October 26, 2022

Body Shapers: Benefits, Latest Trends, and How to Choose The Perfect Pieces

Modelling girdles have long become darlings among women since the Victorian era. They give an illusion of a slim waist, and flat stomach and enhance curves to achieve an hourglass figure like Kim Kardashian’s.

But a nagging doubt often seeps into the minds of first-time shapewear shoppers -

"Does a body shaper actually work?"

Shapewear provides a few surprising benefits that go beyond shaping:

Instant slimmer curves and waist
Promotes better blood circulation and muscle tone
Post-pregnancy body care
Posture support
Aid in your recovery after surgery

Let's expand on a couple of these points so that we can better understand why you would consider choosing shapewear to help create a better-looking, slimmer figure and dispel any doubts.

Posture improvement

Medium to high control shaping garments are designed to not only slim and shape your figure, but also provide posture support. This is especially a boon for those who sit slouched for extended periods of time. With daily use, it can train you to correct your posture. Good posture also helps you breathe more efficiently and even improves your mood, energy levels and mental health.

Postpartum care

Mothers know how difficult it is to bounce back in shape after childbirth, especially with limited time on their hands.

Wearing a body shaper can help your waistline by simply wearing it for 4 hours daily. The modelling belt helps the body return to normal and lose swelling. It is also excellent for those who have had spinal surgery or aesthetic procedures in the abdomen.

How to Select the Right Body Shaper?

Body shapers or shapewear come in different types and sizes. It's important to first consider which part of the body is your main focus to shape up and choose a fit that makes your body comfortable.

Abdominal brace

The abdominal belt and waist trainer are the most popular shapers. As its name suggests, this shaper is made to envelop the entire waist region and compress the abdomen. This type is preferred if the abdomen flab extends or sags downward.

The abdominal strap will not only hide your love handles but is also very versatile. It can be worn under any garment and it’s undetectable. Some models even come with handles to make them more practical.

Tank Top / T-shirt

The abdomen is not always the only focus of shapewear. You can define the whole body region with a tank or t-shirt model; The sleeve length may vary from straps to full sleeves. It compresses both the stomach and the breasts.

Body

Body shapewear is the one that promotes the greatest compression in the body. It extends through the butt, abdomen, hips, stomach, waist and has a built-in bra. Modelling bodies are usually elegant pieces and pair really well with dresses.

The only disadvantage is that it can bring some difficulties when going to the bathroom. In this sense, it is worth opting for bodysuits with side openings if you're attending parties or larger events.

Bermuda / Thigh Slimmer

If you’re looking to disguise the cellulite and tone up your thighs opt for Bermuda shorts. It is worn like shorts but extends only up to the abdomen and hips to shape up the thighs and butt. It can be used as gym gear to promote an additional increase in heat to the thigh area during exercise.

This model is great for postpartum use too as it is usually easy to put on and compresses the region affected by natural pregnancy and cesarean section.

Whether you just want to reduce your waist in the short term or you intend to embark on a gradual waist-reduction regime, body shapers and waist training corsets can help with that. Remember, for longer-term permanent waist-reduction your waist trainer should be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

October 23, 2022

Hutong New York Restaurant Review

Michelin Star Northern Chinese cuisine served in an elegant, glitzy venue evoking the Shanghai 1920s Art Deco era with a pinch of crack. What’s not to love?!

Hutong New York is the first North American restaurant within the international Aqua Restaurant Group franchise. The New York menu incorporates signature dishes from Hong Kong and London as well as new dishes created exclusively for the New York City restaurant.

Our feast consisted of the following:

Roasted Peking Duck and Pancakes
Truffle Shiitake and Wild Mushroom Bao
Dim Sum Platter - Lobster Squid-ink, Pickled Chilli Cod, Rosé Champagne Shrimp and Spinach Dumplings
Red Lantern - Soft-shell Crab
Mapo Tofu
Kai-lan

Presentation sizzles before the eye as they do on the tongue. Master-crafted buns that mimic shiitake mushrooms. Dumplings with flavours as distinct as their hues.

Renowned for their crowd-pleaser Peking Duck, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make this occasion even more spectacular. The duck is hand-carved at the table, served with delicate translucent pancakes, slivers of cucumber and scallions, and fruity hoisin sauce. Each slice glistened with the perfect ratio of fat underneath the crispy golden brown skin, while the meat remained moist, tender, and flavourful. So supple that it melts in your mouth.

