Friday, May 30, 2008

Roaman's Reviews: Sex and the City Movie

I saw the Sex and the City movie last night at the midnight showing. I have no complaints whatsoever. I loved the movie, the perfect way to end one of the best shows on television! (Even with the microphone editing mistakes!)

Share your thoughts!

P.S. Jennifer Hudson was a great addition to the cast as Carrie's assistant Louise!

Roaman's Reviews: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

***Warning: this review contains spoilers***

I saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull the other day. In the 4th Indiana Jones Movie, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) tries to beat the Soviets to a lost city called Akakor in the Peruvian forest in pursuit of a crystal skull.

What I liked about the movie:
1. Harrison Ford goes right back to being Indiana Jones as if there had been no time lapse between Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
2. Shia LaBeouf was very well cast as Indiana Jones' son, Mutt. He did a great job acquainting himself to the series' tone.
3. The classic red line moving along the map when they were flying to Peru.
4. References to the other movies (i.e. statue of Marcus Brody, photo of Sean Connery on the desk, snakes).

What I disliked:
1. Cate Blanchett's Russian accent was on and off, this made her a mediocre villain from the beginning of the movie.
2. Holes in the plot. All the explanations for their actions were rushed and not properly explained.
3. Creatures/people that randomly emerged from the graveyard and Incan ruins in Peru.
4. The Tarzan scene was so unrealistic.
5. The fact that the movie ended with aliens and a spaceship, a mix between The Mummy and Independence Day.

I had really high expectations for this movie, which may be the reason I was so disappointed. The movie was just too unrealistic, even for Indiana Jones.

It was entertaining nonetheless. I would wait until the DVD or OnDemand release.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Graduation Dresses II

Of course my thoughts on graduation dresses could not all be expressed in just one post. I do love to overanalyze things and this is a topic that has occupied my thoughts for quite some time now (in between, 'Why oh why, is paper writing so hard? It should've gotten easier after four years...'). So here are some more of my thoughts:
Usually the saying goes, 'when all else fails, turn to the LBD.' I think graduation is the exception, because it would just be so...black! But if you must, I think these black dresses with some prints and patterns would be a great option to offset the blackness (left: Donna Ricco, right: Cynthia Steffe). I actually quite like the Cynthia Steffe. The cutting is simple and the pattern is subtle but interesting.
In the case for graduation, I think the saying should be, 'when all else fails, turn to the white dress.' Here we have a very classic white dress from Theory (left). Maybe you can add personality to it with some accessories? The other day, I saw graduation pictures of people with pearl necklaces and matching earrings, and it looked very elegant. For a bit more fun, this dress from Carmen Marc Valvo (right) is cute.
Of course, all else has not failed yet. You might want to go to the other extreme and go for bright florals. That would definitely brighten up the gown. The thing about graduation dresses, is that they should be daytime, but not too casual, maintaining a bit of modesty and decorum.
That is a hard line to balance. You'd notice that I haven't picked anything too revealing nor too casual so far. The trick for floral dresses is to choose one with a clean cutting so it won't look too much.
You can also take a book from my page (I think I've decided on wearing my purple Marc by MJ dress from the last post) and go for a dress with a simple cutting but a bold color. I LOVE the simple yet elegant cutting of the blue Burberry dress (left), even though this blue is not my best color. My best color is of course, purple, like this purple on the Rory Beca dress (right).
I know I said nothing too low cut, but if you can carry it off, I LOVE this purple Nanette Lepore dress (left). The details are just so feminine and PRETTY. On the opposite end, there is this bolder block dress (right), from Theory. Whichever one suits your personality better.
Another great summer color (especially for SS08 as it is THE color) to think about is yellow. It is summery, refreshing, not too girly nor too dark and just super fun. There is this simple one from Vince (left). But personally I ADORE this yellow block dress from T Tahari (right). My friend got this (and I hope she keeps it!). The cutting is simple and elegant, and the block colors highlight the cutting of the dress, making it even more flattering for the wearer. Come to think of it, I want a yellow dress like this too!

