like polka dots because they are really very wearable. I am in love with the midriff-revealing, Gloria Vanderbilt polka dots with the cowl-neck (pictured, above right).
Polka dots are at once whimsical and a classic. Daytime and casual looks can support a larger polka dot motif, while smaller polka dots can be quite elegant for evening; pair a black dress with white polka dots with pearls and heels, and voila! One jewelry trend to look for this season are long, opera-length strand necklaces. I'm already on the lookout for a long, single-strand of faux pearls to wear with my BCBG polka dot cocktail dress.
Amir Khan is under pressure to put on a spectacular show in Las Vegas against Zab Judah as he bids to defend his WBA crown and wrest the IBF title from the American's grasp.
The 24-year-old is up against without doubt the toughest opponent, on paper at least, of his career so far and he needs to deliver if he is to put a turbulent few months behind him and earn himself a shot at some of the top pound for pound fighters.
Problems started for Khan's camp in the few days before his defence against Paul McCloskey in April as a row with Sky forced him to move to Primetime and then the much-talked-about manner of victory over the Irishman further hampered the Bolton fighter's reputation.
Negotiation problems with Timothy Bradley, although that was down to the American, followed and another row with Sky as they
refused to show his fight with Judah also came along.
But now the 24-year-old has the chance to do his talking in the ring and negotiate on his own terms inside the ropes with IBF champion Judah.
Back with conditioning coach Alex Ariza, the full attention of trainer Freddie Roach and looking in fine shape as usual, Khan has got what it takes to overcome the two-weight world champion.
It's the 24-year-old's chance to really prove his worth and having a name like Judah on his record will certainly get the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr to take notice.
Khan has more reason to want to take on Mayweather now that the American's uncle, Roger, claimed the British fighter is taking banned substances.
The 24-year-old was quick to deny the claim and pointed to the fact he has been tested over and over again – which made the claim from Mayweathter's camp futile.
But the Bolton native needs to remain focused on Judah and has to be wary of his impressive reactions, ferocious counter-punching and powerful uppercuts that have seen him claim 28 knockouts over his 49-fight career.
It's all set-up to be an intriguing clash but, with so much at stake for both fighters, this one could turn out to be more of a chess match than a brawl.
But the Bolton native needs to remain focused on Judah and has to be wary of his impressive reactions, ferocious counter-punching and powerful uppercuts that have seen him claim 28 knockouts over his 49-fight career.
Judah is also out to prove a point to his doubters after a up and down career for the 33-year-old American has led to many believing he is a wasted talent.
A once potential legend of the sport, suspensions hit him hard after controversies in the ring but now he is back to his best and out to make the world stand up and take note again with a win over the highly-rated Khan.
The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings and evacuations for Japan's Pacific coast and at least 20 countries, including the entire Pacific coast of North and South America from Alaska to Chile. The earthquake created tsunami waves of up to 10 meters (33 ft) that struck Japan.
Around 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan were left without electricity and more than a million households without water. Many electrical generators were taken down, and at least two nuclear reactors were damaged, which prompted evacuations of the affected areas. The earthquake caused widespread damage to roads and railways within Japan and led to major fires.
News reports indicate that more than 503 people have died and 784 are missing in six different prefectures. The estimates of its magnitude would make it the largest earthquake to hit Japan and one of the five largest earthquakes in the world since modern record-keeping began. It is thought to have been the largest earthquake within the boundaries of the North American and Pacific tectonic plates in the past 1,200 years.
Bold chokers and big cuff bracelets are the way to accessorize for fall. Layering chunky bracelets with smaller, more delicate bangles is also encouraged. Shiny precious metals are always in fashion, but we are also seeing bold motifs like animal and tribal prints. The McQueen fall 2011 collection features many of these big, bold chokers, studded and bejeweled to resemble dominatrix/fetish apparel. 
Do Don Henley and Stevie Nicks get royalties for this trend? Let's hope so, because leather and lace are everywhere on the 2012 fall couture and ready-to-wear runways. 
If Diane von Furstenberg approves, then so do I. Polka dots were all over her 2011 fall collection, in a variety of sizes. I'm tiny so I tend toward small prints, and I like polka dots because they are really very wearable. I am in love with the midriff-revealing, Gloria Vanderbilt polka dots with the cowl-neck (pictured, above right).
