While our stay in India has been both a pleasurable and educational experience, it is time to depart from this ancient land. We will be heading east to spend some time in Southeast Asia, commencing our trip first with a visit to Angkor in Cambodia. Angkor is home to the magnificent Angkor Wat, a temple complex built in the 12th Century. But, in order to take in all the angles of Angkor Wat, you will need a good night’s sleep and a great tour guide.

The Amansara resort is the old guesthouse of King Sihanouk of Cambodia. It was commissioned by the former king as a guesthouse for his visitors and named Villa Apsara. Since then it has been restored and named Amansara, now a resort for the richest travelers to Angkor.

The resort, designed by French Architect Laurent Mondet, have a very contemporary style intermixed with Indochinese décor. There are 12 suites, many of which have private swimming pools, and a lovely roof garden. The suites are furnished beautifully and contain state-of-the-art amenities.

Amansara offers relaxing and invigorating spa treatments for guests. These include traditional massage techniques, scrubs and many other treatments. Dining experiences at Amansara are decadent and include both traditional Cambodian foods, as well as a Western menu. The Roof Garden is a great place to dine, especially at night, due to the relaxing atmosphere of the garden and its views.

Amansara is a favorite, not only because of its luxurious suites, restaurant and spa treatments, but because of the emphasis it places on education. For guests that wish to learn more about Cambodian culture and history, Amansara organizes educational talks on subjects like dance, history, puppetry and more. These talks are given by both Cambodian scholars and informal experts.

Amansara, which is located a mere 10 miles from Angkor Wat, organizes private tours for its guests to many sites around the area. They will also organize custom tours for those looking to visit less-touristy sites. Either way, you’ll want to do a lot of walking, and for that, you’ll need a pair of very supportive shoes like the Men’s Keen Shoes or Women’s Keen Shoes .

For those adventurous enough, Amansara even offers helicopter and elephant tours of surrounding sites!

This week we’ll take a quick jump from the beautiful beaches of Goa to the even whiter sands of Kovalam, Kerala. Kerala is located at the tip of southern India, and Kovalam is situated right on the coast. When visiting Kovalam, you should stay right on the beach to take advantage of the wonderful sand and beautiful sunsets. Kovalam is also near Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a must see sanctuary for all animal lovers. When visiting the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, you’ll get the chance to glimpse vast numbers of elephant, gaur, sloth bear, jungle cat, wild boar and langur.

While the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary and the beaches of Kovalam are a draw, The Leela Kempinski Hotel is a destination in itself. The Leela is one of the most sought after, highly anticipated hotels in all of India. All of The Leela’s rooms have vast windows with gorgeous views of the Arabian Sea beyond. You’ll have the choice between many different rooms of different sizes and grandeur. The interiors of most of the rooms and suites are decorated with a delightful blend between traditional Kerala and modern style.

The amenities of The Leela Kempinski Hotel are out of this world, beginning with exclusive beach access. You’ll have a range of spa treatments at your fingertips at The Leela, including traditional Ayurvedic treatments. You also will have the chance to attend traditional yoga classes, play badminton, tennis and beach volleyball. With private beach access, you’ll be able to swim and sunbathe at your leisure. Make sure to bring sunscreen to protect your skin while you relax on the sandy beaches of Kovalam.

With seven different restaurants and cafes at The Leela, you’ll get the chance to taste new and delicious foods every night. The Sky Bar is ideal for after-dinner drinks as the sun sets beyond the sea. The Terrace serves Oriental, Indian and Continental cuisine, and you can dine right by the sea if you wish.

It appears that celebrities are still keeping the skinny jeans around. This is no passing fashion trend. Stars are still rocking out in their skinny jeans. I guess when you are a size 0, you can keep this fashion trend going and not worry about how you look. The newest trend with the skinny jeans are gray colored skinny jeans. So many celebrities have been now spotted wearing gray skinny jeans, usually with a white top. Jessica Alba was just photographed the other day in her gray skinny jeans paired with a white tee and yellow flats. The other color for skinny jeans that looks to be in fashion with celebrities is white. Now, white skinny jeans may be one of the hardest looks to pull off, but celebrities seem to be doing it just fine. The key is to find balance on the top. Get a pair of white skinny jeans, like these from Just Cavalli and pair them with a blousy top. Don’t go with the tight top if you are going with the tight jeans. Instead, think about a flowy top paired with high heels. This is an easier look to pull of for the average girl.

Another trend in the jean department are the ripped and shredded jeans. Yes, these are back in style, especially with casually dressed celebrities. Katie Holmes, Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, Megan Fox, and Lindsay Lohan have all been spotted wearing ripped and shredded jeans within the past couple of weeks. Now, these ripped jeans can also be skinny jeans. They can be boot cut jeans or even flare legged jeans. The key to this fashion trend is basically that they look, ripped, worn, or shredded on the legs. And yes, if you have looked online for jeans or at any store, they make them this way and you don’t have to do it yourself. This is definitely a casual look and is not made for going nicer places such as on dates or nights out on the town. Leave this look for casual shopping trips and runs to Starbucks.

