One of the emerging trends now that summer is getting closer is the sublimation dress, a lightweight sundress that has undergone dye sublimation.

Dye sublimation is a printing technique that has been used on a lot of things like coffee mugs, tiles and yes, fabric.  Unlike tie dyeing, dye sublimation leaves very bright and very vibrant colors on the textile.  Not only that, the process can create photorealistic graphics and images on the fabric.

The new summer trend, however, is similar to tie dyeing.  The fabric is creased in different ways so that each dress comes out unique.  The creases create gaps among the colors so that no two dresses are the same.

It is like wearing an abstract art, only more comfortable and perfect for summer.  Sublimation dresses and tops are available at major retailers and on Amazon.com.

So how do you pull it off?  Remember that summer is all about fighting the heat and being comfortable.

For this dress, you can experiment with flip flops or gladiator sandals, which should look good with an anklet made out of wood or corals.  And this:

There are also sublimation maxi dresses like this one:

These maxi dresses are great because they can flatter your curves, highlighting your womanly charms.  Pregnant women can aslo be sassy in these.

Accessorize with these:

For a more flexible sublimation dress that you can don day or night, go for a tunic dress like this one:

Go ahead and bring out your gladiator sandals for a quick lunch with your BFF, but don’t forget these:

You can also pair this tunic dress with a more formal pair of shoes, then wear your gold jewelry or pearls for a great night out with friends or that special someone.

Military clothing has long been a staple of women’s fashion.  Indeed, military inspired clothing have appeared year after year, season after season.  Whereas last year’s rage was the military jacket and big shoulders, Spring 2010 calls for much muted and feminine military clothes.

And by feminine, it means that military clothing for this season are much less obvious.

The color of military clothing for spring is navy and army green.  By all means, stay away from camouflage wear!!! Go for pieces that are made out of shearling.  Cuts now are more feminine and soft military clothing is what you are looking for.

For the most part, you could never go wrong with a matching top and bottom ensemble, or a military jacket on leather pants.  Military boots, preferably those with shearling embellishments, are also coming back.

There is actually two main looks for spring military wear: aviator and army.  The aviator look is more structured, and nothing much can be done with it.  It’s all about a brown aviator jacket with slim feminine cuts.  If you want to have the freedom to wear anything that you want and still be in vogue, then go for the army look this spring.

The Dog Tag

Who can think about military wear and not think about dog tags?  Well, the dog tag is still very much alive this year, as Giselle Bundchen shows:

LusterForever.com has just the right generic dog tag for you:

But because spring 2010’s military fashion is all about becoming more feminine, then we suggest this:

Or this:

Leather

Military wear, especially the army look also calls for a lot of leather.  Again, check out what Gisele Bundchen has on her wrist:

So how about these?

A Little Bit More Feminine

If you like something a bit more feminine, you can always copy model Lily Donaldson’s look:

And accessorize with gold rings, silver rings, bracelets, and dangling necklaces.

Hair bows are big, literally and figuratively, this spring,

With such fashion heavyweights as Marc Jacobs, Diane von  Furstenberg and Temperley all sending out their spring collections with bows, bows and bows with them, it is difficult to ignore this spring fashion trend.

Glee also had a Madonna tribute episode where her signature bowed head gets a renaissance:

Bows are great accents that adds color to your spring get up and helps you make a fashion statement.  But do not lull yourself into thinking that it’s all about getting a piece of fabric and draping it over your pretty little head.  The truth is, there are a lot of things that could go wrong when you try bows.

For one, you might become the fashion victim.  A Madonna stuck in the 1980s that looks cheap in a cheap bow.  Bows should be made of high quality material like silk, knits or leather.  That means that you should not go for bows that are tacky, childish and mass produced and can be bought by the dozens right off the shelf.

To wear a bow, get one and tie it around your head — all the way around.  You could also go for bows that works as bunny ears, another spring fashion trend.  Remember that wearing a bows takes a lot of sophistication and attitude.  If you cannot project an air of confidence while wearing one, you will never pull it off.

Now that you have an idea of how to wear bows, it is time to learn it to accessorize for them.

The Ears

Big bows cover much of your head, so avoid wearing dangling or oversized earrings with them. Not only will you risk the chance of your bow and your earrings clashing, you also would have too much going on at the top of your head.

It is best not to wear earrings or wear muted and small ones.  If you are going to wear earrings look for smaller pairs that are neutral or classic.  This would help lend an air of sophistication to your look and can save you by being less tacky.

You can compensate, however, with necklaces, bangles and rings.

A long necklace with a cool pendant would suffice.  But just because it’s spring, try layering necklaces for a more dramatic effect.

And lastly, go overboard with the bangles, bracelets and rings!

It’s spring and it’s time for a new look.  Spring fashion calls for bright colors and sundresses, sandals and accessories.  Here is how to start spring right with a few closet spring cleaning tips.

1. Clean out your closet. When you start to clean up your closet, take everything out of it.  Remember that you should only keep clothes in your closet.  If you are lucky, you can put your shoes, belts and other stuff in it along with the clothes.  You should find new storage spaces for other things that might have accumulated inside your closet.

