FitSugar

Shower Clock Prevents Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:00:00 PDT

OK, well, maybe it doesn't scientifically prevent breast cancer cells from forming, but what it does do is remind you to do your monthly breast exams. We all know we should be doing them religiously so that we know instantly if something doesn't feel right, but it can be tough to remember every month. So the Cue Shower Clock ($25) does the remembering for you.

It suctions to the wall of your shower and all you do is set the clock to remind you seven days after your period, or if you don't have one you can choose the same day every month. I love that it can also remind you when it's time to go for your annual exam. The clock can work for up to four users, so if you live with other women or have daughters, you can encourage them to get in the habit, too.

Do you have a less techy way to remind yourself to do your self-breast exam. If so, share it below.

Steve Jobs Honored With Grammy

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:01:01 PST

Steve Jobs was honored with the Trustees Award at last night's 2012 Grammys for his contributions to the music industry and his role in creating the iPod and iTunes, which helped shape the music industry as we know it today. Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet software and services accepted the award on behalf of Steve last night. In case you missed it, check out his speech below.

How to Throw a Midnight in Paris-Themed Oscar Party

Shannon Vestal — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:00:26 PST

If you're planning on throwing an Oscar viewing party for Hollywood's big night on Feb. 26, then I suggest that you go big this year and give your event a theme. Take a cue from the nominees and let best picture nominee Midnight in Paris give you inspiration. It has plenty of elements that translate into an opulent party: Paris, the 1920s, and many of its own scenes of revelry. Here's how to use the Woody Allen film as your party muse, and don't forget to fill out a ballot with your Oscar picks for a chance to win an iPad.

How to decorate: Scatter vintage books by the authors featured in the film, like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and T.S. Eliot, and decorate with mini French flags and twinkle lights. Stand a cardboard cutout of the Eiffel Tower near the entrance of the party.
How to dress: The dress code can be either 1920s French (think flapper and drop-waist dresses), or you can just wear your regular clothes like Owen Wilson's character Gil, but you have to continually act surprised and impressed by your surroundings.
What to serve: A rainbow of French macarons, a cheese plate, baguettes, and fancy crepes. Serve champagne in '20s-style glasses like the ones used in the film (though these are disposable).

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Brad Goreski Reveals He Painted His Nails Red in Kindergarten

Allison McNamara — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:50:21 PST

We caught up with super stylist Brad Goreski at the Kate Spade Fall 2012 presentation, where he expertly mix and matched prints with a Parisian chic flare. He told us that he fell in love with fashion at a really early age and even sported red nail polish to his first day of kindergarten! Known for his signature style - cue a bow tie, button-up, and great glasses - we found out what Brad really likes to reach for in his closet: glitter! Watch our entire interview with Brad in today's Fab Flash! On Allison McNamara: Elizabeth and James jacket. Hair and makeup courtesy of Kerastase.

Take Black & White to a New Level!

Allison McNamara — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:09:21 PST

Black and white outfits covered the runways for Fall, and celebrities like Blake Lively and Cameron Diaz have been rocking the classic color combo. In today's episode of Currently Trending, we headed to Saks Fifth Avenue to show you three creative ways to wear this sophisticated color palette right now. From a textural leather and fur combo to Winter-white separates and ladylike peplum, take a cue from these outfits when wearing black and white this season. On Allison: Tibi jacket, Equipment blouse, Zara shorts.

Fab's Top 10 Celebrity Looks of the Week - Lauren, Minka, Emmy, and More!

Hannah Weil — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:27:14 PST

Our favorite celebs outfitted the week in a smart mix of cocktail sheaths and street-ready styles. The party circuit was dotted with pretty party confections from the likes of Emmy Rossum (in a Valentine's-perfect dress), while style setters like Lauren Conrad and Minka Kelly headed out and about in a cool crop of separates. Inside, we're taking a closer look at the rest of this week's top 10. Just click on to get a few noteworthy cues from this fashionable crew.

