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2013年8月15日星期四

George Armstrong Custer

Few names are as known in American History for their failures as George Armstrong Custer.

Many early Americans have cemented their names into history for their daring-do, ingenuity, talent, inventions, selflessness, or sheer bravery.

Instead, Custer is known for his disappointments,Learn about solarstreetlamps and ensure you get the best out of LED light bulbs. inglorious end, and little else, but is that a fair estimation?

Countless volumes of literature have documented and/or speculated about the man, so to try and author an article with any sort of new material would be folly. However, one can look past the decades of myth and into the documented realities that surrounded his life and death to draw some conclusions that take a step away from the generally accepted notions and wild rumors about Custer and his life.

This article will look at some of those facts that surround Custer’s life and, more specifically, his death. The topic of George Custer is specifically raised because Rock Island Auction Company will bring to the auctioneer’s block an extensively documented elk skin jacket attributed as the Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer’s Death Coat. It is accompanied by a buckskin shirt which is attributed to Lakota Tribe Chief Ran-In-The Face.

Born in Ohio on December 5, 1839 to German immigrants from Rhineland, the son of a farmer and blacksmith, George Custer would spend most of his childhood growing up with his half-sister in Monroe, Michigan. Later attending college, in Hopedale Normal College in Hopedale, Ohio, Custer would pay for his own room and board by carrying coal. Custer, known as “Autie” to his immediate family thanks to his early attempts to say his own middle name, would soon have a teaching certificate and teach grammar. However,You Can Buy Various High Quality petprotectivefilm Products from here. teaching did not suit George and he would enroll at the U.S. Military Academy in 1857, which also barely fit the man. Custer was a poor student, known for playing pranks on his fellow cadets, earning demerits (726 by one report!), facing near expulsion every term for his exploits, and for famously finishing last in his West Point class of 34.

Many associate this with Custer being “stupid” or unable to absorb military tactics. On the contrary, Custer’s antics always required that he buckle down, adhere to discipline, and work his way back into good graces. Much like later on in life, he showed examples of risk taking, fun seeking, being slightly chaotic, and a strong desire to stand out. His West Point class would graduate a year early due to the demand for officers required by the Civil War. Were it not for that great conflict, many say that Custer’s performance at academy would have earned him an obscure, low ranking post and a short career. In fact, several days after that graduation he “failed in his duty as an officer of the guard” to break up a fight between two cadets. He was court-martialed, but again benefited by the outbreak of the Civil War.

Military Career
Instead of the inglorious posting he had earned, Custer was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S.Elevator safety parts are usually include elevator speed governor、ledturninglampes and elevator buffer. Cavalry and would bounce around the Union forces through various successes, campaigns,You are currently browsing the tsg archives for "leddownlights". and promotions. In 1862, Custer would come under the command of Maj.If you have washerextractor002 or landscape lights you might wonder what to do if they stop working. Gen. Alfred Peasonton who would introduce Custer to his love of fine, fancy uniforms and political maneuvering.

This would alienate him from some of his men, but he would win over the majority by always being willing to lead attacks, fighting in the front lines, and seldom asking a subordinate to do what he would not do himself.

That same year, Custer would be “introduced” to a young woman he had first seen at age 10, Elizabeth “Libby” Clift Bacon. The young, intelligent beauty was the daughter of a wealthy and powerful judge who disapproved of the budding romance so much that he allegedly refused Custer to enter the house let alone bless the proposal of marriage he offered in November 1862.

Libby was also initially less than impressed with this son of a blacksmith, but George would win her over with persistence. Just prior to the Battle of Gettysburg in June 1863, Custer was promoted from Captain to Brigadier General of Volunteers, forcing Judge Daniel Bacon to relent and allow the courtship.

The two would eventually marry in February of 1864, fourteen months after they met, but would have their honeymoon cut short when he was recalled to active duty. She would return with him to the front, staying in a tent or house near to where the fighting would occur. Libbie would often accompany Custer and the two were nearly inseparable. When they were apart they would write frequently to each other, filling their letters with innuendos, playful language, and sweeping romantic declarations.

His promotions were well-earned, having performed nobly in many Civil War battles, while his bravado, fancy uniforms, and battlefield victories would make him the darling of the national media. His promotion to Brigadier General make him one of the youngest generals in the union Army at a surprising 23 years of age, earning him the nickname, “Boy General.” He would fight against Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart at Hanover and Hunterstown en route to Gettysburg, where he would have some of his greatest accomplishments.

Please visit his website at www.unionmilitaria.com.

2013年2月25日星期一

who wants to take part has a voice

Doug Cox is an internationally known violin maker who lives in West Brattleboro and has been a Town Meeting Representative for 20 years.

After serving for two decades Cox says he want to become moderator to help improve the meetings and make sure everyone who wants to take part has a voice.