My Mythology – Creating our own living legacy at Zappos.

One of the joys about working at Zappos is the freedom to be ourselves through our own personal style. Style shouts! Individuals identify themselves through their personal style. Taking the chaos out of the closet and using clothing as a celebration to create personal mythology or legend is something I have been fascinated by.

What is someone trying to say through their style?

Join me in the discovery. Each week I will take an employee from Zappos and find out their personal psychology through their favorite outfits.

Today we study the mythology of Angela C. Content Manager for the Casual Content Team.

How would you define your look?
Casual, easy and laid back.

What inspires your style?
Time and comfort.

Who is your favorite designer?
I am not big on brand names (or people names) but right now I am really feeling Stoned Cherrie and Klûk & CGdT. They are both South African.

What fashion item would you never leave the house without?
Earrings!!

Who are your fashion/style icons?
Usually I am inspired by the reflection in the mirror … but today I can settle for Angelique Kidjo.

What are your favorite labels?
PF Flyers and Converse are life changing, American Apparel and Banana Republic make some fantastic tees and I really like Irregular Choice . I wonder what IR’s clothes would look like?

How would you define your mythology that you portray through your style?
I dress for comfort and ease. I also tend to overdress (like scarves in the summer) but that is a blog for another day.

What is your favorite decade for style?
1920’s + 1970’s

What is your favorite fabric?
It is a tie between linen and cotton. Both because they are breathable and don’t usually need to be ironed.

Which watch?
I don’t wear watches.

What brand of denim do you prefer?
Whatever fits or requires the least amount of alterations.

What is your favorite color?
Black. However, I am trying to embrace more color.

What item do you allow yourself to splurge on?
If I love it I buy it doesn’t matter what it is. I am stingy with the love though.

CC Skye or Judith Jack ?
CC Skye .

What is your favorite brand of denim?
Those that need the least tailoring :D

High heels or flats?
High heels believe it or not.

Which bag?
I have this one Laundry by Shelli Segal bag that I got for my sister but then decided to keep for myself … she knows about it and brings it up whenever she remembers.

Sunglasses?
I had these really nice pair of Black Flys which I lost in Kenya this past December.

What is your favorite brand on Zappos?
Irregular Choice – I have 3 pairs and counting.

What are your fashion rules?
Dress to fit your body, always use a mirror and avoid giving your audience vertigo.

D&G Dolce and Gabbana or Marc by Marc Jacobs ?
This one is really hard but I would have to go with Marc by Marc Jacobs .

What is your favorite gemstone?
Black onyx.

Andrew Hamilton Crawford or Tarina Tarantino ?
Tarina Tarantino

I know you love earrings. What style of earrings are your favorite? Hoops, studs, chandelier?
I don’t really wear studs, but it would have to be hoops with chandeliers coming in at a very close second.

Would set foot in a thrift store?
I am not opposed to it.

What is the best thing you’ve ever found at a thrift store?
I don’t think I have the patience to make it worthwhile.

What is the most you’ve ever spent on fashion and for what item?
It would have to be shoes and my hair. I try not to spend a lot of money on just one thing because I get bored really quick. I guess I have style A.D.D so I just don’t get my money’s worth!! I am a practical girl after all.

How many times have we heard fashion gurus say, “Pink (or brown, or green, or red, or whatever) is the new black!”? Too many to count. In these tough financial times, however, filling up your closet with the new “it” color each season doesn’t make a lot of sense. Buying baby doll dresses and micro-minis just because they’re in doesn’t either. Fortunately, there is a better way!

Each season, some color always gets referred to as the “new black” – that’s because black never goes out of style and looks great with everything (same goes for other neutrals, like beige, white, off-white, dark brown and navy). Building your base wardrobe in neutral colors is a great way to ensure that you never get caught wearing last season’s pink trench coat when orange is this season’s black.

Neutrals are boring, though – right? Well, they can be. However, they make a great blank slate for you to decorate with trendier pieces, colors and accessories. For instance, a plain white blouse can be paired with a scarf in this season’s hottest color, a funky necklace or even adorned with a skinny belt . Also, wearing neutral pants allows you to show off your inner fashionista with fabulous, colorful shoes, boots and stockings. These accessories can be purchased very inexpensively and can keep your basic wardrobe au courant while keeping your wallet full!

Classic styles are another area to focus on. Turtleneck sweaters , crisp white blouses, mid-rise dress slacks, A-line skirts and boot-cut jeans are always in style, so base your wardrobe on these staples. Also, instead of kowtowing to every trend that comes along, figure out what looks best on your body and stick with it.

When you do want to try out a trendier piece, purchase something inexpensive or borrow it from a friend before committing a big chunk of change to something you may only wear once. If something in a “trendy” style truly looks amazing on you, don’t worry about wearing it after the trend has passed – if it looks great, it won’t look dated. Another plus – you can wait until classics go on sale to buy them, since, by definition, they never go out of style!