Image Source: Saks, Nordstrom, Shopbop and Bloomingdales

Roaman's Travel: Atlantic City, NJ

This is our first blog entry on travel. I decided on Atlantic City, NJ because it is unique, accessible and has a lot to offer for those who live in the mid-Atlantic.

Background - Atlantic City is famous for its boardwalk, casinos, beaches and the fact that it is the original inspiration of Monopoly. Atlantic City became a popular beach destination because of its close proximity to Philadelphia. Ocean Pier was the world's first oceanside amusement pier.

Accommodations
- Lavish casino hotels, affordable motels and cozy Bed & Breakfast's provide ample lodging choices for all. This is great for the travels on a budget, and great for travelers who are looking to spend a little more money.The casino hotels tend to be on the pricer side of the spectrum. These hotels include: Taj Mahal, Tropicana Casino & Hotel, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Caesars Atlantic City, Trump Marina Hotel, Borgata Resort, etc. These hotels are in the center of Atlantic City and provide high quality service and a ton of amenities. When you are traveling on a budget, it is important to keep in mind that the cheaper hotels might not be on the boardwalk with all the casino hotels. It is easy to find a great deal, but it might take a little more researching to find a hotel with a good location. Highly rated budget hotels include Comfort Inn Boardwalk, Royal Suites at Atlantic Place, Days Inn Atlantic City Boardwalk, Econo Lodge Beach Block.

Boardwalk - the Atlantic City boardwalk is the main attraction for the seaside resort city. The boardwalk is home to hotels, restaurants, shops, casinos and more. There are plenty of boardwalk walking tours available that will inform travelers of the boardwalk's history, saltwater taffy, all about the origination of the Monopoly game and more.

Casinos - Atlantic city has everything of offer in casinos. Play everything: slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, keno, race books, and specialty table games. Most casinos are open all night.

Nightlife and Entertainment - Atlantic City offers great nightlife. The calender of events includes concerts, plays, comedy shows, movies, adult entertainment, and unique club nights.

Dining - Atlantic City is a mecca for international cuisine. From Chinese to Vietnamese to Mexican food, travelers can eat whatever they want in their budget. Not only does dining very with cuisine, it varies with decor and ambiance. Travelers can eat at old fashioned restaurants, famous name themed restaurants, or sophisticated gourmet restaurants. Don't forget boardwalk food!

Shopping - AC offers boardwalk souvenir stores, specialty shops, candy and fudge stores, an outlet mall (including Bass, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica,Timberland, etc.), the Pier Shops at Caesars offer high end shops (including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, etc.), and The Quarter at Tropicana offers a unique experience in shops like Jake's Dog House, Swarovski, Tinder Box/Vino 100, Houdini's Magic Shop, and The Old Farmer's Almanac General Store.

Downside - Atlantic City is not the best place to take the whole family, we recommend it for adults. Also, parts of Atlantic City of known for high crime rates. If you travel away from the main resorts, be careful!

Overall, Atlantic City is a somewhat fast paced vacation, with so much to do and see in a short time, there is little time left for relaxation.

Comment on your thoughts of Atlantic City!

Sex and the City Movie: One More Day!!!!

One more day until the highly anticipated opening of the Sex and the City movie (unless you are seeing it tonight at midnight).

One problem: Perez Hilton is reporting that its readers who have seen the film are noticing microphones in a couple of the movie's scenes. In fact, in a scene where Carrie and Mr. Big are discussing their wedding vows, a microphone is seen hanging from the top of the screen.

For such a high budget movie, this is a pretty obvious mistake. Maybe the budget was used up on wardrobe?

Only time will tell!

Skinny Models Out, Plus-Size Models In?

According to an ABC News Article, stick thin models might be on their way off the runway thanks to Whitney Thompson, the winner of cycle 10 of America's Next Top Model.