"I love Brattleboro and the richness and diversity of its people and cultures; and I love democracy with all its quirks and idiosyncrasies, and the very human messiness and passion of the democratic process," he said. "I see Town Meeting as a place where these come together in a way that embodies who we are as a community and how we relate to each other. As a student of Brattleboro's Representative Town Meeting, and other forms of participatory governance, I feel I have much to offer, and much to learn from the moderator's position."

Cox is a founding member of the town's Arts Committee, where he has served since 2008, and occasionally attends Selectboard, Planning Commission and Agriculture Committee meetings.

"I feel Brattleboro's Representative Town Meeting is very successful in that the elected body provides a continuity of experience and perspective, and in many ways does a better job of representing the breadth of population and interests than would an open, voluntary attendance town meeting in our community," he said. "The attendance record of Town Meeting members is remarkable. Brattleboro's Town Meeting is a wonderful study in human nature and the challenges of living together and taking collective responsibility for our community."

If Cox is elected he says he will not serve as long as O'Connor, probably about six to eight years, and while he says he would not suggest major changes, Cox does want to leave a mark on the process if voters elect him.

"I feel uplifted about Brattleboro after most Town Meetings, and I hope that all who participate will leave with some sense of growth and accomplishment from the proceedings, and with stronger respect for each other and the democratic process," he said. "The biggest challenge is to help focus discussion so that full and careful consideration is not compromised by the need to get home and walk the dog. By broadening the voices making initial motions, I think we might reduce the feeling that there is an "us and them" relationship with the School Board and Select Board."

Cox says he would want to continue the pre-meeting training sessions for new town meeting members and make sure outside voices are welcomed into the meeting when appropriate.

He also says he wants to attend the Vermont League of Cities and Towns pre-town meeting session, and meet with other moderators in Connecticut and Massachusetts, where the representative method of town meeting is more common.

"I will provide an atmosphere that is efficient and inclusive," he says. "I hope that atmosphere will encourage more folks to run for town meeting member. It is a great institution and a great experience. All who are interested in democracy and the future of Brattleboro should have a chance to serve their neighbors in this way."

Crispe has also served as a town meeting rep for more than 20 years and he says his long experience attending Brattleboro Representative Town Meetings encouraged him to run after O'Connor announced that he would not seek re-election this year.

"I welcome an opportunity to contribute to the democratic process in a way in which I believe I am qualified," he said. "As a Town Meeting member for many years I have had an opportunity to observe how the meeting is run, and am familiar with the procedural and parliamentary issues which the moderator must be able to address."

Crispe spent several years as chairman of the Town Finance Committee. In 2012 town meeting representatives elected him Pro Tem Moderator when O'Connor was ill.

He has also served on the Brattleboro Housing Authority Board, as well as the Police and Fire Space Needs Committee.

After attending town meetings in Newfane, where he grew up, Crispe says the representative form of town government works for a town like Brattleboro.

"I believe the Brattleboro representative system works and provides the community with a democratic voice and competent governance," Crispe said. "Town Meeting representatives in Brattleboro seem to have a higher standard of preparation than in towns where town meeting is open to the general population. The commitment to attend informational sessions leads to greater knowledge which hopefully leads to better decisions."

"I have observed Mr. O'Connor over the last two decades and admire his ability to conduct an orderly meeting while remaining fair and impartial. I would hope to do the same," he said. "As a local lawyer I deal with state and municipal law on a routine basis. Many years ago I served as Assistant Secretary of the Vermont Senate where my duties included advising members on procedural and parliamentary issues. I have also served on several public and private boards and committees including in the capacity as chairperson. I am familiar with the moderator's responsibilities."

2013年1月28日星期一

State labor regulators have ordered a Chino

A city couple is seeking the return of more than $10,000 in cash that city police seized during a drug raid in November 2012 that yielded no illegal narcotics.

Prosecutor Paul J. Narducci is attempting to prove the cash seized from Catrice Williams and Tyrone Santiago, who are both in their late 20s and have prior drug convictions, is the proceeds of drug transactions and is therefore subject to forfeiture.

Williams and Santiago are exercising their right to an asset forfeiture hearing, which is a civil court proceeding at which the state must present clear and convincing evidence that the money was derived from drug sales.

The couple cross-examined three police officers as the hearing got underway today before Judge Susan B. Handy. Williams and Santiago asked for a continuance so they could speak to an attorney before presenting their case. The judge continued the hearing to March 27,

According to testimony and court documents, the police executed a search and seizure warrant at 70 Brainard St., Apt. 1 after an anonymous tip line caller and a confidential informant told them there were drug sales at the apartment. The police said they conducted two controlled purchases of illegal drugs at the apartment in the weeks before the raid during which they observed somebody resembling Williams meet the confidential informant at the door.

The officers said they forced their way into the apartment, finding no illegal narcotics but seizing $8,000 in cash from a bedroom closet and sums of money from Santiago’s pants pocket, two purses and a dresser drawer. Williams and Santiago dispute the amount of money seized and say the police took other items, including jewelry. They said the officers thanked them for the money and “high-fived” each other as they left the apartment.