After performing at the Grammy Awards on her due date, singer M.I.A. has given birth to a baby boy . M.I.A. announced the birth of her son on her Celebrity MySpace page. She has not revealed the name of her son yet. This is the first child for both her and her fiancé, Benjamin Bronfman, who is also a musician. M.I.A’s song that she sang for Slumdog Millionaire is nominated for an Oscar. She has stated that she will most likely attend the Oscars to sing her song on the stage. That was pretty good timing for her. She had the baby right after the Grammy Awards and in time to make it to the Oscars.

GQ magazine has announced the list of the “Most Stylish Men in America.” Among the men that made the list are Justin Timberlake, T.I., Kayne West and Mark Ronson. When asked where he got his sense of style from, Justin Timberlake said it was from his stepdad. He said that his stepdad always went to work looking like “Richard Gere from American Gigolo.” I have to say that celebrity men are getting more and more stylish, although I don’t think I can agree with T.I. being one of the most stylish men in America.

Madam Tussauds, the famous wax museum in London, has come out with another Britney Spears wax statue. This is the second time that Britney has been featured at the museum. The first statue of Britney depicted her from her “Slave For You” video. The new wax statue shows Britney is a sparkly silver dress holding her MTV video award. The main point of the wax Britney is to depict her comeback. Madame Tussauds has also launched an interactive dance experience to celebrate the release of the new Britney statue. The Britney Dance Chain will allow people to learn some of Britney’s dance moves, enter a “dance tunnel” and just dance away on a camera. I think it would be so interesting to go see Madam Tussauds wax museum. A little freaky, but definitely interesting!

Source:
www.usmagazine.com

How many times have we heard fashion gurus say, “Pink (or brown, or green, or red, or whatever) is the new black!”? Too many to count. In these tough financial times, however, filling up your closet with the new “it” color each season doesn’t make a lot of sense. Buying baby doll dresses and micro-minis just because they’re in doesn’t either. Fortunately, there is a better way!

Each season, some color always gets referred to as the “new black” – that’s because black never goes out of style and looks great with everything (same goes for other neutrals, like beige, white, off-white, dark brown and navy). Building your base wardrobe in neutral colors is a great way to ensure that you never get caught wearing last season’s pink trench coat when orange is this season’s black.

Neutrals are boring, though – right? Well, they can be. However, they make a great blank slate for you to decorate with trendier pieces, colors and accessories. For instance, a plain white blouse can be paired with a scarf in this season’s hottest color, a funky necklace or even adorned with a skinny belt . Also, wearing neutral pants allows you to show off your inner fashionista with fabulous, colorful shoes, boots and stockings. These accessories can be purchased very inexpensively and can keep your basic wardrobe au courant while keeping your wallet full!

Classic styles are another area to focus on. Turtleneck sweaters , crisp white blouses, mid-rise dress slacks, A-line skirts and boot-cut jeans are always in style, so base your wardrobe on these staples. Also, instead of kowtowing to every trend that comes along, figure out what looks best on your body and stick with it.

When you do want to try out a trendier piece, purchase something inexpensive or borrow it from a friend before committing a big chunk of change to something you may only wear once. If something in a “trendy” style truly looks amazing on you, don’t worry about wearing it after the trend has passed – if it looks great, it won’t look dated. Another plus – you can wait until classics go on sale to buy them, since, by definition, they never go out of style!

ABC’s Life on Mars, the American version of the BBC hit, relies on fashion to take us back to the gritty world of New York City in 1973 after the show’s protagonist gets hit by a car in 2008 and finds himself thrown 25 years into the past.

While initial buzz on the show was weak and focused on concern that the ABC production wouldn’t live up to its British predecessor, Life on Mars has proven to be the right show for the right time here in the States. After all, with the economic crisis, New York City in 1973 doesn’t look quite as alien as it could.

That said, clothes have changed in the last 25 years, and even the show’s extras all need to be fitted for 1970s wardrobe for each and every episode. That said, while clashing patterns and wide ties may be over, Life on Mars is reaffirming certain 1970s looks that never went out of style.

Overall, though, Life on Mars presents a unique challenge for its costume designers who need to find a way to make the show look recognizably like the early 1970s while also making it attractive and appealing to a modern audience, many of whom may be too young to have any nostalgia for the era. Of course, having the central character originally be from 2008 helps, because he can react with us to some of the aesthetic horrors of the era.

Even so, Life on Mars does manage to have an overall pleasing look. Corduroy and sports jackets are big for the show’s male characters, as are trench coats and leather jackets . For women, wrap dresses with swingy skirts, denim and high waists are a feature of the show’s fashion sensibility, as are a number of hippie-influenced looks. Fur trim and a range of browns, tans and other natural colors also dominate and help to accentuate the grimness of New York City in one of its most financially depressed years.