Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder: Pale Beauty Rages in South and Southeast Asian Countries

Asians Want to Look Great For Wedding During Extended Lunar Year: They are Marrying for Good Fortune

More and more Asian women are applying cream to their skin, face and neck. They are hoping to acquire white-skinned beauty. They watch TV and read magazines where white-skinned stars are displaying their God-given assets. They want to be part of everything that comes with having a white skin. So the demand for skin whitening products has gone up. That also creates the burgeoning of black markets which sell fake products. While talking about fakes, this is not the first time that the beauty and fashion markets get flooded by copycat products. Fashion designers who hesitated to have their presence on the Web have been suffering from the effects of fake products that claim to be from them in auction houses or on auction sites. For example, counterfeit handbags, watches, porcelain carried by Tiffany and other land-based shops such as Gucci, Dior and others can be found on many sites. In most cases, many of them are not the original products. eLuxury.com becomes the new place to shop for luxury products.

Let us go back to the light skin issues and phenomenon seen in Asian countries. Whiter skin is being marketed all over Asia. Customers can find a huge variety of skin-whetening creams on supermarket and pharmacy shelves. For many small businesspeople, the new industry has been fourishing. If you go to Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan, you will find out that four of every 10 women use whitening creams according to market researcher, Synovate. There are skin-whitening for various parts of the body. The primary part is the face though. Consumers can find creams that whiten darker patches of skin in armpits and other areas that are normally covered by clothing. Some of these consumers want to have a full white body. They want to look like the white person. They even invest in products that will give them "the pink nipple" thanks to products that bleach away the brown pigment they were born with.

Why Do These Asians Want to Pass for White so Much? Why Do They Want to Marry White?

Part of it has a cultural explanation. Through films and advertising, dark-skinned people mostly see white-skinned people on various covers of magazines and in movies. The glossier the magazine, the more likely they will find a white face on its cover. In addition, South Korean soap operas are becoming very popular all over Asia. Their lighter-skinned stars have come to represent the aspiration of Asian beauty. Well-heeled young men and women, teenagers want to look like them. So spending money on white-skinned products is the sure way to get what they want. Other sociologists and researchers admit that Asians share a deeply-held cultural preference for lighter skin. The rationale is that a lighter complexion is associated with wealth and higher education levels. The lighter skin indicates that the person does not have to be exposed to the sun that darkens the skin. It also indicates the person's social class and financial standings. Now it makes sense to understand why Asian females would rather marry somebody from their own ethnic groups or a white person. Asian-white interacial unions are growing all the country. Others are saying that the high level or comparable level of Asians' education is also very appealing.

Continue to read this article at Good Fortune Weddings: Lunar Year Asian Wedding and Hot Designers

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 7:25 PM PDT

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Who is Going to End Up Buying Univision? It is on the Market for Sale

Let the bids come in. Let them come for the media powerhouse that holds the dominant share of U.S. Hispanic television and radio audiences. The Los-Angeles-based media conglomerate is the top Spanish-language broadcaster in the U.S. The stakeholders of Univision will find out how much their brand name is worth. Any investors will want to go for the top Spanish-language network in the nation. To get an idea of its worth, just take a look at how many people prefer to watch its transmission of the 2006 World Cup games instead of watching -say ABC or any English-speaking stations. That is the cachet of Univision. The reporters and programs offered by the network connect with viewers.

Univision operates three television networks - Univision, TeleFutura and Galavision- more than two dozen television stations, a recorded music division, and Internet portal and the largest group of Spanish-language radio stations. Knowing how hot Univision is should make its stockholders, specially chief executive A. Jerrold Perenchio a very happy and very rich man. So far who are the interested parties? Univision's largest shareholder and programming supplier, Mexican media giant Grupo Televisa SA and Venezuelan broadcaster Venevision. These shareholders got together with five private equity firms: Bain Capital Partners LLC, Blackstone Management Associates V LLC, Carlyle Investment Management LLC; Cascade Investment LLC and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP. These foreign companies have to parter with US investors due to the fact that they are barred from owning more than 25% of any U.S. media company. The second group of investors includes Los Angeles-based media mogul Haim Saban and private equity firms Madison Dearborn Parteners, Thomas H. Lee Partners LP, Providence Equity Partners Inc. and Texas Pacific Group.

Now you can see which group has more cash to bid on Univision. I side with the first group. Those who want to pronosticate can line up with me.