Though nobody has been arrested, the police said the investigation is continuing.

Officer Brian Laurie testified that Williams had a lot of “brand new clothing” in the apartment, including “dozens upon dozens” of shoes. He said the officers marked three large plasma screen televisions as evidence. He noted Williams had two vehicles - an Audi and an a minivan - and that the house was well-stocked with food. Williams, who said she works in the health care industry, said she was unemployed when the raid occurred but is currently working two jobs.

State labor regulators have ordered a Chino warehouse operator to pay more than $1 million in overtime plus $200,000 in penalties for hundreds of state labor law violations.

State Labor Commissioner Julie Su issued citations Monday to Quetico, a warehouse and distribution company that handles shoes, apparel and electronic goods for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other big-box retailers.

The commissioner's investigation of two Quetico facilities, totaling a half-million square feet, found that the company created restrictive procedures which shorted 865 workers of their wages. Employees were forced to come to work early to stand in long lines to punch time cards at only three available clocks, the state said.

Employees also were denied legally required lunch and rest breaks, the state said.

"Wage theft takes many forms," Su said in a statement.

"My office will crack down on any employer who is taking hard-earned wages from workers by falsifying time cards and systematically preventing employees from taking a full meal break.... We are also intent on eliminating the competitive advantages that labor law violators gain over employers who play by the rules."

Quetico did not respond to a request for comment on the alleged labor law violations.

Quetico's warehouses also have been cited by state agencies for safety violations  in the last year, according to Warehouse Workers United, a union-backed group that has been campaigning to highlight alleged labor abuses at Inland Empire distribution centers used by Wal-Mart and other retailers.

"Many of the problems that we commonly see in Southern California warehouses are concentrated at this warehouse," said Guadalupe Palma, the group's director.

2012年10月11日星期四

Academia Sanchez-Casal buys in to Naples

New momentum has engulfed the beleaguered facility most commonly known as the Naples Bath & Tennis Club. The multi-court complex on Airport-Pulling Road in Naples is now the official American hub of the Academia Sanchez-Casal Florida operation.

The 38-court academy has just opened its programs for juniors, ATP and WTA players, coaches and after‐school tennis for kids. It will follow the same successful structure that it has in Barcelona: a traditional club for families with numerous social activities and tennis programs for local kids.

The Academia Sanchez‐Casal Tennis Club opened for members on Oct. 1, with its official all-around opening scheduled for Nov. 1.

“We are the top academy in Europe, but if we want to be the best in the world we have to be in Florida,” said Emilio Sanchez Vicario, former top-10 ATP player and founder of Academia Sanchez‐Casal. “Naples looks like a perfect location, a beautiful and safe residential area easily accessible by car from the main cities and very well connected by air.”

In 2007, the academy — named for founders and champion doubles partners in the 1980s, Emilio Sanchez Vicario and Sergio Casal — hopped the Atlantic and opened a Naples branch on leased courts at Naples Bath & Tennis Club.

In July, Academia Sanchez-Casal purchased the club for $3.27 million.

Sanchez said he strongly believes that his training method will help Americans to develop their tennis game, and he moved to Florida with his family to launch this project.

Women second in flight at nationals: Playing with determination, the Pelican Bay Park women’s 3.0 squad finished in second place in its flight at this past week’s USTA team nationals in Palm Springs, Calif.

The locals finished with a team score of 2-1. They tied the first-place team with the same number of individual wins (6) and losses (3). To illustrate the strength of the Pelican Bay team, consider that it lost a total of seven sets, and just 63 games were lost in three matches.

Susanne Navarro and Lisa Giuttari won all three of their matches. Kathy Donohue and Laurie Rieks were 2-1. Barb Pikal and Marcy Korson won their match while Lore Bay and Roanna Handy were 0-2 in exciting matches that were well fought and went down to the wire.

“We enjoyed meeting players from all areas of the country,” team captain Sue Marco said. “It was a very rewarding experience. We would like to thank the Southwest Florida tennis community for their support. It was our pleasure to represent you in Palm Springs.”

2012年9月28日星期五

Mobile vendors sold running shoes

Inside the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, a mobile shopping mall was assembled for the 3,466 race participants who began arriving in Augusta on Friday. First, they check in and sign a waiver. Then, they pull out the credit card.

St. Louis athletes Julie Ellis and her training partner, Kierstin Coovert, filled several shopping bags with gear. A trophy for their efforts was the official Ironman Augusta race shirt that includes every preregistered participant’s name. The two squinted their eyes to read the tiny writing.

“You busted your butt all season training. You know you gotta get it,” Ellis said.

Mobile vendors sold running shoes, bike racks and tires, energy food, hats, shirts, wetsuits and anything with an official Ironman logo. Some athletes lined up for a stretch with a chiropractor.

Dennis Geiser, the mobile store manager for Inside-Out Sports of Cary, N.C., said the products available have advanced far beyond what was on the market when he began triathlon training in the early 1990s. Jelly beans were his energy source then, not the endless variety of power bars he sold Friday.

