Empowering Women around the World is Win,Win for Us All

In sub-Saharan Africa [alone], women devote at least 16 million hours a day — 5.8 billion hours a year — just to collecting drinking water (Mercy Corp). That is in just one country in a continent that is short on water in many areas. The point is the fact that these women have to spend so much time on basic survival they can do little else. If their basic needs were met, how much more time would they have to care for their families, help their communities and create or produce products that would net them income for a better life?

Women in these types of countries make up a talented, creative sector of the textile and fashion industry: those who are able, have the resources and the time to produce such items. These are items that culturally unique and made by hand, or even in garment or production shops, where the pay is laughable and the hours are long. Beautiful, brilliant, amazing items, apparel, accessories, home decor and so many things that we love to buy to add these cultural spirits to our own lives and style. Think of all the beautiful and spirited fashions and textiles that you love. Imagine the person from whose hands they were made. Now imagine not being able to purchase these types of things. Imagine if women were not denied the resources they need what all they could create.

As women, men, as people, as humans and consumers, especially those of the fashion industry, it is our duty to assist these women in their need for empowerment. One place this begins is with the fight for gender equality for not only the women of sub-Saharan Africa, but women worldwide.

According to Mercy Corp, “In many places around the world, females have unequal access to important resources like information, money, school, jobs and land. And they are oftentimes not allowed to make decisions for themselves or their families, like who they will marry, how many children they will have, how they will spend their time or how to spend household income. . . And with fewer skills and tools at their disposal, women and girls also end up being some of the most vulnerable when crises like war and natural disaster strike. . . The challenges that girls and women face vary widely from culture to culture, but one theme is prevalent: Unequal access to opportunities that give them an independent, productive place in their communities.”

Let us do all that we may to assist these women worldwide in their empowerment so that they too may come to be confident in their skills, lives and achievements and contributions that they may make to their families, communities, and to the world at large.

Please visit the Mercy Core website on women and genderequality to find out more and to find out ways that you may help or make a donation. You may also help by sharing this article with everyone you know and especially to those of you readers who support the fashion industry and would love to see these women flourish in their creativity. We can all do our part to bring awareness to the need for empowerment of women everywhere. Think about it. What if this was you?

The Best Keeps Getting Better, Grown-up Spring Break in Maui

Photo by Don Riddle, courtesy Four Seasons

Let’s face facts:  this is an El Niño year.  Tired of listening to the weatherman?  Here’s a tip from Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea - as sure as winter gives rise to spring flowers, the Resort team recommends shaking off the winter doldrums to enjoy Grown-Up Spring Break, the perfect escape for couples, friends or single travellers.

Set for April 13 to June 19, 2016, Maui’s first Forbes Five-Star resort is offering the best rates of the year with no resort fee along with a busy schedule of activities, many of which are complimentary.  Guests who book the popular Experience More package can receive up to USD 200 in resort credit per night, which may be applied toward the renowned spa, upscale boutiques, or award-winning restaurants.

Photo by Don Riddle, courtesy Four Seasons

The special adult spring break calendar will include complimentary extras including local craft beer tastings, cooking classes, pool parties, snorkeling, outrigger canoe paddling, morning yoga classes and many other activities. The Resort is offering its most popular fitness class, stand-up paddleboard yoga, on a complimentary basis exclusively for this time period.

For those looking to discover more of the island, the concierge team can make recommendations, everything from exhilarating helicopter tours to picturesque sunset sails. Guests can be as active as they like or practice the fine art of doing nothing at all.   

Grown-Up Spring Break is one of the special initiatives the Resort has planned for guests this year as the best keeps getting better.  Who could say “no” to time in paradise at an award-winning resort with legendary status: intuitive service, understated elegance, and luxurious amenities?

To make reservations, call 1 800 334 MAUI (6284) 

Building a Classic, Timeless Wardrobe: One Camisole - Three Great Looks

Gals with real classic wardrobe sense know that getting the most out of a few classic pieces goes a long way. Rather than buying into fads that come and go (which can be draining on the wallet) purchasing timeless pieces that can adapt and survive the ever-changing world of fashion as well as your own needs, tastes and moods in the smartest strategy.