The Mapo Tofu pleasurably numbed my human experience. This is one of the best Mapo Tofu I've tried to date. Mouth-vibrating mala heat, arousing aromatics, and tofu so silky it deserves its own thread count. Rice is absolutely not optional.

Red Lantern conceals six delectable deep-fried soft-shell crabs beneath a field of dried whole chillies. The spices on the crabs’ brittle crust provide a lightly sweet modicum of heat.

Yes, it’s an unapologetically ostentatious place, but it’s New York and worth a stop.

September 18, 2022

How To Wear Cufflinks Like A Gentleman?

How your dress-up can tell a lot about you. A true gentleman knows how to speak his mind just by using his body language, way of walking and choice of attire. Although men have limited options when it comes to fashion as compared to women, modern men know how to express themselves using these defined accessories.

Be it formal attire, a designer suit or semi-formal attire, the secret weapon to polish or charm your outfit is a tie, contrasting belt and shoes, a luxury watch and at last, cufflinks.

Resting all other accessories aside, today we'll discuss cufflinks. Choosing the right pair of cufflinks is not an easy task. Getting your fashion game right takes years of experience and good taste in styling.

What Are Cufflinks?

You must have seen this pair of accessories in several fashion magazines, commercial websites, and gift idea articles. But do you know how and when this accessory came into existence? What was the reason behind the invention of such an accessory?

Cufflinks were created in the 17th century. Back then, people would hold their shirt cuffs together using ribbons, strings, and ties. The french tailors introduced buttonholes and sleeve buttons ornamented with chains to fasten the sleeves. Later, the jewellers started designing gold and silver sleeve buttons with gemstones. Thus, cufflinks came into existence.

King Charles II is renowned for making cufflinks popular among the public. He wore cufflinks to his public appearances as one of his style statements. Since then, the cufflinks evolved into popular among royals and aristocrats. Gentlemen were casually gifted cufflinks during the 18th century, creating a collection of cufflinks.

With the evolution of the fashion industry, cufflinks saw a tremendous modification in designs. The vintage and antique cufflinks are vastly different to the ones we see today.

How to Wear Cufflinks?

If you are still learning to up your styling, these fashion tips will help you look more crisp and sophisticated.

Black Tie Outfit: Let’s decode this term first. Black tie outfits are the dress code usually assigned to semi-formal events such as business events, galas, and award ceremonies. For black tie occasions, you are asked to wear a formal black tie or bow and a tuxedo. Thus, for these events, cufflinks are a suitable accessory for men. To highlight your style, you must opt for classic yet simple cufflinks of gold or silver. These timeless pieces must have minimal designs which give a polished look to the rest of your outfit.

White Tie Events: Alike black tie events, white tie events also have a specific dress code. White tie events are slightly more formal than black tie events. These events include formal weddings, stately dinners, operas and theatres, royal ceremonies, balls and other high-class gatherings. Choose pearl cufflinks for your outfit to ensure your style is on point. These will look luxurious and elegant.

Cufflinks With A White Shirt: Nothing can beat the charm of a freshly ironed crisp white shirt. Cufflinks can serve to upgrade your looks in your office; be it your presentation for your dream project or your semi-formal event. White shirts give you a variety of style options, but the key is to not to overdo it. Keep it classic and conservative. Your personality is directly implied by your choice.

Cufflinks With A Blue Shirt: Blue shirts are one of the best staple pieces in a corporate wardrobe. Blue is one of the most popular colour choices, but pairing a cufflink with a blue shirt may be a tricky task. Flashy colours may ruin your appearance. It is advised to opt for subtle coloured cufflinks to compliment your blue shirts. Silver cufflinks can do the work for you; they look dapper and subtle at the same time. If you want to wear something colourful, always stick with hues of blue. If you're wearing a dark shirt, go for a light shade cufflink or vice versa. This way, your outfit will look perfectly balanced.

Cufflinks With Pinks Shirt: There are not many colour options when you look for formal shirts. Light pink (although not considered by many men) is a second close to blue. Similar to blue shirts, you can opt for silver-toned cufflinks to pair with your pink coloured shirt. The other options for coloured cufflinks are pink shades. Always wear your coloured cufflinks in contrast with your shirt to avoid a clash of colours. Pink-coloured shirts always give you room to play with multi-colours and multipattern cufflinks. But save these for semi-formal events.