“You don’t need any of this stuff except a helmet and a set of clothing to cover yourself up,” Geiser said.

The most popular item in Geiser’s store Friday was a $3.99 cartridge of carbon dioxide used to inflate bike tires. The tiny bottles don’t pass airport security regulations.

Geared up and ready, Nick and Barbara Vetere, of Pennsburg, Pa., pedaled from the hotel entrance for a 17-mile bike ride. With less than two days until the race, the athletes are shortening their exercise time.

“It’s hard not to train hard. The body is used to it,” Nick Vetere said.

His strategy for the swim, bike and run: one leg at a time. “Just like a workout,” he said. “Hope I make it through the whole thing.”

2012年9月12日星期三

Accident highlights increasingly problematic scooter issues

The headlights were bearing down and the speed limit had just shot up to 60 mph, but Perry Smith wasn't worried.

As he cruised down Highway 25, the longtime high schoolteacher assumed the driver behind him would do what most did when they came up to their relatively slow-moving counterparts -- flick a quick signal, dart into the other lane and pass him and his scooter on by.

That didn't happen this time.

The 22-year-old driver of the other vehicle, he learned later, was eating a taco as she drove and she didn't see him. The 4,000-pound Chevrolet never slowed, hitting him directly from behind. Smith was knocked up on the roof of her car, his head hitting the windshield as he flew. He dropped to the hard pavement, injuring his back and giving him a severe case of road rash.

His scooter rolled underneath her Chevy, and both caught fire.

"Had I not been wearing a helmet, I don't imagine I would be alive," Smith said Wednesday, two years after the incident. "I heard about what happened with the college student. My heart goes out to her. It's just an awful tragedy. I wish she had been wearing a helmet. She'd probably be in a lot better shape."

As it is, Meg Herndon, the 21-year-old Southeast Missouri State University student, remained in critical condition Wednesday at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, according to spokeswoman Ann Vassett. The senior from Fenton, Mo., was airlifted there Sunday after a motor vehicle accident that involved a full-size four-by-four pickup colliding with the scooter she was riding at the corner of Sprigg Street and Normal Avenue.

She was not wearing a helmet, law enforcement confirmed in the days since. But officers have been quick to point out that, unlike those who ride motorcycles, scooter riders are not required to by Missouri law.

And Herndon, a popular soccer player who is studying to be a nurse, is nowhere near the rule's exception. Most local scooter drivers don't wear a helmet.

Sgt. Kevin Orr, who heads the Cape Girardeau Police Department's traffic division, said the city has an "extremely large" number of scooters on the road right now. They also are involved in several accidents each year, he said. According to police records, 11 scooters were in crashes in 2010, 14 in 2011 and five so far this year.

But a lot of them take place in the warmer months after the university resumes classes, he said, because many of those who ride scooters in town tend to be college students. While helmets may not be a legal requirement, Orr said he'd like to see scooter drivers volunteer to wear them.

"If I was going to give you the best and safest advice," Orr said, "in my opinion, helmets ought to be required for scooter riders. They're on two wheels as opposed to four. If they do everything they're required to do, it's still not as safe as being in a four-wheeled vehicle."

Doug Richards, director of the university's police department, said he knows students are driving the scooters in droves. Almost 400 students have registered as scooter riders this semester. He expects that number to continue to grow in the coming years, considering that scooters don't require insurance, can be bought for about $1,000, don't call for state registration and are cheap on gas.

"It's all about the economics," Richards said. "We've seen the numbers just escalate, and it is posing a major safety problem. It's becoming a real issue."

Scooters offer little crash protection, are sometimes hard to see and have few safety requirements, he said.

"When that motorized vehicle goes up against cars and trucks, it's going to lose," he said.

The university sends letters to students who register scooters offering safety tips, such as being familiar with the vehicle, making sure all components are functioning and to follow the rules of the road, Richards said. He's also interested, he said, with working with city officials to see if making helmets legal can be mandated by law.

Still, Todd Rapp, owner of Campus Scooters in Cape Girardeau, is dubious that anything short of that will work. He sells 300 to 400 new scooters a year -- more than half of those to college-age buyers -- and he's tried to encourage buyers to wear helmets. He's even had promotions where he has given helmets to new owners, but few seem interested.

"They just don't want to wear a helmet," he said. "The guys don't think it looks cool, and the girls say it will mess up their hair. They need to realize that when their head hits concrete at 30 miles an hour, it's going to hurt."

Coincidentally, Rapp was nearby when Herndon had her accident and he rushed to the scene. He remembers seeing her lying still on the street from an impact so hard it knocked off her shoes.

"That's not something that you forget," he said.

2012年4月22日星期日

Landwerlen Leather has become well weathered over 4 generations

He was barely old enough for school. Just 6 years old.

Yet, Leo Landwerlen skipped into his grandfather's leather shop and went to work.

He swept floors. He stocked shelves. He ran errands, making deliveries to the hundreds of shoe cobblers that made their livelihood in the city.