Buy Everything Latin: Bikini, Summer Wear, Quincenera Dresses and more

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 7:58 AM PDT

Updated: Wednesday, 21 June 2006 8:00 AM PDT

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Harper's Bazar recommends the following products, dresses and cuts to shop for:

J. Crew dress, Emilio Pucci vintage clutch, J. Crew bikini top and bottom, Cat Power's You Are Free, Marni top, Stola Golden Garza by Loro Piana, Calvin Klein underwear, British designer Allegra Hicks bikini, Black Diane Von Furstenberg dress, Eres bikini, Goyard duffel, yellow Banana Republic sandals, Marni shorts, Max Azria Collection, BCBG Max Azria bikini top and bottom, Celine bikini, Mulberry dress at Bergdorf Goodman, Luisa Beccaria tank, Anna Sui dress, Hello Sari Sarong, Ann Taylor loft shorts, Missoni top, Emporio Armani sunglasses, Tsesay bikini top, Lauren Merkin bag, Tito Pedrini ring, Mischa Barton Roberto Cavali bikini, Dolce Cabana, Ralph Lauren Blue Label swimsuit, Tomas Maier swimsuit, Malo pants, Dior by John Galliano sandal, Roberto Cavalli tunic, Celine hat, Asha by ADM necklaces, Tufi Duek shorts, Jimmy Choo sandal, Mesi Jilly ring Azzaro Vanessa Seward bikini, A+Eve by Adam + Eve tunic, Bottega Veneta tote, Joan Collins Phillip Lim pants with belt, Laura Munder earrings, Newport News tankini, Erickson Beamon for Tory Burch necklace, Nancy Gonzalez bag at Bergdorf Goodman, Kenneth Jay Lane bracelet, Ellen Tracy shorts, J. Crew swimsuit.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 3:51 PM PDT

Updated: Sunday, 28 May 2006 3:52 PM PDT

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Who would have thought that Taylor would be the winner? This American Idol Finale has seen a collection of great artists, great dresses and lots of votes. In fact, more people voted for this American than for any presidential elections. More than 63 million votes were cast, "more than any president in the history of our country has received," Seacrest said. The votes were counted, certified and sealed. After sitting for hours of performance by some old divas who want to resurrect their singing career, Ryan Seacrest invited a representative from Telescope company to bring the sealed envelope containing the names of the finalists. After a brief moment, he announced this year's winner. Taylor Hicks, a mop-topped, semi gray-haired soul singer has been wooing the American public for weeks until he was declared the winner of this season's American Idol.

Taylor thanked the judges, the public and his parents. Flashes of his hometown were shown. Everybody appeared to be happy for him. Those who voted for Katharine McPhee had to walk away hoping that they will have a winner next year.

It is clear that American Idol is now becoming an establishment. It is here to say. On Tuesday, Underwood won two trophies at the Academy of Country Music Awards, underscoring how much an "Idol" victory can mean. She was named top new female artist and won best single for "Jesus Take the Wheel."

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 10:35 PM PDT

Updated: Wednesday, 24 May 2006 10:46 PM PDT

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SINGER, SONGWRITER, PRODUCER AND GRAMMY WINNER, SORAYA

DIES TODAY AT THE AGE OF 37

Los Angeles, CA.- It is with immense grief that we announce the passing of our dear friend Soraya, a beautiful person who through her music, sensitivity and struggles, inspired millions around the world.

Her unique musical style, stunning melodies and honest compositions made her one of the most widely recognized singer/songwriters and producers in the music world and the winner of many awards including a Grammy.

Soraya was an example of perseverance, strength, courage and compassion, who did not allow anything or anyone to get in the way of fulfilling her most important mission: raising awareness about breast cancer, giving hope to women who, like herself, suffered from this illness, and collecting funds for research to help find a cure.

Read the rest of the story here

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 7:23 AM PDT

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Palm Bluffs as Central San Joaquin Valley's New Car Corridor

If you want to buy a luxury car, you must to Palm Bluffs which has become one of the fastest-growing commercial developments in the Fresno area. Do you want a BMW? How about a Mercedes-Benz? How about this great Acurat TL or RL? Well, you may want the Acura MDX. But you may find what you are looking right at Lexus next door after stopping by the Starbucks.