Fall in Love . . . With Belted Coats

Lauren Conrad — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:18:03 PST

We are thrilled to share this story from Lauren Conrad! The TV personality, writer, designer, and style maven has started LaurenConrad.com, a social networking site that features daily posts by Lauren on all of our favorite topics - fashion, beauty, food, party planning - and Lauren will be sharing her latest fashion finds with Fab every month. This week, she's sharing her favorite belted coats.

It’s easy to look frumpy during the Winter when you’re hidden beneath layers upon layers of clothing. But you don’t have to be a fashion victim just because the mercury dropped. Instead, take a cue from Burberry Prorsum and Diane von Furstenberg and belt that bulky coat of yours! Defined waists are coming back in a major way for 2012, which makes belted coats the perfect transitional piece for this trend. I love the belted look because I think it’s a nice way to create a waist when it’s cold. And I love the understated femininity of the look as well. As a matter of fact, I even designed one for an upcoming Paper Crown collection (stay tuned!).

The belted look can be achieved a couple of ways: Simply cinch your coat or jacket at the waist with your favorite belt or buy a pre-belted (or waist-tie) coat/jacket. You can even work this trend with a closed blazer and cute belt, too. The belted coat works for all body types. It’s universally flattering and adds the ultimate chic-factor to drab Winter wear. The best part? It’s a cinch!

Here are a few of my favorite belted coats:

Topshop Military Belted Coat
Urban Outfitters BB Dakota Romain Belted Coat
Vanessa Bruno Camel Belted Coat

Which one is your favorite?

Also, how do you feel about the belted coat look?

XO Lauren

P.S. Want to see what the original cover concept looked like for the first L.A. Candy book? Click here to see the sketch I did (and just found)!

That's a Wrap - See All the Fashion, Beauty, and Celebrity Photos From the 2012 SAG Awards!

Katie Henry — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:55:03 PST

Red-carpet fashion and beauty coverage:

Catch up on other fun moments you may have missed:

From the Community: Everything You Need to Know About Tabata Training

Fit Community — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:24:34 PST

FitSugar community member (and fitness instructor) livinginthin gives us a primer on Tabata training, a type of high-intensity interval workout.

You've probably heard the word Tabata by now (and if you haven't, you will!). So what exactly is this hot new fitness trend, and why you should care about it?

What is Tabata?

The term Tabata was coined after the Japanese researcher Dr. Izumi Tabata, who compared the effectiveness of short, very high-intensity training (bursts of maximal effort for 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of recovery, repeated for four minutes in total) to a traditional 60-minute aerobic workout.

Who should do it?

Anyone looking to amp up their fitness level, maximize their cardio time, burn more calories, and blast off more fat in way less time. The key to a successful Tabata session is being able to hit the high levels of intensity (the participants in the Tabata study worked at 170 percent of their VO2 Max - that's killer!). If you are new to exercise, or returning after a long hiatus, you may want to progress slowly with trying a Tabata workout.

Learn more about Tabata, after the break!

Mistakes You're Making on the Pilates Mat

Susi May — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:51:53 PST

Mat classes are the most affordable way to reap the benefits of Pilates. Taught across the country at gyms and private studios, group classes mean you don't have an instructor cuing and correcting your every move. Make the most of your time on the mat and be mindful of these common mistakes I've seen in classes over the years.

Not Going Deep
There are many benefits to Pilates, but getting in touch with the deep abs, aka the transverse abdominals, is, to me, the most important. If the deep abs are working, then all four layers of ab muscles will be working right along with it, making for a very stable torso. In class, use every exhale as opportunity to reengage your abs and pull them into your spine with a little lift up. If the abs are pooching outward, you're only working the top layer of the abs and training them to pull away from the spine - the opposite effect of what you want.

Momentum Is Not Your Friend
Deliberate pauses are built into the choreography of many Pilates exercises to prevent momentum from taking over the motion. The Pilates method was originally named Contrology (the study of control) to emphasize this very concept. Going slowly is key. Jayme Boyle, the group fitness coordinator and Pillates mat instructor at the SF Equinox, explains the importance of forgoing momentum like this: "Slower pace means you’re turning on stabilizing muscles and you’re creating more isometric contractions." And I have to agree. Pilates is not a race.

Keep reading for more common Pilates mat class mistakes.