Seventy years later, Landwerlen still walks into the same shop at 365 S. Illinois St., Landwerlen Leather Co., a wholesale and retail business catering to the shoe repair industry.

Not a whole lot has changed in this place where the smell of tanned leather hides mixes with the mustiness of a century-old building. Where the worn, wooden floors creak and the click of a typewriter still creates invoices.

And then again, everything has changed.

People don't repair shoes anymore. They throw them away. Fewer than 20 shoe repair shops exist in the area.

Landwerlen now is the only shoe repair wholesaler in the state, one of just 40 nationwide.

But this isn't a story of a vanishing business down on its luck. This is one of survival. One of strength and perseverance that only comes with a family-owned shop that dates back to 1908 and claims four generations.

"We've survived by being honest with people and giving them the best quality for the best price," said Leo Landwerlen, whose grandfather, Louis, founded the company that has supplied countless pairs of laces, dyes, polish, insoles and leather to shoe repair shops across the country.

"We have old-fashioned values and old-fashioned service and that wins," said Dee Landwerlen, Leo's wife. "I guess you could say we're old-school."

We definitely can say that.

It was the 1880s when Louis Landwerlen came from the countryside to look for work in the big city. He was just 18. He found it, shaking salt from cowhides at the old Taylor Co. leather shop Downtown.

By 1908, he had opened his own shop in the same building it operates in today.

Instead of shoes, however, Louis Landwerlen founded the company to make wide leather belts that ran on machinery. He quickly started dabbling in other leather trades and supplying to shoe cobblers.

This was the true golden era of shoe repair -- just before and during World War II. Times were hard, and leather and rubber were strictly rationed. People needed their single pair of shoes to last.

At the time, there were 75,000 shoe repair shops nationwide. Today, there are fewer than 7,000, said Mitch Lebovic, with the Shoe Service Institute of America.

"The shoe industry today is challenged by inexpensive shoes," he said. "What Landwerlen does, it's increasingly rare these days."

The company will be honored this summer at the institute's annual meeting for being in business more than 100 years.

Lebovic himself, whose business is in Maryland, has ties to the Landwerlens. It was Robert Landwerlen, Leo's cousin, who hired him to work for the shoe institute in 1987.

Robert and two other family members gave up their ownership of the company to Leo in 1983. Around then, Dee, a school teacher, came in to work full time.

Today, the business has technically been passed on to their two boys, Eric and Mike.

But both Leo and Dee still come to the shop almost every day. Eric is the working partner who joins them, along with just one other full-time employee.

Dee teases that Eric "wasn't interested in higher learning."

"I'm happy here," Eric said. "It's the only job I've ever had."

But with a family business comes a lot of ribbing and the requirement to be completely frank with one another and move on.

Like the little spat about the invoices last week. Eric still writes his by hand. Dee likes hers to "look neat," so she does them on a typewriter.

2011年4月26日星期二

Car won 1908 NY-Paris race; out for spin in Reno

RENO, Nev. (AP) Jeff Mahl is stepping into his great-grandfather's shoes to recreate the most famous race around the world in auto history.

For about an hour in Reno on Tuesday, he slipped into the original, refurbished Thomas Flyer that Great-Grandpa George Schuster Sr. drove to victory from New York to Paris in 1908.

The car has been displayed mostly at the National Automobile Museum in Reno since the late casino mogul Bill Harrah refurbished it in 1964.

Mahl took a ceremonial ride around town before the racing teams left for San Francisco where their cars will be shipped to China. The 65-day race ends in Paris July 30.

The original racers made the 22,000-mile trip in 169 days. At the time, Mahl says, it was like sending a man to the moon.

2011年4月11日星期一

Burgundy babe Sarah Harding matches shoes

Sarah Harding was making the most of the spring heat wave last night by baring her legs in a skimpy nude jumpsuit on a night out in London.

The Girls Aloud star showed off her fake tan in the short sleeved, low cut, thigh high one-piece, which was almost the same shade as her skin.

To brighten up the ensemble though, Sarah matched her burgundy shoes, belt and lipstick alongside some chunky gold chains.

She was having a night out at her favourite haunt, Gilgamesh, in Camden.

Harding was at the same club last Saturday night too and is a regular at the glamorous bar.

The 29-year-old appeared to be letting her hair down after a stressful week, which saw her fiancé Tom Crane face a legal debacle over allegedly owing 18 months’ rent for a former flat.

A source close to Harding told the newspaper: ‘This was Tom’s flat and Sarah had her own flat nearby.

‘Like most couples she moved some possessions in but she had nothing to do with the rent. This was the first she’d heard of the money owed. Tom is to get it sorted today.’

The couple celebrated their engagement party last month at the Brompton Club in South Kensington, but they haven’t yet decided on a wedding date.

2011年4月7日星期四

Amanda Seyfried: 'Red Riding Hood' European Premiere!