One such timeless piece is a silky or linen creamy camisole. Any color will match and it will compliment any outfit from jeans and shorts to business dress or an evening out. One key factor to changing it up is the accessories chosen to go with it and how they are used. Here we demonstrate how to get three different looks by adding a beautiful but simple cream lace scarf.This particular camisole is an import from Sivana Spirit, made in India with lovely embroidery and is in a creamy light almost champagne color.

The scarf was a find in a gallery boutique, Soul River, in Silver City, New Mexico. It is beautiful lace with a bit of lacy fringe to add that spirited touch.

In the first look, we show the top belted with the lace scarf. This look will work well for casual wear or outings over jeans or a long flowing skirt.

In this second look, we show the camisole with the lace scarf to be worn around the neck. This camisole will work with most any business suit, just leave off the scarf. After work, remove the suit jacket, add the scarf and you are ready for an evening out.

In the third look, the lace scarf is to be draped around the shoulders in the manner of a wrap. This look is exceptional for an evening out. 

Additionally, the scarf may be tied around the head or around a ponytail for a very spirited look.And if you are real creative, you may come up with your own great ideas. Remember, the point is to create multiple uses and outfits from just a few simple, classic pieces that will never go out of style. These are the staples of your wardrobe and the beginning of a perfect working-closet, meaning a closet that works for you rather than full of pieces that were bought on a whim or for fad's sake and never worn because they just did not work, were mismatched, were an off-color. With timeless pieces you can never go wrong and you will build a wardrobe that is lasting. Buying less pieces allows you to spend more on the quality of a piece and that will give it lasting power. Spirited pieces can still be staples in your wardrobe as this imported Indian camisole demonstrates. Even if you just stick with classic pieces to build your wardrobe, the "spirit" can be brought in through your accessories as we have shown with the lace scarf.

Have fun, be creative, get one classic piece and see how many great looks you can make!

World Spirit Fashions – Harem Pants Review

by Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam

It took me months to make up my mind as to whether or not I would try these harem pants from Sivana Spirit. I would return time after time to look at them in the online shop. They come in many colors and looked so comfortable. I had several concerns though: the low crotch, the elastic eight-inch waistband, and the one-size-fits-all because I am on the heavier end of that scale.

After months of thought, I decided to give them a try and ordered them.

All of my concerns were put to rest immediately. The low crotch is very comfortable and feels much like you are wearing a skirt.

The eight-inch waistband is very comfortable and not restrictive at all, I barely know it is there.

The one-size-fits-all fits up to a 38 inch waist and runs true to the measurements. The fit is comfortable, loose and flowing.

The material is very sheer so these are warmer weather pants however leggings worn beneath them make them work quite well for colder weather as well.

They are great in yoga poses and on the mat.

Overall, I love these pants and will order more. I am sure you will enjoy them as well if you are a bit bold, a free spirit and looking to feel like a goddess, or at least a bit exotic.

If you enjoyed this article, join our Facebook page, World Spirit Fashions

Click here or on the Sivana ad in the right border to order your own amazing harem pants.

Be Like Fashion

Bruce Lee once said, "Be like water." Water is adaptable. Fashion is also adaptable and has been so through thousands of years. It has continuously adapted to the needs and desires of peoples worldwide.

Be like fashion, be adaptable, As long as you can adapt, you will be fine. 

Add Some Paris Pink for Spring Spirit

Nothing adds a little feminine spirit like a splash of pink and nothing says spring quite like Paris as we conjure romantic images of the pink flowering trees against a backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.

To create this look, try a skirt or blouse with a pink ruffle, or a simple pink T with a ruffle sewn on (create your own design!), just enough color to lift the spirits (it can be quite easy to overdo with pink, not going for the Barbie look here), keep it elegant, yet spirited.

Pink nails or accessories are another easy way to add a little Paris pink to your look. It’s simple, easy and effective with just the right splash of color. Remember to make sure the complete look flows seamlessly. 

Jewelry for the Spirited Woman: Ankle Bracelets

By Cheryl Bruedigam

Women have long adorned themselves in many ways and jewelry is one of the most common adornments worldwide, knowing no cultural boundaries.

Ankle bracelets have always been a part of this throughout the ages becoming more popular in the west during the sixties. When I was with the modeling agency with which I fist began, there were strict rules for us to follow in our public appearance and one of those was no ankle bracelets. This was pounded into my very cells and it took me decades to overcome so that I will now freely wear an ankle bracelet without thinking the world is going come crashing down. But as the saying goes, “we’ve come a long way baby.”