Now, CarMax is coming to town. It is a publicly held company that specializes in the used car market. Industry insiders say that CarMax is in a growth mode. One of its representatives said that the company likes being close to Wal-Mart and Lowe's. In fact, right next to what will be CarMax is a booming hot Wal-Mart store. It is a great way for cottong cooperative, Calcot, to develop the land. I personally thought that this land was very precious. It is a gold mine due to its prime location. The same goes for Wal-Mart that is blanketing the Valley with supercenters. It wa sa few weeks ago that a new supercenter was open in Dinuba. This week, Wal-Mart opened a new supercenter in Handord, CA. Supersized Wal-Marts are here to stay. More are on the way. Maybe CarMax also has a plan to build more in the Valley. At least for now, CarMax and Wal-Mart appear to be bed fellows. It remains to be seen what the local businesspeople will do in terms of competition. Who can compete with the low prices offered by Wal-Mart?

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 7:06 AM PDT

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Break The Secrets of Traveling with The Da Vinci Code: Hot Da Vinci Code Location Tours

What are the top locales described by Dan Brown in the Da Vinci Code book and movie?

There is no doubt a new segment of the travel industry has just been made popular by the hugely fiction novel, The Da Vinci Code. Location Travel has always been around in books such as Midnight in the Garden of Eden, The Sea and the Old Man, and various movies such as Lord of the Rings in the case of New Zealand. Dan Brown and his wife took the idea of location travel to a higher level. Without any doubt, fans and regular tourists will want to visit France, London and elsewhere to inquire about the sites mentioned in the book. So far, The Louvre remains one of the most famous destinations. Keep in mind that The Louvre is in Paris and is also the repository of Leonardo Da Vinci's most famous painting, Mona Lisa.

Saint-Sulpice Church has gorgeous Delacroix frescoes and a tall obelisk with a golden ball. The next place to visit is Chateau Villette owned by a California realtor. It is not open to the public. What a great advertisement for this great 185-acre estate that is open for vacations, weddings and other events? Next comes Temple Church in London. As far as London is concerned, there are a lot of interesting sites to see. While traveling with The Code, one will never stop enjoying the Westminster Abbey which is one of the most visited churches in London. We must add that the priest of the Westminster Abbey did not let the crew shoot the film at the abbey. So they had to go to another church and create a replica decor to match that of Westminster Abbey. Rosslyn Chapel as well as the Vatican and other places mentioned in the book and movie should be part of anybody's travel plans.

More and more tourists will find a trip to Europe very interesting this year.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 11:49 PM PDT

Updated: Wednesday, 17 May 2006 11:50 PM PDT

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Tummy Tuck Fees: Total Price: $5,000-$9,000
Surgeons fee: $4,200 Anesthesiologist: $500 Facility fee: $700 Average Total Cost: $6,400
Breast Augmentation Fees: Total Price: $5,000-$7,000
Surgeons fee: $3,050 Anesthesiologist: $700 Facility fee: $950 Implant fee: $1,300 Average Total Cost : $6,000
Breast Lift Fees: Total Price: $4,000-$9,000
Surgeons fee: $3,500 Anesthesiologist: $700 Facility fee: $1000 Average Total Cost: $5,200
Breast Reduction Fees: Total Price: $5,000-$10,000
Surgeons fee: $3,500 Anesthesiologist: $700 Facility fee: $1000 Average Total Cost: $5,200
Male Breast Reduction Fees: Total Price: $6,000-$9,000
Surgeons fee: $2,500 Anesthesiologist: $700 Facility fee: $1000 Average Total Cost: $5,200
Eyelid Surgery Fees: Total Price: $1,500-$7,000
Surgeons fee: $2,500 Anesthesiologist: $700 Facility fee: $800 Average Total Cost Upper and Lower Lids: $4,000
Facelift Fees: Total Price: $6,000-$12,000

Read the rest of this article at Fixwhatsbroken Creative: Awful Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Fees