Amanda Seyfried hits the red carpet in Karen Caldwell for the European premiere of her latest movie, Red Riding Hood, at The Vue Leicester Square on Thursday (April 7) in London, England.

The 25-year-old actress walked the red carpet with her co-stars, Shiloh Fernandez and Max Irons!

Amanda accessorized with Tom Binns jewelry and Fendi shoes.

FYI: Amanda's dress is made from material from a vintage coat and lined with material from a recycled silk dress! Shiloh suited up in D&G.

2011年3月20日星期日

Sample sales and discounts: March 21-27

BGN Paris: March 22-26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 202 W. 40th St. (suite 902), at Seventh Ave. Women's jackets, tops, pants and dresses are up to 90 percent off. Items from past collections and current merchandise are available.

3.1 phillip lim: March 24-25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 260 W. 39th St. (17th fl.), btwn Seventh and Eighth aves. Women's and men's ready-to-wear, accessories and shoes are well below retail prices. Proceeds go to the American Red Cross to aid Japan's relief efforts.

Dolce & Gabbana and D&G: March 24, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; March 25-26, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; March 27, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Metropolitan Pavilion: 123 W. 18th St., btwn Sixth and Seventh aves. (fourth fl.), 877-70-DGUSA. Women can grab up cocktail dresses, tailored pants, jackets bags and shoes from Dolce & Gabbana and dresses, jeans and accessories from D&G. Men can find suits, shirts, pants and coats from Dolce & Gabbana and shirts and jeans from D&G.

2011年3月15日星期二

Prom attire: Making the grade on a budget

Maria Vriniotis has dreamt of her prom night for years. That is why she volunteered to head the graduation committee at Windemere Secondary. She wanted everything to be perfect.

Most girls do, but perfection can be expensive. It's easy to find your dream dress if you are willing to spend more than $500. But what if your budget is significantly less than that?

Aside from the Cinderella Project, which does a fantastic job providing dresses to girls who can't afford to buy anything, a little creative shopping can make dreams a reality for those with limited resources.

Cassandra Ly, the student council president at Windemere, went to a BCBG outlet store in the U.S. She bagged a strapless, lilac chiffon gown for just $40. She scooped two pairs of shoes for under $50. She also scored a short dress for the early fall photo shoot through the online store shopruche.com for $32.

"I really wanted to make sure I didn't spend a lot on grad clothes," she says. She preferred to use her money on the events.

Ly's friend Emily Chan is still looking. She wants to find something unique and affordable, so she went shopping on Main Street hoping to find something by a local designer or vintage. She wants a long gown, but found that the boutiques mainly stock short ones, and the long dresses in the vintage shops were "a bit too vintage-y".

Her limit is $150 and she hopes to find something that falls off the shoulder in a bright blue or purple. Le Chateau and BCBG are a little too mainstream for her tastes. But for others, the BCBG store on Robson has a whole floor dedicated to dresses. Some sale items come in under $150.

"I'm a little anxious," Ly says about not having found her dress yet. "I want to get this out of the way so I can focus on other stuff."

Klay Kaulback may have the answer to her quandary. He owns the designer gown rental shop Du Jour Boutique on Abbott St. in Gastown. Unlike bridal rentals, Du Jour deals in dresses that are appropriate for galas, and he says he has some gorgeous dresses for prom night.

"We don't do the traditional grad-type dresses," he says. No big poufy numbers or super-clingy, slit-to-the-thigh pieces.

"Ours are more classy. Super sweet and kind of sexy and fun."

For example, there is a Sue Wong gown with petals all down the skirt and an aubergine-toned short Sue Wong with a jewelled belt and feather skirt.

"It's stunning," he says, adding he also carries Laundry, Betsey Johnson and JS. These dresses sell for up to $550 new, but girls can rent them for $130 or less, which includes cleaning. It's an affordable option, especially since few girls will ever wear their prom dresses again. No one else would have anything like them.

Joy Mauro, owner of the Turnabout consignment stores, says the south Granville and south Surrey locations also have some great options for frugal grads.

She has a stunning Marchesa gown (the designer behind the dress worn to the Academy Awards by True Grit star and Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld). The gown retails for $1,200, but you can snag it at Turnabout for $396. That's a great discount, but if it's still too steep, there is also a D&G dress for $289, a Diane von Furstenberg for $129 or BCBG dress for $69. If one of them fits, you've got a bargain.

Turnabout also features a large selection of accessories including shoes, clutches and jewelry.

Maria Vriniotis, who's still trying to find her dress, could do worse.

For guys, prom night should be considered more of an opportunity than an expense. This may be the first suit they own, and if they select it carefully, they can easily use it for years.

Kyle Vucko, co-owner of the Vancouver-based online line Indochino, which allows clients to customize their suits for both fit and flare, says guys have a tendency to dress like a peacock at grad, choosing something flamboyant like a silver vest. But since this may be their first suit, he recommends guys buy a basic black or navy suit for prom night and jazz it up with bright accessories, maybe a pink or purple shirt or a colourful tie. For style, he says to go slim.