Whitney is a size 10, not "fat" by conventional standards. Actually, "she's slimmer than the 34 percent of Americans older than 20 who are obese." But, when Whitney is compared to the models that currently dominate the runways, shes big.

People are starting to have a newfound respect for the plus-size model because of Whitney. "I've stood there in the middle of an agency with everyone pointing at me and saying 'four more inches off the hips would be great,'" Thompson said. "I don't recommend any girl putting herself through that, but I did and I stand here unchanged, physically."

Roaman's believes that Whitney's attitude towards her body is one that all women should have.


Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Sex and the City Movie: 2 More Days!

We are huge Sex and the City fans at Roaman's and are just as excited as all of you that the Sex and the City movie comes out this weekend! Last night, the New York premiere of Sex and the City was held at Radio City Music Hall. Radio City was decorated with a pink carpet and thousands of fans showed up for the event.

Sarah Jessica Parker (who was wearing an amazing Nina Ricci gown) said it was "very moving" and "one of the great nights in my professional career," according to this BBC News article.

Others to attend the event were Kim Catrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Noth, Patricia Field, Donna Karen, Ashley Olsen, Christin Siriano, Fergie, Lil' Kim, Donald Trump, Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Sedaris and much more.

We are so excited to find out if Carrie and Mr. Big get married! Let us know what you think after you have seen the movie!

Victoria Secrets - What is Sexy Mom 2008

The results of the Victoria Secrets - What is Sexy 2008 has finally been released on E!

With so many Hollywood bumps last year (LIKE SO MANY), it wasn't an easy task for the team to pick the sexiest mom of 2008. Sure we were rooting for Gwen Stefani, but we know she faces tough challenges from other hot mamas like Jessica Alba, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, and Cate Blanchett.


Jessica Alba
The gorgeous Jessica Alba

J lo
Those are huge!

Halle Berry
The Glowing Halle Berry



And so you think these moms are hot enough? Well, apparently not.

The winner was the sultry English mother of three, Victoria Beckham. With that tone and svelte figure, it's certainly not obvious that this sexy mom is already a mother of three.
Even at the ball games playing nanny to Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz, Mummy Beckham was never spotted with a strand of hair not in place. A well deserved title, we must say.

Victoria Beckham
Sexy Mom with sons Brooklyn and Romeo


Yet sadly, being sexy doesn't mean stylish.
With all that money and body, we still think she should hire a fashion stylist.

Style Damsel
Fashion boo-boo!
(Yes, the same lady who topped our list of Fashion Misses 2007)


Other hot mamas alert:

Style Damsel
Clockwise from top-left:
Fellow fashion designer-Stella McCartney, Actress/showproducer- Selma Hayek, Actress/Model-Milla Jovovich, HOT actress-Kate Blanchett, Singer-Christina Aguilera, Actress-Nicole Richie.


Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman's little bump


Photobucket
Angelina Jolie proves that you might just want to conceive with the man you truly love.



Here are the list of the other sexy winners:

Sexiest Male Athlete – Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys quarterback)
Sexiest Couple – Fergie and Josh Duhamel (Oh, cute couple!)
Sexiest Style – Scarlett Johansson
Sexiest Smile – Ryan Seacrest
Sexiest Eyes – Kate Bosworth
Sexiest Legs – Ali Larter (Heroes)
Sexiest Mom – Victoria Beckham
Sexiest Dad – Justin Chambers
Sexiest Funnyman – Dane Cook
Sexiest Beach Body – Josh Holloway
Sexiest Lips – Jessica Biel
Sexiest Actress – Eva Mendes
Sexiest Actor – Eric Bana
Sexiest Female Musician – Rihanna
Sexiest Male Musician – Chris Brown
Sexiest Cast – Dirty Sexy Money
Sexiest Newcomer – Blake Lively (Gossip Girl)
Sexiest Newlyweds – Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) and Josh Kelly



Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Dress Like Denise Richards at Roaman's

Earlier this month, Denise Richards (the star of her own reality show, Denise Richards: Its Complicated) was spotted wearing one of this season's hottest trends: a white crochet dress.