In the west there really are no rules as to what kind of ankle bracelet to wear, how to wear them or upon which ankle (right or left) they should be worn. Though in some cultures, the left ankle may denote a relationship status just as a wedding ring is worn in the western world upon the left ring finger.

The bracelet should fit and hang comfortably just below the ankle bone for a taunt but relaxed look and feel. Layers of the bracelets may be worn to create a more exotic look. Choosing to wear an ankle bracelet is of course a personal thing and may be done for stylish purposes, religious purposes, relationship status as afore mentioned, sentiment, or any number of other reasons and maybe just because it adds a flirtatious, subtle but sensual appeal that is not found with other pieces of jewelry. In a way it brings out a part of our femininity that is otherwise left unnoticed.

Ankle bracelets add a little fun and spontaneity to certain outfits but just make sure it flows with the rest of your attire. An ankle bracelet with a business suit is obviously a poor choice, you get the idea. A flowing skirt or shorts will be much better suited to help you complete the look with flow and continuity. In photography, it is called composition. You want your composition to have flow and continuity. If you are unsure, take a selfie or look in a full length-mirror. Do all pieces of your attire flow together to create one smooth look? Or is it choppy because something is mis-matched? Take note and make adjustments until you have just the right flow and you are picture-perfect (regardless of your style) but most especially if an ankle bracelet is involved.

Have fun, be creative, be unique, be spirited. 

Yoga for the Spirited Woman: Making the Choice

Beginning a yoga practice is one way to bring the worldly and cultural flavor of this ancient science into your life. As you increase your practice and begin to awaken to the spirit within, you will also begin to awaken to the world at large which will usher in many new interests, tastes and choices including your fashion choices and travel.

Yoga clothing is as unique as the person practicing and should be suited to you, your tastes, needs and lifestyle. As your interests expand, you may want to bring in even more spiritual fashions especially from other cultures. These will then increase your interest in spirited travel to other cultures or to yoga retreats in exotic places.

It only takes one step, one decision, to set you out on a completely new journey in life; a journey that will take you to the center of your heart's desire. It is up to you. This one decision to begin a yoga practice will possibly set you on track for a world of new culture and change, freedom, exploration, and new adventures, not to mention the healthy balance of your body, mind and spirit.

Spiritual Jewelry for the Spirited Woman

Jewelry energizes especially if it is made with certain gemstones or crystals. There are many beautiful and healing malas and wrist malas to choose from. Selections may be based on color, healing properties, personal needs or even fashionable looks. Many are handmade or imported from exotic places known for spiritual cultures like India, Nepal or Bali.

Let your jewelry enhance your spiritual nature while it also compliments your outfit and your own unique style. 

3 Spirited Styles to Take You From Spring into Summer

Here are three easy style that you can pull together to take you smoothly into summer from spring. They are unique looks that will lift your wardrobe as well as your spirits.

Free Spirit

A short white cotton camisole trimmed in a bit of lace or any creative edging paired with a loose, flowing, soft and billowing cotton skirt. Choose your colors, get several of each then mix and match.

If you do not have a camisole top, this look may be easily created with any plain white t-shirt! Just cut the hem off to the navel, cut out the sleeves, sew on the edging of your choice. Add a wrist full of dangly bangles and bracelets to complete the look. And don't forget the leather sandals.

Romantic

Nothing says romance quite like lace. Imported or handmade lace from places like Italy can offer the finest in fashion creation. Be inventive. Visit the bridal sections of consignment shops, pick something lacy and wear as is for a sweet spring date or get busy and re-purpose that lace into something magical and uniquely you. If you need to replace the  long braided headband, a simple strip of lace edging will do nicely as will a silky scarf. White open-toed heels will add to the romantic style.

Bohemian

Let your inner goddess/hippie-chick shine in a retro early seventies tie-dye maxi-look. This is a two-piece outfit. Use a tube-top and wrap a gauzy scarf around it to add more flow. Pick a multi-colored skirt or tie-dye your own. Add the headband of your choice or use a rolled up bandana and tie in the back. Sandals or just bare feet, what could be better?