"There are a lot ways that you can very cost effectively make your outfit look really unique and really colourful, but still add all of these pieces to a wardrobe you can use in the future," he says.

"A lot of that stuff put together gets you close to $500. To rent it would cost $200 to $300, and you don't get to keep it."

It should be a night to remember, but not for putting you into debt.

2011年3月13日星期日

"What I'll Be Wearing at Meydan"

Christy Wong was thrilled when she scooped the award for Best Dressed Woman at last year's Dubai World Cup. Winning style kudos and a Range Rover for a year, the fashionista is already planning her wardrobe for this year's event, and amazingly she's prepared to share her styling secrets with us. Listen up, ladies, you're onto a winner...

Christy says...

WEAR WHITE: This season will see a riot of colour and rainbow brights hit the stores, but my hot tip for a winning outfit at this year's Dubai World Cup Style Stakes will be to use a little white magic. For spring/summer 2011, designers from D&G, Chloe, Celine, to Stella McCartney sent their models down the runway in pure white. The key is to keep the cut of the dress simple and the silhouette crisp for maximum impact.

LACE UP: If clinical minimalism is not your style, try combining white with another hot trend for the summer: lace. Detailing like lace and broderie anglaise will add a little romance to your look, but if you're going to go for this, make sure that the dress is knee length to avoid the risk of looking too bridal.

MAD HATS: A pure white outfit will act as the perfect canvas to showcase a flamboyant hat, so you can really stand out from the crowds. Have fun with this part of your outfit as a brightly coloured headpiece will ‘pop' against a white dress. My favourite styles are sculptural and modern, but be sure to pick a hat which reflects the look you're going for.

WINNING ACCESSORIES: For your shoes, simple nude heels are always a safe bet, or alternatively, be adventurous and try matching your heels with the colour of your hat. Mid-height heels are always best for the races as you'll be on your feet all day. With a striking outfit, keep jewellery to a minimum and accessorise simply with a sparkling smile.

See you at the races!

How to Enter the Style Stakes Competition
There are three categories: Best Dressed Lady (with runner-up), Best Dressed Couple, Best Hat and for the first time Best Dressed Man. Prizes on offer include a year's free lease of a Jaguar – see below for a full list of prizes. Registration forms will be available from all Jaguar Style Stakes Registration desks located at Level 1, Concourses A, C and D, and from the Style Arena. Contestants must present themselves with a completed registration form at the Style Arena located in Apron Views.

Jaguar Style Stakes Schedule
2-4.45pm Registration
5.05pm Preliminary Judging of Style Stakes Ladies
5.50pm Preliminary Judging of Style Stakes Couples
6.20pm Preliminary Judging of Style Stakes Man
6.45pm Final Judging & Prize Presentation

Best Dressed Lady
.One year lease of a Jaguar*
.6 nights' accommodation for up to eight people in one of The Hideaways Club's properties of the winner's choice, complemented by five-star Concierge Services.
.HTC Desire Mobile Phone
.1 night stay at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa for two people inclusive of breakfast
* The jaguar car is not transferable to other countries.

Runner-up
.Jaguar for a weekend: pick up your Jaguar and enjoy an entire weekend experiencing the luxury of Jaguar
.HTC Desire Mobile Phone
.Dinner for two people at Al Hadheerah restaurant, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa

Best Dressed Couple
.Jaguar for a weekend: pick up your Jaguar and enjoy an entire weekend experiencing the luxury of Jaguar
.HTC Desire mobile phone
.One night stay at The Meydan Hotel for two people inclusive of breakfast

Best Dressed Man
.Jaguar for a weekend: pick up your Jaguar and enjoy an entire weekend experiencing the luxury of Jaguar
.HTC Desire mobile phone
.Pool Day package at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, inclusive of lunch for two people

2011年3月8日星期二

Prom attire: Making the grade on a budget

Maria Vriniotis has dreamed of her prom night for years. That is why she volunteered to head the graduation committee at Windemere Secondary. She wanted everything to be perfect.

Most girls do, but perfection can be expensive. It's easy to find your dream dress if you are willing to spend more than $500. But what if your budget is significantly less than that?

Aside from the Cinderella Project, which does a fantastic job providing dresses to girls who can't afford to buy anything, a little creative shopping can make dreams a reality for those with limited resources.

Cassandra Ly, the student council president at Windemere, went to a BCBG outlet store in the U.S. She bagged a strapless, lilac chiffon gown for just $40. She scooped two pairs of shoes for under $50. She also scored a short dress for the early fall photo shoot through the online store shop ruche.com for $32.

"I really wanted to make sure I didn't spend a lot on grad clothes," she says. She preferred to use her money on the events.

Ly's friend Emily Chan is still looking. She wants to find something unique and affordable, so she went shopping on Main Street hoping to find something by a local designer or vintage. She wants a long gown, but found that the boutiques mainly stock short ones, and the long dresses in the vintage shops were "a bit too vintage-y".

