FitSugar

Get Your Butt in Gear: GapBody Sport Essential Perfect Pants

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:00:00 PDT

I will freely admit it; I am a workout pant fanatic. When you try go to the gym every day, you need a bunch of workout pants or you'll end up with a lot of laundry every day. So I am always on the watch for new pants, especially comfortable and flattering ones.

My girlfriend recently told me about her favorite new workout pants, the GapBody Sport Essential Perfect Pants ($44.50). So I had to check them out myself and they seem like a great moderately priced workout pant to add to your fitness wardrobe. I've personally always been a fan of GapBody underwear because it's comfortable and soft, so it makes sense that their workout gear would be comfy, too. From what I can tell, they don't have any wicking properties or fancy stuff like that (made of just polyester and spandex), but sometimes you want to wear "comfortable and flattering" instead of "fancy fabric technology." Interested? Then buy them here.

Naeem Khan Fall 2012

Hannah Weil — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:01:23 PST

With the Oscars at the end of the month, Naeem Khan's gorgeously crafted red-carpet wear couldn't have come at a better time. Head-to-toe sparkle, full-length prints, embellished pants - Khan's wildly beautiful Fall '12 confections are begging to be worn right now. Beginning with an essentially ethnic-inspired feel, Khan sent ornately crafted tunic-style dresses and gowns down the runway that spoke decidedly to his native India. But, cinched at the waist with lovely black bows, these tunics are both somewhat exotic and at the same time steeped in classic red-carpet glamour. It's that wow factor that registers, the luxuriousness of it all, the decadence that unfolds in all-over sparkle, fringe trim, and jaw-dropping silhouettes. Showstoppers are Khan's bread and butter - in fact, it was hard not to audibly ohh and ahh with nearly every ensemble's turn down the runway. That's not to say you tire of the effect - you're captivated. It's not just the exotic detail, the texture, or the shine, it's how Khan masters the cut. Necklines and slits are sexy but never reveal too much; fringe and beading are used abundantly, but it never feels over-the-top. It's how Khan's mastered the art of razzle-dazzle with perfect allure.

Trends: Textured, embellished eveningwear; ethnic-feeling robe- and tunic-style gowns; dramatic black and white prints.
Colors: Black, white, silver, gold.
Key Piece: The gold full-length v-neck gown is begging for a red-carpet appearance.
Accessories: Open-toe cutout ankle boots, peep-toe pumps, ankle-strap heels.
Who Would Wear It: Hollywood A-listers and Oscar contenders like front-rower Ahna O'Reilly; beauties like Zoe Saldana and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley would carry off these gowns flawlessly.

Bacteria Is Not Bliss: How to Keep Your Yoga Mat Clean and Germ-Free

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:36:17 PST

We're knee-deep in cold and flu season and although practicing yoga is a great way to strengthen your muscles and your immune system, doing Child's Pose with your face pressed into a dirty, germy mat is a surefire way to sign yourself up for a case of the sicks. You can protect yourself by keeping your mat clean with these tips.

Bring a towel to class to absorb your sweat, and also wear long pants. The more sweat you can absorb and not allow to pool on your mat, the cleaner it will be.
Choose one side of your mat to practice on. That way, one side always stays clean and only the other side comes in contact with the germs on the floor.
Before you practice, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly to avoid passing germs onto your mat. Then after class, roll up your yoga mat and place it in a mat bag or tote to protect it from outside germs.

Don't let your mat make you sick. Keep reading for more essential tips to keep your mat germ-free.

Tori Spelling's Tips For Boho-Chic Holiday Style

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:56:09 PST

We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling! Every other week we're bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle advice from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, which is Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori helps mamas hone their holiday style with some boho-chic style ideas.

Today I'm bringing you another hot holiday trend - boho chic! Let’s be honest, the '70s never really went away. If you are a vintage collector (like me) or if you just never threw away your (or your mama’s) '70s duds (hello, fellow fashion hoarders!), you can pull these looks straight from your own closet. Today’s boho chic holiday ensemble includes a (faux) fur coat, pussy-bow blouse, wide-leg pants, floppy hat, velvet burnout sweaters/accessories, and my ultimate favorite – vintage jewelry!

For Day
Not only is this look beyond glam, you can rock these separates throughout the year.

That luxe faux fur coat is from affordable British store Topshop, or you can raid your fave vintage store to find a look-alike.
A classic boho combo is a pussy-bow blouse and wide-leg pant. Taupe is the color of the season - whether on your nails or your shoes - it’s everywhere.
Try accessorizing it with a pop of color like the emerald green striped clutch by Edie Parker, pictured above.
This outfit has plenty of punch, so just to give it an added sparkle, I recommend dainty accessories. Pictured above is a Dana Rebecca necklace and Marc Jacobs’s bracelet. The sexy allure to this ensemble is that you are essentially covered up - chic and perfect for cold weather. Pin your hair back to highlight your best asset!

Keep reading for Tori Spelling's nighttime boho style tips!

Personal Trainer Tricks You Don't Have to Pay For

Leta Shy — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:54:25 PDT

There are so many reasons why splurging on a personal trainer is a good idea. They teach you how to work out safely and efficiently, and show you how to attain your healthy goals. But often it's hard to justify the high price tag if you have other expenses that are also begging for your wallet's attention. If you're not in the market for a personal trainer, here are some tricks that trainers use to whip you into shape that don't require any money at all.