World Class Travel and Renewal of the Spirit - The Phoenician

Spa Meditation Atrium at The Phoenician - Photo courtesy The Phoenician

A top-notch, world class facility, the Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona, offers spirited women the opportunity to refresh the spirit, relax and get in some yoga and amazing shopping nearby in fashionable Scottsdale. 

The phoenix: A bird in Egyptian mythology that lived in the desert for 500 years and then consumed itself by fire, later to rise renewed from its ashes. -- The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language.

Throughout human history, those seeking enlightenment have been drawn to the solitude and stark beauty of the desert. Today, they continue to “follow their bliss” to The Centre for Well-Being, a trend-setting 22,000-square-foot spa complex at The Phoenician, Arizona's premier luxury resort, in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. Recognized as one of the leading resort spas in the country, the world-class Centre for Well-Being takes its inspiration from the ancient legend of the mythical phoenix, which rose from the ashes of its past to be reborn and celebrate renewal. Here, guests are guided by the healing hands of a highly trained staff to revitalize mind and body - and ultimately attain a higher level of well-being and balanced living.

Photo courtesy The Phoenician

Situated on 250 picturesque acres at the base of the southeast side of Camelback Mountain, The Phoenician is luxury in perfection, harmony and well-being making it the perfect spot to rejuvenate in our series on Arizona spas. Just nine miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, it is also in close proximity to Scottsdale's finest shopping and dining, and a short drive in the opposite direction to downtown Phoenix, its historic district and attractions.

A RETREAT FOR BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT According to ancient legend, the mythical phoenix rose from the ashes of its past to be reborn and celebrate renewal. This power of transformation, whether of the body, spirit or mind, is inherent to the philosophy of The Centre for Well-Being. The spa rituals lead to inner calm, self-revelation and harmony with one’s own natural rhythms. Like the mythical phoenix, one’s body is a powerful change master – but it is the spirit that transforms.

The Centre offers an extensive array of massage and the best bodywork therapies available today. It is also known for its development of innovative new therapies, including Reiki Chakra Balancing Treatment, Acussage™, and Table Thai™ Massage. Spanning The Centre's two levels are 24 private treatment rooms, a private consultation room, weight training and cardiovascular studios (on the upper “active” level), Waters Bar, a full-service salon and, and a Meditation Atrium (on the lower “quiet” level). This peaceful sanctuary, with soft filtered sunlight, leather chaise lounges, lush greenery and gently cascading fountains, offers an ideal environment for The Centre's guided meditation classes and one-on-one meditation sessions. 

Treatments Inspired by the Desert and the World's Far Reaches Many of The Centre's body treatments draw their restorative properties from desert plants and minerals -- such as aloe vera, jojoba and chamomile -- that have been prized for centuries by the native peoples of the Southwest. Spa-goers will find these in therapeutic treatments such as the signature Kachina Aromatherapy body treatment, named for the legendary kachina spirits of the Hopi Indians who made their home in the Arizona desert.

International influences can be found in treatments such as the Turkish Body Scrub, the Thermal Moor Mud Wrap, which uses organic Hungarian moor mud to detoxify and rejuvenate, and the Bindi, an herbal exfoliation, massage and body wrap based on the ancient Ayuervedic arts of India. A full array of skin and facial treatments are also available, from the signature Botanical Radiance Facial to Smoothing Lip Treatment.

Massage: From Centuries-Old Techniques to Exclusive New Therapies

The spa also offers a full array of massage and bodywork therapies, ranging from the classic Swedish massage and Shiatsu to the unique Reiki Chakra Balancing Treatment. Designed exclusively for The Centre for Well-Being, this treatment creates a sensation of deep relaxation through guided visualizations that accompany the application of essential oil blends based on each of the chakras (“wheels of light”) of East Indian culture. Two other massage treatments created specifically for the Centre are Table Thai, which takes the time-honored Thai massage,

traditionally performed on the floor, and adapts it to the massage table, and Acussage, which combines traditional massage techniques with ancient Chinese therapies to alleviate stress and pain. 

