What happened to Vera Wang’s skills as a top wedding gown designer? Her entire collection for Spring/Summer 2008 is a bunch of *Sad Sacks*! It’s like “burlap chic” with better fabrics but equally bad colours, oh and sans chic. *Snort* Puh-leaze! Next!

Only with HP digital cameras, now photo shooting yourself won’t make you want to do the real thing. Instead of adding 10 pounds (which I swear happens), certain digicams by HP can actually reverse the effect. You don’t have to be a professional photographer, and no—not even a skilled graphic artist, to produce this *wow* effect. (And I can’t even do it that well or easily as a graphic designer, myself!)

It’s not done through a magic setting (like the macro flower or something), but with a quick click of a button as a photo editing feature, which is right on the cam, not on your computer. You really can get the results yourself and no one will have to know.

And the effect is natural too—the minimal setting is subtle, but you can up the drama if you’re really feeling bloated and/or *cranky*.

I really feel like I need this camera! Especially when I take photos with my hands in them for shooting bags or items I made to sell (isolating the body part seems to add 10 lbs only to my fingers and wrist!). But I have a great camera (which is pink!) that already has tons of amazing other features, and I want to keep it. What about you, too?

Well is one of the cameras by HP with this feature selling for a budget price? The cheapest is $179.99, which isn’t bad. Great for a nice camera, but it costs almost as much as my everyday one.

Perhaps the fatties (I say nicely!) of your family and friends can chip in to share one. And you can use it when photographing yourself, and not say your kids, dog, scenery, crafts and purse collection. Hey, that’s an idea.

Or maybe we’ll throw it in our “Sale Stalk” wish list and save up. The holidays are coming soon, it could even be an early gift, before any family photos are taken. Wait - don’t shudder, if you have this cam, you’ll think more along the lines of *shutter*.

Of course, if you’re already in dire need of a new cam, then the HP ones are a great obvious choice, ranging in price and power-punching from the one linked above to the fully-loaded R967 version, still around only $270!

Never be camera shy again!

Here singer Beyoncé is in a bit of a controversial ensemble, but one thing I’m definitely loving is her triple-buckled high-waist belt.

Beyoncé here uses this fab accessory to make a corset look for her waist, which appeals to some and not others, but to me, almost any belted look is a good one!

I found some similarly “fab” (if you agree) belts at Shop Frosting .com.

The first is one similar to the diva’s, but in a chocolate woven leather and of course - only two buckles high. It’s tamer, more versatile and has some edge, while it also works for both the western and urban hip looks. Belt by Nikki Jaggs, on sale for $40.

The second is a completely different look. It’s two-toned, ultra chic and also has some thickness to it. That’s what the current belt trend is all about: showing on top of tops, thick and on the natural waist.

We even see a little trick of another way to play with chinching one’s frame: a fitted tee on top, a trendy thick belt, then a full skirt flowing out from the accessory. Di-vine! Belt by Lara Kazan, on sale for $64.

The belt trend is here to stay for a long while, so I say it’s quite safe to invest in a few, even if they’re nice ones. For each trend cycle variation, I’d get a few varieties — cheap & chic, quality, designer - or mix and match … Possibly keep adding each season! Ok ok I like the trend too much, but your enhanced figure will show you why you should too!

Belts: Fit, Flatter and Fabber!

I saw this Louis Vuitton ad in my Glamour, and I was inspired.

The model’s like a wood nymph, swinging flying floating. A child playing designer dress up.

I even created three wallpaper/desktop graphics, because the image was so beautiful. Check them out on our new Art page.

I keep arguing against the poutiness in models. It’s not just lingerie ads with sexy full lips, I haven’t clarified - no! it’s full on evil-eye-death-stare moody looks. Perhaps after this article settles in your minds I will have to re-run our last poll, on which your opinions were pretty close.

• • Sexy!: 44% (8)
  • Fugly AND scary!: 22% (4)
  • My smiling dog is cuter!: 33% (6)

Are Pouty Models Cute?

Total Votes : 18

Overall, anti-pout won over but just barely. More overwhelming responses were found in the previous poll, “Are Models Hot?” with a vote toward No! out of 46 total.

But now just see what I really am referring to when I say that pouty models are not attractive:

And now you see why I think designers want them to look ugly, especially with that Dior hair ‘do. Ugggghh. These ladies truly look like demons about to rip fashionistas’ and journalists’ throats out.

A smiling face does not attract from a fabulous (or otherwise) ensemble nearly as much as a monstrous freak which could shoot deathly lasers from its eyes any second. No. Or a model slash actress who could easily appear in a guest spot on a Joss Whedon show as the evil foe, and not need any makeup! Ha. I wish it were funny.

Why is this okay? Why do people think these women are pretty? I was pretty moody and sullen myself in high school, and you know what it got me? Well, not dates! If you looked like a runway model in your driver’s license photo, I’d bet you’d be even more embarrassed than with your current.

Stop the uglification of probably perfectly okay looking girls. Let’s not anymore treat models like objects bending to society’s will - it means we must let them eat and cease drug abusing as well!

I’m not sure if models are humans, too, but let’s allow them to be!

Sure, I make some money, but until I sell more things on eBay, my bills are making this month look pretty scary to me. I only plan on buying one handbag, too! At the moment, I’m all for saving my money and not having new purses, except I’m somehow still broke. Not fair!

But I do have to shop for my Spring Break trip (and those tickets cost me a few hundred, themselves). And I like to be able to get new things, even if they’re not expensive. Much better that way, I’m now thinking. A shopaholic needs little special treats to fill her need.

So I scouted some finds at my favorite big style, little pricetags store; Forever 21. Enjoy!

Items, Forever21.com: Necklace, Headband, Blouse, Shorts. A whole stylish shopping spree that will ring you in under $60!!

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It’s becoming clear to me that designers want models skinny, but only to look fat in the end. Well, whether they intend for the models to look frumpy, it is the result. We all know models are “supposed” to be thin because the clothes just hang on—well those human clothes-hangers. And then when we have thin models, the outcome is that skinny’s hot, and once skinny’s hot, big is out.

BUT designers do. not. care. if the models are hot. Just look at the frowning faces most of the time - not too cute (I think). Really, the clothes hanger look makes the models appear to be in tents. This isn’t flattering, and you know what - stupid designers - the clothes don’t look good! Also - the models look kind of fat. Exactly HOW does this fly?!

It’s odd and confusing, but true. Just take this scrap-page image I put together with 99% help from Net-a-Porter.

What do you think? How exactly are we managing to stay on one side of the line between promoting skinniness and these models clearly imitating a larger body? I want my clothes to flatter and wrap with womanly flair around beautiful bodies. Anyone else?

If you want frequent updates on the fight against skinny models, visit The Runway Scoop.