Tipster Thursday: Photographer Blue Franswa shares the virtues of girdles

Fashiona interviewed Haiti born photographer Blue Franswa earlier this month about his upcoming celebrity calendar to raise money for Haiti and the last question she asked him was:

Every girl wants to look GOOD in photos! What are your two top tips for helping ordinary women have better photographic moments?


Blue:  

1. My best tips for women would be having a great makeup artist who knows how to contour, accentuating facial features and hiding flaws.
2. Girdles I think most women who are size 8 or bigger should wear girdles...at photo shoots only because the camera adds 10 pounds. The girdle helps to smooth the body out. Beyoncé wears them all the time.

Photo Credit: Studio X

Beyoncé performing Sweet Dreams at the VMAs in 2009

Take it from a photographer and B ladies...cameras don't lie.

Read the rest of the interview with Blue at Examiner.com

Jennifer Aniston as Barbara Streisand

Post Brad Pitt Jennifer Aniston has been delving in and out the dating scene, making movies and most recently paying tribute to Barbara Streisand in the September 2010 issue of Harper's Baazaar.  Her pictures as retro Babs are just beautiful.

Of course Jennifer lacks Bab's unique profile but she certainly channels her fearless spirit through the photos. The entire photo essay done by Mark Seliger is stunning but Fashiona's favs are the black and whites.

Pick up a copy of the September issue,  it is a visual treat and a collector's item.

Fashiona meets Tamara Louis-Jeune of Scattering Resources

Last week fashion with a purpose seeking Fashiona was invited to Twelve Lobby and Bistro for the  40 girls and some shoes annual shoe drive.  She was primarily there to interview Sylvia Webb the founder and of course to donate some heels of her own.


While Fashiona was there she was thrilled to meet the lovely Tamara Louis-Jeune founder of Scattering Resources who was there in support of 40 girls and to donate some shoes.  Tamara, who is both Dominican and Haitian,  started the organization in part due to her own Grandmother's frustration with trying to send packages overseas to Haiti.  The high cost of shipping  and shortage of  basic necessities in Haiti prompted her to begin Scattering Resources in 2009.

Photo Credit: Averi Washington

Tamara Louis-Jeune

The name Scattering Resources is taken from Proverbs 11:24 - “There are those who generously scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting…but it results only in want.” Louis-Jeune believes that by scattering resources, a little can go a long way.

VS PINK helping ladies get some attention this NFL season

Sis and Topaz are avid NFL fans...Fashiona watches the SuperBowl but that is about as far as her interest in the sport goes, she will gladly cover their philanthropic efforts all day.

But this season Fashiona and her fellow prissy non sports watching women who are banned from football watching may get some attention during game time thanks to VS PINK and their NFL collaboration.

Tackle anyone...

Fashiona at The Confidant premiere

Fashiona has to wear black and white for work most of the time...so sometimes she breaks her own rules by vetoing black when doing her press gigs.

For example this past Saturday Fashiona went to the red carpet premiere of The Confidant produced by former Miss USA Kenya Moore.  She opted for an ecru halter gown...her favorite silhouette.

Photo Credits: Jae Walker III

 Alicia "aka" Fashiona

But between the voluptuous Kenya Moore in a clingy white Halston dress, Boris Kodjoe filling out his button down shirt oh so nicely and the cutie pie jail bait Chris Tavarez...it really didn't matter what Fashiona wore....

Kenya Moore

(L) Boris Kodjoe and (R) David Banner

Photo Credit: Vaughn Dabney

Actor Chris Tavarez

For more on Kenya Moore and The Confidant premiere read my post on Examiner.com.

Tipster Thursday: Little White Dresses

Every fashion writer, stylist and designer worth her stilettos will advise a fashion challenged client to have a few little black dresses "aka" LBDs in their closet.  Wedding planners will happily assist you with picking a long white dress to walk down the aisle. But if you need a little WHITE dress... available credible advice is somewhat lacking.


Fashiona admits that wearing all white can be tricky.  So as the Summer winds down and the last of the All White Parties generally end around Labor Day...Fashiona has this advice.

• Black is slimming and white...well is not. If you are even the least bit curvy PLEASE  avoid thin white jersey dresses.  They reveal nooks and crannies that you would rather not share with your Facebook friends.
• White dresses that are structured are MUCH more  camera friendly. Consider the event, linen and cotton are good for pool parties and BBQs.   Satin and silk are better choices for dressier events.
• Avoid too much lace in a short white dress...it can look too lingerie like.
• Wearing white shoes with white dress can  read too "bridal" or can resemble a little girl's Easter outfit. Considering wearing a pop color shoe if you want to make a statement or black  or a nude heel if you want to keep it simple.
• And some good news an  A-line white dress looks good on just about every woman.

Photo Credit: Bluefly.com

Carmen Marc Valvo

white jacquard beaded scoopneck dress

Photo Credit: Elle Macpherson

Elle Macpherson

Photo Credit: Huffington Post

Scarlett Johansson

Queen Latifah wearing white at the People's Choice Awards

Edition by Georges Chakra Spring 2010 gown

Old Navy introduces The Booty Reader

Fashiona cracks up every time she sees the Booty Pop commercials.  For those of you who are unfamiliar, they are padded underwear that contours a flat behind...so not a problem for Fashiona.

Old Navy has taken a different approach to your  butt "problem."  They have developed Madame Eva, the Booty Reader, a virtual program that takes your butt shape and your waist/hip contours to recommend  the best jeans for you.

The application prompts you to upload a picture of your behind or pick one from their database.  Umm...Fashiona went for the latter.

Madame Eva recommended the Flirt Bootcut...

Social Sunday: The Wedding we were all curious about: Chelsea Clinton

Isn't it interesting when well known people try to avoid the spotlight..how much more curious we are about their lives?

So we knew that Chelsea was getting married in the near feature when she announced her engagement late last year.  But she and the rest of her "camp" were mum on the details  and no one outside her immediate circle was even sure who was designing her dress... at least not until she was spotting going into Vera Wang...

But the wait is over and Chelsea did indeed marry her longtime beau Marc Mezvinsky in an interfaith wedding ceremony at the Astor Courts Estate on July 31, 2010 in Rhinebeck, New York.

The bride was wearing Vera Wang and a beautiful smile. Her look was very traditional, hair in an elegant updo and an A-line strapless gown.  Chelsea even upheld a bridal custom that isn't so common anymore, wearing full veil that covered her face as she walked down the aisle.  

Photo Credit: Getty Images/HuffingtonPost.com

Chelsea, we watched you grow up and handle being in the spotlight with grace.  Thanks for sharing your wedding pictures with the world...

Alicia "aka" Fashiona