Fitness and Wellness Offerings for Every Body 

For guests on the move, The Centre's fully equipped, state-of-the-art weight training aerobic and cardiovascular studio showcases the latest Cybex training machines, treadmills, stairclimbing machines, stationary cycles, free weights and Pilates equipment. The expansive aerobics room is mirrored, with a shock-absorbing, suspended wood floor and 10 spinning bikes. Among the more innovative fitness classes are Sport Yoga, a biomechanically precise method designed to enhance sports performance by promoting concentration while increasing flexibility, strength, alignment and body awareness, Family Yoga, a great way to make fitness and well-being a family priority, and a Traveler's Exercise Program, which empowers road warriors to exercise wherever their travels take them with the help of easy-to-pack resistance bands. Personal training services are available, as are daily classes such as spinning, kickboxing, aerobics, water aerobics, Pilates, yoga, T'ai Chi and an array of sculpting, toning and strengthening programs. Guests can also avail themselves of a wide range of consultation services, including body composition analysis and a fitness assessment and training consultation.

Putting it All Together

An array of full- and half-day spa packages are available, and include pampering treatments combined with participation in fitness classes and unlimited use of spa facilities. For an even more customized experience, spa-goers are encouraged to meet one-on-one with The Centre's exercise physiologists, registered dietitians and lifestyle management counselors, who can help them design the ideal well-being package for their individual needs.

Crowning Touches: from Highlights to Insights

The Centre's full-service Beauty Salon offers, Salon Milo, a full complement of salon services for men and women. Among these are the signature holistic manicures and pedicures, which include hand-and-foot massage, mineral exfoliation and a hydrating paraffin dip, hair highlighting and styling, scalp treatments and makeovers. Designed especially for men is the Sportsman choice of pedicure or manicure. Spa-goers can also avail themselves of The Centre's Circle of Intuitive Guides, where they can gain personal insight through a consultation with an astrologist, a tarot-card reading, or guided visual meditation. Waters Bar offers a relaxing and welcoming break between spa treatments. Complimentary fresh fruits, teas and juices are served, along with lunch and other refreshments on request. Spa-goers can also browse The Centre's Spa Boutique, where they'll find the latest in fitness apparel, inspirational books, tapes and CDs, plus four private-label bath and beauty product lines, all custom-blended using the highest quality natural ingredients.

 For information and spa appointments, 

 call 480-423-2452 or 800-843-2392 or visit www.thephoenician.com

Spirited Women in Movies – Shirley Valentine

Shirley Valentine is an award-winning 1989 British romantic comedy-drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert. The screenplay by Willy Russell is based on his 1986 one-character play of the same title, which follows middle aged Shirley Valentine in an unexpected discovery of herself, and rekindling of her childhood dreams and youthful love of life.

Pauline Collins reprises the titular lead role as middle-aged housewife Shirley, which she had previously played in the stage production in London's West End and on Broadway, and Tom Conti plays Costas Dimitriades, the owner of a Greek tavern with whom she has a holiday romance.

This is an amazing women’s movie. Although it was made in the eighties, Shirley Valentine should go down in history as one of the most spirited women in film. 

Shirley talks to the wall in her small but contemporary English kitchen. It has become her companion, it is all she has.  She and her husband no longer talk.

In the beginning the story sets up the exposition and back-story to her misery from her teens years on.  As the story progresses, it makes you feel as if you too are a part of the story, as if you are in on it because she is communicating with you as well as the other characters (and the kitchen wall).  

Shirley Valentine's name is symbolic because it is representative of the real self that she wants to be. It is representative of the self that she lost through the years, which she once was as a youth, before marriage, before children, back when she still had dreams and it is these dreams that she seek to find.

Shirley has the typical nosey, talkative neighbor, Gillian. Gillian has a little more money than Shirley and her husband. She is uppity and like a lot of people, makes Shirley feel intimidated, or more to the fact, just feel like escaping. Gillian shows Shirley though what Shirley does not want to be. A housewife stuck in the suburbs.

Shirley and Joe (her husband) have lost whatever they once had. They lost who they were by getting caught up in the day to day drudgery of their lives and there seems no way to get it back now that the children are grown. They face each other in the dreariness of the kitchen every evening at six o’clock for tea.

Shirley's children, Brian and Malandra, are loose and free spirited.  Brian is a rebel poet, off doing his own thing, not wanting to live the life he has seen his parents live.  He is not afraid to be different, to be himself. Malandra is also rebellious but in a more childish way.  She follows her friends and the fads.  She is rude and obnoxious to her mother; insensitive and typically selfish.