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 1:12 PM PDT

Updated: Wednesday, 17 May 2006 11:51 PM PDT

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Since it was time for lunch, we made our first stop at the Cheesecake Factory which has become the new hangout site in the Valley. Adults as well as teens travel from the neighboring communities to meet there to talk and eat. The Cheesecake Factory is located in the new Fashion Fair Mall expansion which includes a number of high-end shops. So far, the Cheesecake Factory is way ahead of the league. We must quickly note that it has a formidable competitor in Sephora which features name-brand and designer cosmetics and fragrances that anybody can try. Sephora has soon created a huge following among teens and their parents who enjoy testing products before buying them. It has been a WOW idea that Macy's and Gottschalks did not have! Let's get back to the Cheesecake Factory. My friend and I already knew that to get the best seat, we had to beat the crowd who starts pounding on the front door and waiting around the fountain a good 1 hour before opening. Far too long, to experience the Cheesecake Factory atmosphere, one had to go to San Francisco, Los Angeles and other bigger cities. Now, the Cheesecake Factory is right with us at the Village, located at 630 E. Shaw Ave. no. 139, right in front of Fashion Fair. Once seated, we received the menu to think about our orders. From our experience in San Francisco, we already knew what we wanted. The Boston Salad for her and the Bistro Shrimp Pasta for me. Of course, there are other great offerings that will leave you asking for more. Well, once you experience the Cheesecake Factory, you will return for more of its specialties. If you do not want to spend more, you can go with the Factory Burger that will cost you $8.00. Of course, there is a huge selection of cheesecakes that will keep you on your toes. Would you like to go for a Pumpkin Pecan, Godiva Chocolate and White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle cheesecakes?

With all the established stores that Fashion Fair has, the new stores give more reasons to shoppers to stroll up and down. Fashion Fair got innovative in the face of the new competition given by the Shops at River Park and Fig Garden Village. The management of the Mall has decided to lose some parking space and attract some name-brand and high-end shops. It tries to recreate the Bay Area feel with water fountains all around the entrance. Besides the Cheesecake Factory and Sephora, we found Lucky Brand Jeans which will open this year. French flea market-style store, Anthropologie, will be featured at the mall. Metropark is a retailer that sells clothing, music and art targeted to shoppers n their 20s and 30s. Marche! is also scheduled to be at the Mall. It sell Birkenstock, Teva, timberland and Ugg brand shoes. Eclipse Eyewear has the latest in eye fashion. It will also be a new fixture of the mall. So will be Bebe and Bebe Sport which will open this year. Who has not seen the women's clothing with the Bebe logo? Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar will also be there. If you want your fine wine, you can get it from the restaurant. No more trip to Napa Valley!

Another restaurant that has received rave reviews so far is Claim Jumper. Gottschalks opened the G store. P.f. Chang's China Bistro is also there. If you want modern Chinese cuisine, you won't have to go to San Francisco's famed Chinatown any longer. In fact, Fresno is trying to revitalize its own Chinatown located near downtown. Villagio Shopping Center and The Shops at River Park exist side by side. They both are looking for stores such as Pottery Barn to have a presence in the Valley. Shoppers are asking Retail California to find these upscale shops for the River Park shopping center.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 10:04 AM PST

Updated: Wednesday, 17 May 2006 11:50 PM PDT

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"Have you seen the 2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster?"

"Have you seen the cool Toyota Hybrid?"

"Have you listened to the video ipod by Apple?" Then, you must be buying music downloads from iTunes and other sites.

"I think I am ready for a huge plasma TV. Of course, I'll want the component package which includes all the features I can get. I want the DVR. I want the surround sound. I want this and that.

"I'm not going to let another Winter pass without this handbag, without this gorgeous outfit. I will not let another Summer pass without this great GM truck all guys are buying."

"I am going to have to break down and buy this expensive pair of shoes. After all, a pair of Nike Tennis shoes that bears Michael Jordan logo sells for more than $180.00. I have to buy this Rolex. I just spilled Perrier on my old sofa. I need a new one. My sofa was sparking water proof."

Did all of this sound familiar? We can all recognize the cry to find happiness through possessions. We live in the richest country in the world, but still we want more. "Yes, I have a nice place, a nice house to live in, but it is not on the water or it does not have an airplane garage or it is not located on the lake. It has no ocean views." "Sure, I have got a good car, but it is not a Ferrari or Lamborghini or Mazzerati." "Oh, I have fine dresses, fine clothes, but nobody is town sells Armani. They don't sell the styles that are in now." What you hear is the hideous voice of consumer gluttony.

Continue to read this article on ShoppingBlog Network and BlackLabelReview: Music, Movies, Video, Books, Electronics, Fashion, Prom & Quincenera Dresses

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 6:46 AM PST

Updated: Tuesday, 28 March 2006 11:46 PM PST

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