Blog Posts by BettyConfidential.com

Vantan Tokyo's student-produced collection proved that the future of fashion design is in talented hands.


-Diana Denza, BettyConfidential.com

van tan tokyo

You know I'm captivated by a fashion show when my camera sits idly on my lap as I sit transfixed by the art-clad models. And that's exactly what happened when the Vantan Toyko Fall 2012 runway show started.

Held at Lincoln Center's Nexus Showroom, the show's designers were students from the Vantan Design Institute in Japan. That's right: these young people managed to whip up four collections that could compete with the seasoned heavy hitters dominating Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

swanzi by Anki

The Swanzi by Anki collection designed by Cheung Siu Yan was sheer, flowing, and heavy on black and blue hues.

cheryl chee

Meanwhile, Cheryl Chee's eponymous line was elegant and urban-chic, relying heavily on neutrals.

mis

But mi_s, a bright and bold collection created by Masato Miyata, was by far the biggest treat of the afternoon. Brimming with

Shoji's fall collection was a sumptuous collection of lace, silks and velvet.


-April Daniels Hussar and PJ Gach, BettyConfidential.com

tadashi shoji fall 2012 collection

Tadashi Shoji's show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week was, and we don't use this word lightly, glorious. Walking into the tent, we were greeted by a huge square of lace projected against the back wall and romantic French songs. As the lights dimmed, the room hummed with excitement and anticipaition, the doorway to backstaged glowed bright.

Then the show!

Tadashi Shoji first look
The first model floats out.

tadashi shoji fall 2012 collection

Cocktail frocks in Venetian and Chantilly lace with Fortuny pleats floated down the runway, as did floral laser printed dresses and velvet gowns. It seemed to us that each dress that came down the runway was the most stunning. Then we saw the next one, then the next one. By the time the show ended we realized two things: we had entered a happier, prettier place and that when PJ finds her fictitious celebrity boyfriend, she's wearing Tadashi on the

Ever wanted to sit down and chat with Reese Witherspoon? Well, now you can as she promotes her new film, This Means War!


-Lucia Peters, BettyConfidential.com

Reese Witherspoon

It looks like Angelina Jolie started another trend when she did a live web chat with her fans last month-because now Reese Witherspoon is hopping on the bandwagon!

Today, Wednesday, February 15, the Oscar-winning actress will be sitting down for a live video chat to promote her new movie This Means War, courtesy of iVillage. Though the film doesn't open for another two days-word on the street has it that the studio pushed its release date back from Valentine's Day to this Friday in order to avoid going head to head with the Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum vehicle The Vow-you'll get the chance to ask Reese about anything you can think of (within reason, of course!): What it was like to work with uber hot costars Chris Pine and Tom Hardy, how she juggles life as a mother, newlywed, and A-list actress, beauty tips,

Happy Valentine's Day, Bettys! In honor of the occasion, why not check out our V Day content?
-The Betty Editors, BettyConfidential.com

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, Bettys! Since the day of love is finally here, we've rounded up all of our V Day-related content for you to peruse at your leisure. Need gift ideas? Beauty tips? Celeb features? Something to celebrate Singles Awareness Day? We've got you covered!

Gifts:

12 Valentine's Day Cards That Don't Suck

4 Fantastically Sexy Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts for Your Guy

10 Over-the-Top Valentine's Day Presents

Beauty:

5 Tips for Lingerie Shopping This Valentine's Day

What Does a Victoria's Secret Angel Want for Valentine's Day?

New Fragrances Your Lover Will Love on Valentine's Day

3 Sexy Hairstyles for Valentine's Day

Celebs:

Top 10 Most Romantic Celebrity Couples for Valentine's Day

10 Celeb Pairings We Wish Were Couples for Valentine's Day

12 Valentines We Want to Send to Our

Raise your glass to love and friendship on Valentine's Day with these sparkling drinks.
-PJ Gach, BettyConfidential.com

kanon valentines day cocktail

Ah, Valentine's Day. Whether you're celebrating with your girls, spending time with your honey or throwing an anti-Valentine's Day party, the question comes up, what are you going to drink? Don't worry about doing the same old, same old. We've rounded up some tasty (and pretty) libations for you!

1. EFFEN First Glance

Created by David Nepove - National President, U.S. Bartender's Guildeffen first glance

1 ½ parts EFFEN® Vodka

¾ parts Aperol

¾ parts Grapefruit Juice

½ part Lemon Juice

½ part Simple Syrup

½ part Pomegranate Juice

2 parts Prosecco

Pour in a cocktail jigger, shake, then pout into a wine glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.

2. EFFEN Spicy Romance

effen spicy romanceCreated by David Nepove - National President, U.S. Bartender's Guild

1 ½ parts EFFEN® Black Cherry Vodka or EFFEN® Vodka

¾ parts DeKuyper® Triple Sec

¾ parts

The big question on everyone's lips after Katy Perry's performance of "Part of Me" at the Grammys is whether the song is about Russell Brand. So: Is it? Mean Betty investigates!
-Mean Betty, BettyConfidential.com

Katy Perry

Kittens, did you tune into the Grammy Awards this past Sunday night? Or were you too busy having tea with the Queen during the BAFTAs? Don't worry, Meanie doesn't blame you if you were-tea with the Queen isn't something you brush off lightly, especially not when the British Academy of Film and Television Arts is involved. But in case you somehow didn't catch the Grammys and have no Royal (or otherwise British) excuse as to why, let Meanie tell you, kittens, you missed out. You can catch up on the Best Dressed, the "My Eyes Are Burning!", and the Best Performances of the night here, here, and here (and Meanie will know if you haven't, you naughty little things); but right now, Meanie would like to address a certain blue-haired chanteuse and whether or not the brand-new

Rock N' Republic delivers rockstar cool at Kohl's. Yes, Kohl's!

-PJ Gach, BettyConfidential.com

rock & Republic at Kohls

There was a time when you'd pay $300 for a pair of Rock & Republic jeans. You more than likely held your breath, praying that the few times you wore them nothing bad would happen to the jeans. Rock & Republic's still got that Cali rocker vibe. However, now you afford to eat after buying one of their jeans for only $80 af Kohl's.

Friday night, they held an intimate runway show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Beneath speakers blaring AC/DC, Joan Jett, remixed Doors and other rock anthems, male and female models strutted the stage in head to toe Rock & Republic.

Um, a couple of the male models couldn't exactly pull of the bad boy vibe that their clothes were giving off, however, the new line, which includes dresses and shoes (and shoes-say that with me!) retains that head-turning styling that originally put the brand on the map.

Look for the line this spring at

New company Glocal Connection works with struggling women to create profitable businesses based on gorgeous, high quality textile creations.

-Diana Denza, BettyConfidential.com

Glocal Connection

Breaking into the fashion industry is difficult enough for women with the education and resources they need to get noticed. But for poor women in third-world countries, it can be a nearly impossible feat. Despite being talented and hard working, many women in countries like Guatemala aren't encouraged to live independent lives -let alone become entrepreneurs.

That's where Glocal Connection steps in. The brainchild of fashion maven Yenifer Lam, the company aims to help women in poor countries by training them in everything from conceptualizing a product all the way to delivering it to consumers.

"I've spent 12 years in the business end of the fashion industry," Lam told us in an exclusive interview. "I've traveled to different communities across the globe and they have so much to offer. When we