The actress starring as Shirley Valentine is Pauline Collins and her performance as Shirley is classic, hilarious, touching and strengthening. Her direct address to the audience lends a unique perspective that really pulls you into her story, into her character (known as an aside in theatre).  Especially in the way she looks at you (the viewer) in the camera when she wanted to express her thought or feeling at the moment but cannot say anything for it would be rude to the other character(s).

Shirley finds the confidence to go to Greece with a woman with whom she is friends. She is just about to back out and is feeling bad because her daughter completely trashes the idea accusing her of going only to have pitiful middle-aged sex, but when neighbor Gillian shows up with a gift and words of encouragement for the trip, Shirley begins to pack her bags for the adventure of a lifetime.  Shirley already knows that she does not want to live as Gillian does and Gillian's words to do this thing, to take this trip, give her the strength she needs.

The funniest scene is when it flashes back to her husband Joe, sitting at home in the kitchen talking to the wall because he had gotten on to her about talking to the wall and thought she was crazy because of it, but now he is the one alone and talking to the wall. The dishes are all piled in the sink while Shirley is off in Greece.

It would seem Malandra was right though because Shirley does meet a man in Greece, Costos. He was something she needed.  He helped her to feel youthful, beautiful, sexy and desirable again.  I'm not saying an affair is necessary in a marriage to reinstate those things but that's how it happened in Shirley's case.  He is likeable though.  I was disappointed that she had to overhear him hitting on a new woman later on but then realized it was good so that she does not stay in Greece because of him and is not tied to him emotionally or sexually thus leaving a possibility for her and Joe to be able to work it out.  

Pauline Collins, at the time, a 42-year-old size 14, does two nude scenes but I thought it was great, we all tire of the typical Hollywood blonde sending the message that she and her perfect body are the only ones who can do it or that people would want to look at.  I also thought both scenes greatly contributed to the point being made within; the confidence and spirit that she regained with Costos.  And then the feeling of freedom, youthful freedom that she regained in the second scene, it was not about the skinny-dipping with a man, it was about her regaining the confidence to jump freely, nude, from the boat and to be as a child in the water.  

Shirley remains in Greece because she knows that if she returns home, nothing will change, and the "new" that she is feeling will be lost again in the day to day drudgery and in Joe's attitude. Did she make the right decision?  Yes.  It gives her and her husband the chance at life again.  I believe he was attracted to her again.

This film also shows that the lower classes thought that having what the upper class had would make them happy, but the upper class was unhappy too because they were envying the simplistic life of the lower class, and neither class were happy with what they had.  It showed that happiness is not about having or not having---it is about being or not being.

The ending suggests that she and Joe regained what they had lost and renewed their relationship and their life and love, or at least have a chance at it.  Hopefully they stayed a while in Greece at least, to re-explore themselves; maybe they stayed permanently, but most likely they returned to their home but with a fresh perspective on life and each other.

Shirley Valentine is a must-see. The beautiful Greek costal scenes are the icing on the cake.

Unleash that Inner Goddess and Add Some Feminine Frills

Add a Little Lost Class with a Few Feminine Frills

Tired of the same old clothes and look? Bring in some spring by adding a little of the feminine to your style. Even just a touch of a frill can be just the eye-catcher you need to liven up things and to add a little perk to your step. Feeling feminine and frilly is fun and flirty and gives a woman a deeper sense of her own natural femininity with which she was born.

In today’s almost non-gender dress society, a lot has been lost from the feminine to the sake of trying to fit in with society including one special characteristic: class. Feminine is class. Ultra-class. That is why the great movie stars of days gone by became iconic, they had class yet maintained their own unique yet feminine style.

To take it a step further pamper yourself with a beauty day.

Add a spritz of a new romantic fragrance because nothing says feminine quite like the right fragrance. 

So if you want to add a little class and frill, perk up your wardrobe easily with a pretty pink skirt or heals. Just simple items can add the look and elegance to put you over the top and stand out in the crowd with class, style and elegance. Unleash that inner goddess and revel in the freedom of the feminine way. Smile and be charming. 

Physicians Formula Argan Wear Blush Compact

Product Review

Physicians Formula Argan Wear Blush Compact

This compact from Physicians Formula is amazing. Made with one-hundred percent argan oil from Morocco, known as liquid gold, it smooths, tones, and helps to return elasticity. The difference after application was immediate. My skin looked much smoother and it has a longer staying power than some blushers.