Just a little more: You pay your trainer to deliver results, which often translates to you panting on the floor while your trainer is telling you that you need to do 10 more push-ups. Channel that extra push, sans price tag, during your next workout. Just pushing yourself to go for five more minutes can help you burn up to 60 extra calories. Need motivation? Check out our chart of calories burned with just five more minutes of exercise.

Get creative with your workouts: Trainers have a knack for developing workouts that target muscles you didn't even know you had, but don't think that you can't create your own fun circuit workout that combines cardio with strength training. If you need ideas, try one of our all-over body circuit workouts (like this total-body circuit workout using dumbbells or this belly-fat blasting circuit workout by celebrity trainer Jeanette Jenkins) for an example of an efficient and trainer-inspired workout.

Read on for more ways to exercise like a personal trainer after the break.

What to Pack For Paris Fashion Week

Chi Diem Chau — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:33:40 PDT

When you attend Paris Fashion Week, you must come stylishly prepared. The city of love requires a different kind of wardrobe; a little romantic, a little hard edged, and a whole lot of chic. Whether you're one of the lucky ones who gets to attend the festivities or will be enjoying the show from the sidelines, we packed you a bag of our PFW essentials. A decadent pair of snap-worthy shoes from Emilio Pucci, a knockout Roberto Cavalli party dress, and the perfect pair of pants - all packed in an incredibly chic trunk. Click to see our pics in the slideshow.

Roksanda Ilincic Spring 2012

Hannah Weil — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:00:01 PDT

We first saw Roksanda Ilincic's collection as a part of Topshop's New Generation Initiative in 2005 - cut to Spring 2012 fashion week, and the designer is showcasing the kind of modern separates and dresses with a hint of the avant-garde sensibility she became known for. The collection hits on all the wardrobe essentials - delivering sheath dresses, maxis, blouses, and trousers - all the makeup for a perfectly outfitted closet but with whimsical edge. Hot pink makes its way onto a day dress, turquoise brightens up a top and pants, and floral and wide windowpane prints make their way across the collection. Then, there's the play with volume and proportion, like slim pencil-skirted dresses with bell-sleeved tops; dresses are either straight up or down or full and flared. You can sense the sophistication and the playfulness that have made both Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton fans of Roksanda. Like the balance between the model sporting the pink locks and the perfectly sensible little neutral dress she's wearing - there's a just a touch of fantasy underlying the impeccably chic execution.

Trends: Colorblocking, maxi silhouettes, volume.
Colors: Pink, blue, turquoise, gray, nude, gold yellow, florals.
Key Look: The hot pink bell-sleeved sheath dress.
Accessories: Knit headbands and beanies, bright ankle-strap heels.
Who Would Wear It: Girls with an eye for sophisticated cuts and statement color; fans like Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton, but we bet Kate Bosworth could rock that hot pink dress .

Lauren Conrad's Dress Code Tips For the Business Professional

Lauren Conrad — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:30:14 PDT

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with LaurenConrad! The TV personality, writer, designer, and style maven 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 month, Lauren's got the perfect answer to your business dress code questions.

To kick off my Dress Coding series, today I’ll be cracking the code behind “business professional” dress, also known as “business formal.”
If you’re a fashionable girl working in a buttoned-up, ultra conservative world, dressing professionally is an absolute must. Unfortunately, professional settings are not exactly friendly to the fashion forward. Luckily, you can maintain a level of style by working in fashionable elements through subtle accessories and chic silhouettes.
Business professional attire for women is very similar to what men are expected to wear: The Power Suit. No, this doesn’t mean you have to wear a boxy jacket, pinstripe pants and a tie… Instead, opt for a slim cut pantsuit, a skit and jacket combination, or a structured (and modest) dress.
Keep reading . . .

10 Beach Bag Essentials For Baby

Rebecca M Gruber — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 04:10:30 PDT

A day at the beach sounds like the perfect way to spend a Summer day – that is until mama thinks about everything her lil one needs to make it through the day. Just the thought of pulling it all together is enough to make some moms abandon the sun and surf until their tots become teens. Before jumping ship, take respite in knowing that we've thought it through for you. You remember the umbrella and towels, and we've put the rest of your list together!

Sunscreen

This year's list of the safest sunscreens is packed with brands that can be purchased at your local drugstore. Given the FDA's new regulations of sunscreens that go into effect next year, beware of lotions containing the word "waterproof" and don't be swayed into buying a tube that boasts an SPF over 50. According to the FDA, neither is actually true. Most importantly apply the sunscreen to your tot before you leave the house, and reapply often throughout the day.

Shoes

Sand gets hot after baking in the sun all day. Protect lil toes from scorching sand with a pair of waterproof beach or sand shoes that keep feet safe and covered throughout the day.

Toys

A bucket and shovels are a great start to a day at the beach, but there's so much more that can be played with in the sand. From plastic cars and trucks to make-believe cupcake kits, sand toys have come a long way. While you're at it, don't forget to add a beach ball to your bag – they collapse easily and can provide hours of fun while playing in the sun.

Keep reading to see the rest of your beach bag essentials.