Roaman's has the solution for you, dress just like Denise in our version of this summer trend! The bottom picture is Roaman's white crochet plus size dress.

This dress is flirty, perfect for the summer, and has a flattering empire-waist cut.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Cannes Festival Fashion 2008

Now that Cannes is over, it is time to admire the dresses! Its not quite as fun to look at as the ones from the Costume Institute, but we got to take our joy where we can find them.
Best dress definitely goes to Natalie Portman. I love how all her outfits are so cute, funny, girly and yet she still looks elegant.
I love the flirty red tiered dress! Not so hot on this black/white number though. It doesn't look very well made. Nor particularly flattering.
Something more sophisticated. Cate Blanchett looks great in Armani. Mischa looks stunning too in that rich royal blue gown. Though I think she looks a little too sophisticated for her age.
Aishwarya Rai looks classic in that silver dress. And I absolutely adore the back and the long train of Penelope Cruz's cream Marchesa dress.
Now onto the disasters. How did Chanel come up with these two hideous creations to adorn Madonna and Gweneth Paltrow with? Though Madonna's dress actually makes Gweneth's dress look not so bad! Dita von Teese looks pale and ghostly in this green Christian Lacroix creation. Ugh. She looks much better in the simple white wrap dress.
Linsday Lohan looks like she's wearing an expensive green Persian rug. Angelina Jolie actually looks quite pretty here . The cutting of this Max Azria dress quite her current figure perfectly. I also love how she chose to wear minimal make-up. She already naturally glows from her condition. The only thing though is that I don't like this color. It just looks so.... earthy and dirty. She'd look much better in a more vibrant color.
Milla Jovovich needs to fire or hire (if she hasn't already got one) a stylist. And go eat something. Are those rib bones I see (right in green)?

Image Source: NY Mag and Style Dash

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Fashion Hats - Nagi Noda

Remember the people who brought us the quirky Laforet paper bags?

Style Damsel

Not surprising, Art director of Uchu-country,Nagi Noda, once again intrigue consumers with her whimsical yet tasteful ideas and innovative concept.

Fresh from milk studio, NYC,
Nagi Noda came up with new fashion hats that will knock Philip Treacy off his socks!


From fashion photographer, Kenneth Cappello

Other hair raising encounters:


Photobucket
The men are not spared too.

We just love her kowa kawaii (that means cute but a little weird in Japanese) creations!

Friday, May 23, 2008

Roaman's Memorial Day Sale

Roaman's is treating you this Memorial Day! We are offering 50 stylish summer items at 50% off! Click here for this amazing sale.

Don't miss this opportunity to stock up on summer items now!

Have a great Memorial Day and don't forget to wear sunscreen!

Lanvin Flats

When the Lanvin flats became a hit back a year or so back, with people like Nicole Richie, wearing it everywhere in different colors, I did not see the attraction. They honestly did not look any different from standard flats and I did not see where the $500USD price tag came from. They don't even have heels!
Out of curiosity though, I tried on a pair of red patent Lanvin flats (similar to the one above) the other day at Barneys- and I think I'm finally understanding where the price tag comes from. Even though it is about as thin as any other flats, they are REALLY comfortable. Like amazingly so. Seriously. I noticed the difference right after I tried it on. The sole was cushiony- like sneakers! I don't know how they do it. Even in patent leather, the scrunchy thing is super soft. Now I know what all the rave was about.

Still though, the price is a bit steep for flats. Maybe if they were $300.