It is luxurious, exquisite and even slight scented. It comes in a beautiful gold-colored compact with mirror and blusher brush to match. Comes in a variety of shimmering shades with various motifs and eastern designs.

The only trouble I had with this product is the temptation to wear too much of it!

Made in Italy.

3 Reasons Why You Need Summer Scarves

Scarves are one of the most versatile pieces to include in any wardrobe. Scarves are common to most every region or country in the world and can be the easiest way to add cultural flavor to your look, and in the summer they can offer even more options.

Summer scarves of a light linen or cotton will offer options that you may not have considered.

Wrap

A scarf can offer the option of a lightweight wrap should you find yourself chilled on a breezy evening after a swim or in an air conditioned building.

Headband

Sometimes after-swim hair can look its worst and the only salvation until you can shower and redo it is to pull it back. Having a light summer scarf in the swim bag can be a life-saver. Use the scarf to tie a pony-tail (loose with wispies is always a great look), or use the scarf as a headband. Roll the scarf to a thinner width, and then tie it at the base of the neck beneath the hair, letting the length of the scarf hang down the back. If the scarf has fringe, this look is even more attractive.

Swim Cover-up

Nothing is worse than after a swim and needing to go into a restaurant or other public area and having nothing to put on. But once again that handy scarf in the swim bag will come to the rescue and if wide enough (like most of the eastern Indian scarves) may be tied either around the waist as a skirt or above or beneath the bust for a short style of dress.

So pack your summer swim bag and when you do be sure to throw in your favorite versatile scarf and you will always be prepared. 

Boots or Sandals – Continuity is Key

Footwear is the completion to any outfit, like the period at the end of the style sentence. Footwear can completely make or break the style that you are trying to create. Mismatched footwear to an outfit is one of the most common mistakes made.

For spirited style, nothing adds spirit quite like sandals or boots verses an average everyday shoe and they are each available in so many styles that creating your own look is easier than ever. A pair of each should of course be included in any stylish wardrobe but most especially if you are looking to add a touch of flair to your look.

Boots and sandals are very iconic and cultural, native to many regions and historical fashion and continue to maintain their popularity. The resurgence a few years ago of the Roman-looking dress sandals, the Gladiator look, is a perfect example of this. Boots and sandals are common to many regions worldwide so selecting the style that exhibits your favorite cultural influence or look is the key to adding just the right touch to complete your look. Even if your style is to mix and match, just make sure there is continuity and flow, this is the key in putting together an eclectic world look. The wrong color scheme for the outfit or for your own skin tones and coloring will ruin what you are trying to create. Style takes thought and time, throwing together mismatched footwear with mismatched clothing will not produce the desired result. For example (and this type of thing is seen often), flip-flops with a lace dress are not going to work.

Whether your choice is boots or sandals to add a little spirit to your look, take your time, think it through and make sure that it all flows nicely.

Cultural Textiles in Spirited Fashions

One of the most important factors in fashions with world spirit is the textiles, the materials with which the clothing is made. Who doesn’t love the feel of real cotton, silk, wool, gauze, woven pieces? These are the magic ingredients that bring the cultural aspects of fashion alive whether it is hand-stitched garments in the southern United States or Nepal to handmade lace from Italy or hand-spun and hand-dyed wools from mountainous regions; it all makes for beautiful fashions.

Let’s forget the industry as we know it for the moment, let’s forget mass production for a moment as well. Women worldwide create and contribute daily to the ingenious and indigenous originality of their regions and in our high-tech, mobile society, we now have not only the choice, but the access to see and even purchase these amazing creations. Centuries ago, women in Europe had their silks and textiles imported from the Far East waiting months for their arrival by ship. Today, we are able to view and order online and within a week, we receive our purchase from anywhere in the world.  

What materials, textiles and cultural influences catch your eye? Is it one particular influence or many influences from many regions? Begin to notice what type of materials and textures, colors and feel that you are drawn to and you will then become even more enamored to the quality of these original creations. Wearing these types of fashions will give you your own style as you incorporate them into your wardrobe. Your friends will wonder how you do it and you will share a love that has grown throughout the ages by women everywhere for the beauty and originality of the materials from which your clothing is made, clothing with spirit.

From the Editor

World Spirit Fashions is owned and published by Cheryl Bruedigam, publisher of Southwest Flair Magazine and STYLE Santa Fe, former fashion model and beauty consultant.