Her limit is $150 and she hopes to find something that falls off the shoulder in a bright blue or purple. Le Chateau and BCBG are a little too mainstream for her tastes. But for others, the BCBG store on Robson has a whole floor dedicated to dresses. Some sale items come in under $150.

"I'm a little anxious," Ly says about not having found her dress yet. "I want to get this out of the way so I can focus on other stuff."

Klay Kaulback may have the answer to her quandary. He owns the designer gown rental shop Du Jour Boutique on Abbott St. in Gastown. Unlike bridal rentals, Du Jour deals in dresses that are appropriate for galas, and he says he has some gorgeous dresses for prom night.

"We don't do the traditional gradtype dresses," he says. No big poufy numbers or super-clingy, slit-to-thethigh pieces.

"Ours are more classy. Super sweet and kind of sexy and fun."

For example, there is a Sue Wong gown with petals all down the skirt and an aubergine-toned short Sue Wong with a jewelled belt and feather skirt.

"It's stunning," he says, adding he also carries Laundry, Betsey Johnson and JS. These dresses sell for up to $550 new, but girls can rent them for $130 or less, which includes cleaning. It's an affordable option, especially since few girls will ever wear their prom dresses again. No one else would have anything like them.

Joy Mauro, owner of the Turnabout consignment stores, says the south Granville and south Surrey locations also have some great options for frugal grads.

She has a stunning Marchesa gown (the designer behind the dress worn to the Academy Awards by True Grit star and Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld). The gown retails for $1,200, but you can snag it at Turnabout for $396. That's a great discount, but if it's still too steep, there is also a D&G dress for $289, a Diane von Furstenberg for $129 or BCBG dress for $69. If one of them fits, you've got a bargain.

Turnabout also features a large selection of accessories including shoes, clutches and jewelry.

Maria Vriniotis, who's still trying to find her dress, could do worse.

For guys, prom night should be considered more of an opportunity than an expense. This may be the first suit they own, and if they select it carefully, they can easily use it for years.

Kyle Vucko, co-owner of the Vancouver-based online line Indochino, which allows clients to customize their suits for both fit and flare, says guys have a tendency to dress like a peacock at grad, choosing something flamboyant like a silver vest. But since this may be their first suit, he recommends guys buy a basic black or navy suit for prom night and jazz it up with bright accessories, maybe a pink or purple shirt or a colourful tie. For style, he says to go slim.

"There are a lot ways that you can very cost effectively make your outfit look really unique and really colourful, but still add all of these pieces to a wardrobe you can use in the future," he says.

"A lot of that stuff put together gets you close to $500. To rent it would cost $200 to $300, and you don't get to keep it."

It should be a night to remember, but not for putting you into debt.

SUITS YOU: TIPS FOR BOYS

Kyle Vucko, Vancouver-based cofounder of an online custom menswear line called Indochino.com, says if guys want to look good in a suit, they should make sure it fits.

"You can get somebody in a cheap suit that is well cut and it trumps somebody who is wearing a $2,000 suit that doesn't fit well," he says, adding the style now is for a slim silhouette.

He gives some pointers on how to achieve a great look in a suit.

. Avoid the football look by making sure the shoulders of the jacket fit the natural curve of your shoulders.

. Create a nice curve through the torso by bringing it in tighter at the waist. If you have very broad shoulders, reduce this curve so you don't look like an inverted triangle.

. Give the illusion of a balanced body using the break in the leg of the trousers. The break is where the fabric naturally folds just about the ankle. The longer the leg, the more important the break is. It creates the illusion of a shorter leg. If the leg is short, however, no break gives the illusion of length because there is nothing interrupting the view from the shoe to the waist.

2011年2月22日星期二

Amanda Seyfried Interviewed By Justin Timberlake

Amanda Seyfried pairs her Nina Ricci dress and shoes with a Roshi belt in this sexy new spread for the March 2011 issue of Interview Magazine, on stands this week.

The 25-year-old actress is interviewed by her Now co-star Justin Timberlake. Here are some excerpts:

On working with brilliant people:

AS: I'm constantly attracted to people who are too smart for their own good and who have it all together, because I can't relate to that, so I can just kind of jump on their train.

JT: And milk their genius for all you can.

On the decision to go into the arts:

AS: "I didn't really go into the arts for any specific reason. It was just to find a vessel for all of my energy. And also because I'm not good at anything else. I'm just really not equipped for, say, academics or sports."

On giving up control of your world as an actor and musician:

JT: "I actually find it liberating to give up control. It's nice for me. What's been more of a battle for me through- out the process of moving into acting is that I feel like I have to keep reassuring people that I'm not an a–hole. There is a stigma that comes from being on stage and being a musician… Whatever you do as a musician, no matter how good it is, somebody somewhere is going to s–t on it. You put your heart on your sleeve, and what will happen will happen. But it's like that for any artist. You do a painting, you take a photograph, it's the same. That's how artistry works."