Image Source: Barneys

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Style Damsel - We love tote & summer dress

Recently,

We received tonnes of inquiries and deals for made-to-measure.
Though we've been busy designing for some of our exquisite members from Style Damsel, we promise Style Damsel's new collection to be out by Mid-July.
[To place orders for made-to-measure kindly contact the crew at info@styledamsel.com]


Meanwhile, Style Damsel tries to fit in the time to make some interlude dresses for the summer.
And because this is the special interlude collection, we are only making 1 for each design!
Now, how's that for EXCLUSIVO?!

Style Damsel
Style Damsel
Retro Sweetheart Rainbow Maxi Dress, $95.00 [SOLD OUT]

You can read more and get this summer dress from the Style Damsel's exclusive section.

Since we only made one, the fastest finger prevails! So hurrrrrrry if you love it!


Today is also our inaugural "We Love Tote Bags Day".
By now you should have receive our love in your electronic mailbox. If you haven't, and would love to be part of our mailing list, drop the crew an email (info@styledamsel.com) and we will be more than willing to add you to our list.


Style Damsel

Click here to get our specially designed tote bags for a special discounted rate before they are all gone!


The SD crew would love to wish all SD readers, A Happy Tote Bags Day!


Avenue and OneStopPlus.com Swimsuits are Featured in a Fashion Segment on ABC7 Chicago!

Plus size swimsuits from our sister companies, Avenue and OneStopPlus were featured in a segment on ABC7 Chicago. Curvy Style expert, Michele Weston, shared swimsuit fashion tips for various figures, and even better, her tips came to life by seeing the swimsuits on models with different body shapes. As part of the segment, Michele Weston talked about how each swimsuit flattered the model's figure and highlighted where the garment could be purchased.

Click here to view the fabulous collection of plus size swim wear from OneStopPlus! This selection of plus size bathing suits has Roaman's and Avenue's collections as well! Happy shopping!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Graduation Dresses I

Four years ago, I never thought 2008 would ever come, let alone June 2008 (my graduation!). I'm not ready for the real world yet (I may never be)! But now that it is fast looming ahead, I figured I should just try to concentrate on one thing for now- convocation! This four hour event (and the piece of paper I will receive at the end) is the culmination of four years of hard (most of the time anyway) work. This is the liminal event that will mark my entry into the real world! For such an important event, I think the PERFECT graduation dress is called for. I know, for most of the time it will be covered by the gown (that is what my mom said anyway), but come on, the gown is NOT exactly very flattering. These days, I've noticed that a lot of people like to take a few pictures with AND without their gowns on during graduation. The thought process began when the SS08 collections started filtering into the stores. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but I figured that I'd just KNOW once I see it (kind of the same theory I have for men :P). The "moment" came back in March when a friend, HG and I decided to check out the new Marc by Marc Jacobs collection in the store. We ooh-ed and ahh-ed (very discretely of course) over the new collection and then I saw this dress and said, "Ooh, this dress is cute! Hey, maybe I can wear it for graduation!" It was just an offhanded comment, but the idea took root and when I went home, I thought more about it. I certainly didn't want to wear black to graduation- I'd be black enough in my completely black gown and black cap, with my black hair. Purple is not very conventional, but it IS my favourite color and this will definitely stand out from the crowd. Its youthful and it compliments my skin tone perfectly. The style is a bit of retro. I thought I wanted to look classic for my graduation (so my pictures would look timeless), but then my friend said that the whole point of pictures is to remember the event, and therefore I should also remember the fashion during the time of the event too. She had a point. And so, HG and I went back the store and tried it on. It looks great on me! After mulling over this for another month, I finally got it. The only thing is that the chest area (again!) needs a bit of altering. Since the dress is in HK right now and I'm in Chicago though and there's barely any time in between..........that is going to be a problem. I'll figure something out.
At the back of my mind though, I keep wondering if I should stick with something more conventionally graduation like after all. Read: something with a more classic design with a more pastel like, floral or white pattern. Naturally I thought of BCBG. They are currently having excellent sales too! Unfortunately though, the pickings this season are thin- especially in the store! I thought about this dress (left) that so resembles dresses from Marc by MJ and Juicy Couture from seasons past. A friend of mine wore the Marc by MJ version for her graduation and looked cute. And I did absolutely LOVED the Juicy Couture version. Unfortunately though, I thought this one was a bit too short and not very appropriate for the occasion. And so, I turned to this elegant, black and white floral print dress. I actually really like it. It is very proper, classic, feminine and not too black. Unfortunately, it ran out of my sizes online (its on sale!) and it isn't even available in stores anymore.
Then I stopped by the dress floor at Bloomies and tried on a bunch of dresses. I am in LOVE with these two dresses. The strapless one (left: from BCBG, though not available in store or online!),is actually absolutely PERFECT as a graduation dress. It is very simple, elegant and just super pretty. The little bubbly bottom, is just so and adds a bit of the "now" in. It fits perfectly on me too, even though I'm flat. I was hesitant at first though because it doesn't look quite day time and can look a bit prom-like. But today, when I went to "visit" it at Bloomies again, it was GONE. It was such a good sell, that it is SOLD OUT after 2 weeks on the rack and not even on sale (at $300)!!!! Of course, now that it is sold out, it only looks more and more perfect to me!!!! I cannot stop staring at the picture now and mentally hitting myself for not just getting it when I saw it!