2. Decide on what you want to keep. As a general rule, throw out or sell anything that you have not worn in years.  There is no sense in having them eat up valuable storage space in your closet.  For those classics such as the skinny jeans, a white tee-shirt and denim pants, keep them in a separate box where you could get to them if they are in style again.

3.  Organize what’s left of your clothes. You can organize your clothes by color, dark to light from one end of your closet to the other.  Sort out pants, shirts, dresses and skirts.  This helps you mix and match your clothing for a fresh look every single time.

4. Work with a budget. Now that you know that you have taken stock in knowing what you have in your closet, it’s time to find what you’re missing.  2010 is the year of military colors, patterns and textures, and red white and blue stripes.  If you don’t have these, then go get yourself one of each.

5. Accessorize to your heart’s content. Having the right accessories can make even old clothes look fabulous.  Say you have an absolute favorite white tee that you’d like to wear this spring, but it’s certainly out of style.  Update your wardrode with these spring accessories.

While most of us are lucky enough to have a job that pays the bills and also allows us to dress up the way we want, there are some who have to contend with wearing the same thing to work everyday.  If you are one of those who have to wear a uniform to work, then you must lament how your look becomes unchanging every day.  For others, the torture of having to wear a uniform starts early on: at school.

But that should not be the case.  True, you really can’t do anything much with uniforms: they are prescribed for you to wear for a reason and you do not have the liberty to change or alter it drastically so you could look different from your co-workers or classmates.  If you cannot do that, then be creative!

Colors. First is to play with colors.  If you have a drab black uniform to work, you can certainly liven in up with color: headbands, earrings, bracelets, bangles, necklaces, pendants, rings.  You can mix and match your existing jewelry to make sure that you come up with a look that would not get you reprimanded by overzealous superiors (not wearing a uniform!) but will also set you apart.

How about going monochrome on your uniform?  A special color day like a Green Tuesday?  These pieces from Luster Forever should create a good starting point and give you great ideas!

Play with your designs. The best thing with accessories is that they come in various designs that you can complement your uniform with.  Take these Chinese pendants for example, they do not only create a diversion from your drab uniform, it can also start conversations.

Or how about an animal design theme:

Emphasize your femininity. Even if you have to wear the same thing everyday, it does not mean that you have to be boring.  This is especially true if you work in a male dominated industry and your uniform is a tacky or baggy piece that leaves your natural feminine curves out of sight.  You do not have to suffer through being unsexy, you can always, always bring out your feminine side!

Power Dressing is all the rage.  From corporate boardrooms, to social functions, to everyday life, nothing can substitute for the confidence that you feel when you look great.  And looking great does not equate to throwing money out the window — thanks to these tips!

Know your colors. Sometimes, just knowing whether violet goes well with pink or blue with green makes a mountain of difference when power dressing.  You can definitely have fun mixing and matching colors, how about a black skirt with a fiery red blouse? EPIC WIN!  A mint green shirt and violet cut-offs? EPIC FAIL.  Well unless you have your hair dyed purple.

Limit your dresses and other one piece clothing. While dresses make you look and feel more feminine, it closes all the possibilities for mixing and matching.  Having more separates in your closet (tops like blouses, tee-shirts and bottoms like skirts, pants, capris) enables you to be more creative with your look.  Plus this gives you the added advantage of not having the same look twice: that white top might have looked good with skinny jeans this week, but it will look equally gorgeous with a knee length skirt for next week.

Jackets and blazers.  Blazers can make your whole get up more professional.  It does not matter if you have jeans and cowgirl boots on, a blazer can upgrade your wear from casual to corporate in a hurry.  Jackets and blazers are also great accents when mixing and matching as both are very flexible.

Know your fabrics. Stay away from clothes that you have to dry clean.  They may be attractive and eye-catching, but these are usually very expensive to keep.  Choose washable clothes made of cotton and other fabrics.

Accessorize properly. Jewelry and other accessories can add the desired effect to your get up anytime.  Running late for your son’s baseball game while still being stuck in the boardroom?  Drop the blazer, and put these on:

It won’t make your son blush, and you still look very feminine.

Woke up late and need to make an impression at the weekly status meeting?

Want to look more elegant at a party?

As you can see, looking good does not need to be expensive.  All you have to do is to mix and match by trial and error.  Don’t be afraid to experiment!

American Idol has produced America’s best singers.  The clout of American Idol is such that even runners up and those eliminated early in the season could still land a recording contract and make it big in the music scene.  But one offshoot of American Idol is the fashion.  Each week, Idol hopefuls take the stage not just to showcase their singing prowess but also their style — fashion style, that is.

This season, many are watching Crystal Bowersox.  With a finals showdown being predicted between Bowersox and Lee DeWyze, Idol fans are also waiting with bated breath as to what Bowersox would be wearing on the Idol stage.

The Ohio native surely has bohemian rocker stamped all over her, yet she still dazzles and evolves with the clothes that she wears.  Bowersox could get homey and comfortable with a black tee, jeans and her unruly hair bunched up on top.