With A Patterned Shirt: Patterned shirts are the next big fashion option for your formal events. Patterned shirts will always have a primary and a secondary colour. When choosing a cufflink, choose the secondary colour as your dominant colour for a cufflink. You can also take references from your ties to choose a cufflink. You can choose different metals with multiple shades of colours in a cufflink. But always keep the colour choice related to your entire ensemble.

Cufflinks with French Cuffs: French cuffs can be considered the prime reason that brought the cufflinks to light. The most important feature of a french cuff shirt is that it's buttonless. French cuff shirts require cufflinks to hold the cuffs together. These shirts are preferably worn at formal events. The cufflinks add sophistication and class to your personality.

August 22, 2022

Runway Handbags Styles and Picks For Fall 2022

Most fashionistas would agree that getting a new handbag is like falling in love all over again, bringing an excitement you can’t ignore. Handbags have come a long way, from being a staple statement accessory to becoming a must-have for every closet. We've parsed through the Fall 2022 runway collections to give you an overview of the most noteworthy bag trends.

Fur Love

Furry handbags, with either trims or all-over designs, are everywhere this season, and while the trend is nothing novel in terms of styling, the trend is ideal for winters and fall. The classic furry handbag offers a warm feeling with a trench coat or even with a regular shearling jacket. If you are someone who doesn’t want to think of fur as a regular choice, we hear you. There are many faux fur designs to choose from. Minimalistic designs that sync with the trend include options from Fend. You can view more here.

Oversized picks

For a lot of corporate girlies, handbags are like an extension of their life to carry everything at once. After a long haul of mini and micro bags, we are back to oversized totes and shoulder bags for fall 2022. But let's be real, oversized bags will never go out of trend, they're the perfect workhorse for all seasons. Bottega Veneta and Brandon Maxwell had some fantastic designs to choose from, and you can even find options that have dedicated space for your laptops and tablets. If there has to be one thing from this list that you need, this is the one!

The slouchy tote

Totes have always been a perfect pick across seasons, and if you are looking for new ideas, go for the slouchy tote, which is basic, easy to carry around, and offers adequate space for your essentials. The slouchy tote also has one more advantage – the handbag itself doesn’t have as much weight, and therefore, you can make it a practical option for everyday use. The Row should be credited for bringing the style back into fashion, although other brands had their takes on the trend.

Fun clutches

If you thought the clutch was only for special occasions, the fall 2022 collections will make you reimagine this. The return of the clutch is here. Bottega Veneta had some amazing clutches this season, including an pillow-esque one, perfect for napping anywhere. Clutches are fun for two reasons – you can carry one and leave right away, and secondly, the style never really goes out of vogue. This is a great trend to work with for those who prefer to step out on the town with minimal baggage.

A quick mention about hardware and handles this season. Designers seem to be obsessed with making the small things about handbags stand out. Find your pick!

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Guest Post Author - Currently working as the chief fashion editor for The House of Elegance Fashion, Suzy Walsh has been a fashion writer for years. She writes on styling and everything in vogue, besides making it a point to write about sustainable fashion.

April 07, 2022

McDonald's Crispy McFillet Burger - Birmingham & Coventry Exclusive Launch

Living in the West Midlands does have its perks sometimes. 😜

McDonald's Exclusive Burger Launch

The Crispy McFillet has just launched for a limited time across Birmingham and Coventry.

I was super lucky to try it out at their exclusive tasting. The burger features 100% chicken breast fillet, iceberg lettuce, black pepper mayo and sourdough-style sesame topped bun.

The crispy coating is seasoned with black pepper and cayenne pepper. Surprisingly, the cayenne pepper really adds umami and enhances the chicken’s flavour - it doesn’t have a spicy kick.

The bun is soft and firmer than their usual buns - thanks to the sourdough blend - so it doesn't fall apart after a few bites.

A fab tasty addition - this is definitely their most delicious burger yet.

Where can you get the Crispy McFillet?

Here are the lucky 41 restaurants.

It's currently being tested and if it receives fantastic feedback, it'll be rolled out nationwide.

Are you going to give the Crispy McFillet a whirl?

*Disclaimer: Sponsored