"Fashion is one of my passions and this magazine is dedicated to unique, spirited, cultural, exotic and high fashion from around the globe. You won't find any cookie-cutter looks or fads here. Style makes the woman." ~ Cheryl B.

Fashion. When other people in my generation talk about having “just missed” the sixties, they are usually referring to Woodstock or free love or acid trips. I, however, on the other hand had missed “Twiggy” yet in my youth that did not stop me. I wore mini skirts and white go-go boots and was laughed out of class in third or fourth grade for my faux leopard-skin coat. By sixth grade some of my classmates had gotten a clue to my newly forming sense of style and elected me to write a fashion column for our tiny school paper. By the next year, as I shot up to nearly five feet eight, they were telling me I should be a model.

About that same year that I got the faux leopard-skin coat, I traveled with my family toNew Mexico for the first time. I saw hippies, artists, Native Americans, musicians and alternative lifestyles, and with alternative lifestyles comes, you guessed it, alternative fashions. I was pretty well sold.

In high school I tried and begged to get to modeling school but my family could not afford it and thought it not a reliable focus for me. I would up attending a “charm” course at (of all places) a Montgomery Wards store. This was of no help. I carried on through high school, some days wearing my strangest garb like a wrap skirt from India with a turban and fringe boots. This was not too widely received in a small Texas horse town. None-the-less, I kept at it. I was determined to be me and to express myself accordingly. I got a job in a mall a clothing store but it bored me out of my mind. I loved the clothes but hated being a sales clerk.

After high school graduation I later married and moved to Hawaii where my cultural fashion senses became extremely heightened. So much beauty and culture to influence the feminine beauty and the clothing to be worn. Brilliant colors everywhere from flowers and lush plant-life burst onto my palette. Wraps, bikinis, colorful dresses, flowered tops, the cutest sandals, and jewelry from the sea, all landed in my closet and drawers.

After Hawaii, I returned to New Mexico for even more cultural fashion influence. During this time I was finally able to attend fashion college. Due to my age, I doubled up on classes and graduated in half the time. The school also had an acting agency so I was already working in fashion before graduation. I was mostly doing tearoom modeling although there were some runway shows as well and the biggie for me was a Bride’s Magazine show inAlbuquerque. I was selected from about two-hundred young women and it was an amazing show. The tearoom modeling was mostly down in Old Town at a restaurant that is still there today. The heavy cultural influences from Old Town added even more flair to my fashion palette. I then joined Mary Kay as a consultant, planning to do before and after glamour shots and work out of the trunk of my car.

After graduation, I returned to the Dallas area while I continued with Mary Kay and signed with Barbizon doing stints at Market Hall. Though I loved the clothes, once again I hated the work. I counted it up and while working at Market Hall, I changed clothes on an average of four-hundred times per day. I let that go. I did some photo work and added to my portfolio. The last thing I did was to enter and become a finalist in the Mrs. D/FW pageant.

By this time I had a child and was working full time in the hospitality industry though I was still with Mary Kay but as work and family life took over fashion and beauty began to slide further and further to the back burner where it remained until 2005 when I began publishing Southwest Flair Magazine.

In between that time I have lived in places like Eugene, Oregon (hippie and bohemian), Santa Fe and its fashion Mecca of influences, Dallas Ft. Worth (where I grew up in the cowboy culture and western world) and Silver City (more hippies and artists), so all of these places I have lived have contributed strongly to my love of unique, cultural and spirited fashions.

World Spirit Fashions is spirited fashions for the spirited woman who is not afraid to let her inner goddess show. Thank you for joining me as together we explore all that the world has to offer our closet! Whether you shop Paris or a thrift store, fashion is about style; your style, Make it stylish, make it spirited, reflect your culture and make it you.

Two Striking Exotic Looks with a Wrap

Wraps are easy and give such versatility to any outfit allowing you to create exceptional style with minimal effort. Here are two looks that are absolutely beautiful.

World Spirit Fashions

Welcome to World Spirit Fashions. This site and magazine is about the passion for fashion from all parts of the world, spirited styles, the eclectic, the unique and the women who create and wear them.

If you love spirited fashions, high fashion, unique styles as well as makeup and accessories, please join me in this exploration of World Spirit Fashions.

Cheryl B.

World Spirit Fashions