Then she takes the point home with simple hoop earrings and a jeweled pendant.

LusterForever.com has just the same accessories for you:

Note that the designs on both matches Bowersox’s no non-sense attitude and simplicity.

For Crystal Bowersox, rocker chick does not have to be masculine.  She makes sure that the “chick” part is kept alive with accessories, and breaks the black monotone with colorful accents that spells allure and femininity.

A different color for the neck, the ears, the wrist and the fingers would surely pack a sexy rocker chick punch.  Try out these pieces.

Giving the best performance of the night, Crystal wowed audiences when she sang a Janis Joplin song while wearing a dark revealing maxi dress.  While looking effortlessly elegant, Crystal retained her individuality by sprucing it up with accessories, dreds and red hair clips.

You can definitely own this look with these pieces:

As you can see, Crystal Bowersox has her own fashion philosophy that upholds her individuality and uniqueness.  A bohemian rocker chick that is not afraid to use colors and accents to flaunt her softer side and dares to experiment!

If you are looking for the perfect gift idea for a loved one, then look no further than a photo locket.  Photo lockets are the ideal gifts for somebody close to your heart.

1. Mommy’s memories. A photo locket with your picture, or her picture when she was younger would be a great gift for your mom.  Not only will you bring a smile to her lips, but you will give her something that she can really cherish.  Let her remember fun times with the family, while keeping them close to her heart.

Go for a classic design, like this one from Luster Forever:

Or perhaps something more stately.

2. Daddy’s Joy. Men are less inclined to wear photo lockets, but that should not stop you from giving Daddy the gift of memories.  He will definitely love a no-nonsense locket that he will have no trouble wearing, like this one:

3. Nothing Says I Love You More Clearly than Photo Lockets.   More than flowers and chocolates, a perfect gift for a spouse, or significant other is a picture of you together.  It could be your first date, or a trip to Paris, or just one of those really romantic escapades you had.  All of these photos would be perfect gifts with these lockets:

or:

Simple yet precious, these lockets drive home the point that you cherish your loved one and the memories they shared with you.

4. Little girls and the Debutante. Little girls are the darling of any parent’s eyes.  And it is only deserving that we give them the best gifts.  A photo locket is just the thing if you want to let them know how they are cherished.  A baby picture or a family picture would be perfect photos for lockets that you want to give your little ones.

And the locket itself?  Make it a mix of whimsical and traditional.

If, like the rest of the world, you have been following Glee, then chances are you will be smitten by Rachel Berry.  It is difficult to ignore Rachel Berry as she is portrayed by Lea Michele.  She is fun, she is spirited and she knows what she likes and she will stop at nothing to get it. And she is not too goody goody that would make people blanch when they see her.  She’s just your typical 16 year old girl who is struggling with finding out who she is and trying to make her mark in the world.

Love her or hate her, you surely would want to get her fashion.  Rachel Berry is the epitome of preppy and her fashion sense shines through.  I guess having two gay dads and a dream of being a super star gives you that.  So how do you look like Rachel Berry?

Nothing defines Rachel Berry than this get up:

A cardigan sweater, a plaid skirt (school girl uniform skirt would be a to-die-for bonus!), a long sleeved plain shirt.  Put them all together and voila!
Or put out a sweater vest, an oxford shirt, and a colorful skirt, and you get this:

As you have noticed, Rachel Berry is not big on accessories.  She tones it down because of the semi-formal tone of her outfit.  But she often has a simple necklace around her neck.  Try these out:

or something simpler:

And we all know that Rachel loves colors.  Her whole room is painted pink and vibrant violet, and it translates to her clothes and accessories.  And she has a touch of sentimentalism about her that makes this locket a perfect Rachel Berry accessory:

She’s one of the hottest jewelry designers to date. Missy Industry is your not your ordinary jewelery line, in only short matter of time Melissa Lafreniere has already managed to bring in a diverse group of costumers from various age groups. Honestly it’s no surprise, these items are gorgeous, but don’t take my word for it- just look for yourself.

Highlights from the Miss Industry collection, and my personal faves are the Love Ring ($78) , Chainsaw Necklace ($58) , Shear Necklace ($72) , and Safety Pin Earrings ($45) perfect for any season.

The Canadian designer graduated from the Jewelry School of Montreal in 2003. To further promote the brand Melissa would make necklaces and rings not only for herself but friends as well. As time progressed, her collection grew and now Missy is creating brand new designs every other week.

Melissa Lafreniere tells Totally My Style her influences come from graphic design, fashion, tools, mechanics, tattoos and horror films. The jewelry line is also a reflection of her personal style: punk rock meets girly.

When she’s not hard at work, Lafreniere pastimes include museums, dance clubs, rock shows, galleries and riding her bike all over Montreal in the summertime.

If you like what you seen, then I’d highly advise you head over to the official website and etsy. The line is available at trade shows in Canada and select stores. For more information on where exactly you can purchase these pieces, visit the retailer’s section of the site.