The other dress (right) is from Plenty and it is THE most perfectly fitted dress. It is the epitomes of elegance and style. It is feminine and pretty, without exposing too much skin. It looks absolutely GORGEOUS on too. My ONLY problem with it, is the high neck. Nothing against high necks in general- just that it would poke out from under the V neck of my graduation gown, which would not be pretty. This would be THE perfect dress if I had a wedding to go to. Anyone want to invite me to a wedding some time soon?

Image Source: Net a Porter and BCBG

David Cook is the New American Idol

Breaking News! David Cook has been crowned as winner of Season 7 American Idol. David has put up a solid performance throughout this season's competition. With Amazing performance from last night's finale competition. Winner by 12 Million votes.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

American Idol Winner May be David Archuleta

The competition is fierce, but so far in Tuesday night's performance, it looks like David Archuleta is becoming the judges and crowds favorite.  This is going to be an interesting battle finale but the staff at Roaman's think its likely to be David Archuleta.  We'll find out tomorrow. 

Sex And The City - Timmy Woods Bags

Like all SATC fans,

We can't wait for the movie to be out!

Remember that scene where Carrie Bradshaw unconsciously opened up what looked like a classic lacquered telephone at the stairways, to unveil a magnificent bag that could instantaneously make any girlfriend jealous?

Style Damsel
The Marilyn Phone, Named after Marilyn Monroe, by Timmy Woods


Well, bag designer, Timmy Woods, will have another work-of-art featured in the Sex And The City movie. Aptly called, The Effiel Tower Bag (with Crystals), this delicate ensemble is brilliantly embellished with 6,300 Swarovski Crystals - (no wonder it cost USD3,000)!

Style Damsel

Style Damsel


Before you jump to conclusion and think that these bags are assembled from metal hands and conveyor belts in China, bags from Timmy Woods are authentically handmade, like in Style Damsel, and every different designs have their individual molds carved out from woodblocks. We sure understand the dedication and amount of sweat put into each finished product!


Here are Style Damsel's Top 6 Picks:


Style Damsel

Banana Split, Fire hydrant , Pink Hotel with Crystals


Photobucket
Twin Kittys, Debbie Doxie, Lucious Pink Lips


Timmy Woods not only offer these one-of-a-kind handmade bags, but also other classic designs and leather products like the Bo and G1072 - A.
(Doesn't the G1072 - A reminds you of Style Damsel's Sold Out Double Weave bags?)

Style Damsel
Bo and G1072



Get those fashionable bags from Timmy Woods today!

Image Source from www.timmywoods.com