Gap searches for next faces of GapKids and BabyGap
If you think you’ve got the cutest baby or brightest kid in the world, enter him or her in Gap’s sixth annual North American Casting Call contest.
As part of the submission process, parents can upload a photo of their child as well as a brief description of how their child brightens up the world. Being “bright” can mean anything — fom a cute smile to a community service project that makes a difference.
“Casting Call is one of our favorite programs. It’s a unique and meaningful way for us to engage with our customers, and we enjoy seeing the millions of children who embody the optimistic spirit of Gap,” said Art Peck, president of Gap North America. “For this year’s Casting Call, we want to go beyond the photo to learn more about who these children are and how they’re connecting with the world around them.”
How it works
Though April 22, parents can upload up to five photos of their baby (ages 4 and younger) or kid (ages 5 to 12) and answer a brief question about how their child brightens up the world. Submissions are accepted at www.gap.com/castingcall, Gap’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gap, or via the Gap Casting Call app available for iPhone and Android.
Twenty finalists will be selected — 10 babies/toddlers (five girls and five boys) for babyGap and 10 kids (five girls and five boys) for GapKids. The 20 finalists will be flown to either New York or California to participate in an official photo shoot where they’ll wear iconic Gap pieces including 1969 denim. Each finalist will also receive a $500 Gap GiftCard.
On May 21, the 20 finalists will be unveiled and then the public can vote once a day every day through May 25 for one boy and one girl in the babyGap category and one boy and one girl in the GapKids category. The finalist in each category who receives the most votes will be named the winner of that category for a total of four winners. Voting takes place at www.gap.com/castingcall, Gap’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gap, or via the Gap Casting Call app for iPhone or Android.
In late July, the four winners will be unveiled at www.gap.com/castingcall and will be featured in a Gap marketing campaign. Each winner will receive a $1,000 Gap gift card as well as a $10,000 grant in their name from Gap to Communities In Schools, a non-profit that surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
Go online to www.gap.com/castingcall for official contest and sweepstakes rules and information.
rue21 opens Thursday in Quail Springs Mall
rue21, a national retailer that focuses on fashion that is young and fresh, opens Thursday in Quail Springs Mall.
The store offers apparel and accessories for girls and guys with an emphasis on value. According to the company website, “ rue” comes from the French word for “street” while “21” represents the age that everyone wants to be.
Based in Pennsylvania, the chain operates more than 775 stores in 46 states.
Update lingerie with pops of color, vintage styles
It seems clothing trends have spilled over to lingerie.
“It’s time to break the basic nude and black lingerie rules with unexpected pops of bold color this spring,” said Lauren Harp, Nordstrom national fit stylist.
Women are invited to take a peek at the newest lingerie styles for spring during the Frill Seekers events at Nordstrom stores nationwide on April 20 and April 21. Shoppers will receive a gift a $50 bra and panty purchase, while supplies last.
“Customers can update their lingerie by mixing and matching bras and panties in vibrant hues of pink, purple, green or orange,” Harp said.
Pictured is a Chantelle Intimates bra and panty set in orchid, available at Nordstrom.
She also suggests adding vintage-shaped lingerie pieces like a lacy 3/4 bra with a wider band at the bottom or a 1950s style, high-waisted brief. “This retro silhouette gives the illusion of more coverage, but has a “Mad Men”-inspired sexiness to it,” Harp said.
The perfect look is nothing without the perfect fit, so Nordstrom lingerie stylists will be available to help customers. Nordstrom carries a wide range of sizes, ranging from 30-46 and cup sizes AA-K.
For more details or to schedule an appointment with a lingerie stylist, call your favorite Nordstrom store or go online to Nordstrom.com/frillseekers. For every bra purchased at the event, Nordstrom and participating brands will donate $20 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Jockey wants you to meet Tim Tebow
Jockey — the company that makes men’s and women’s underwear and T-shirts — wants to give sports fans an opportunity to meet football star Tim Tebow.
In case you’ve forgotten, Tebow, who recently was traded from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets, is more than a quarterback. He’s also a spokesman for Jockey.
Jockey International Inc. has launched the Staycool at The ESPY’s sweepstakes to celebrate its popular Jockey staycool collection for men and women. Now through April 30, sports fans can enter for the chance to win a trip to ESPN’s annual awards show in Los Angeles and meet Tim Tebow.
Fans can enter the sweepstates online at jockey.com/espys; via microsites of participating retailers, including Bealls, Belk, Boscov’s, Lord & Taylor and Navy Exchange; or by texting “JOCKEY” to shortcode 44144. Six winners will be chosen – one from each participating retailer, including Jockey. Each prize pack includes:
- Two tickets to The ESPYs, which take place live on July 11
- Meet and greet Tim Tebow
- Airfare for two to Los Angeles, hotel accommodations and a $500 stipend
Learn more about the sweepstakes and read the official rules at jockey.com/espys.
Tebow became a Jockey spokesman in July 2010 and is the face of Jockey staycool, which has become the company’s best-selling collection.
Donald J Pliner at Dillard’s, Penn Square, on Friday
Shoe designer Donald J Pliner
Shoe designer Donald J Pliner, who is known for his comfortable and stylish shoes, will be at Dillard’s, Penn Square in Oklahoma City, on Friday.
He will be in the women’s shoe department from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to sign purchases and help customers with their Donald J Pliner selections. Both men’s and women’s shoes will be available.
Pliner has plenty of fans in the city. Dillard’s was packed with people the last time Pliner visited in fall 2009.
I interviewed Pliner recently for a story in The Oklahoman’s Mood. Read more about his philosophy and what’s in store for spring here.
Donald J Pliner's metallic and cork wedge sandal.
Spring’s hottest jewelry trends
Eddie Borgo silk tassel necklace, $215, available at Neiman Marcus.
What’s new in fine jewelry trends? The Jewelry Information Center has some answers.
The center unveiled what it thinks are the hottest trends in fine jewelry this season, and chances are, you’re already seeing these in stores. Many of these trends are across the board, from fine jewelry to costume. Here’s the trend report:
Earrings
Two stand-out styles emerge: the button and the ear climber. Buttons were popular in the 1950s and then again in the 1980s. Today, button earrings are scaled down in size. Popular styles include small clusters of colored gemstones, colored gemstones with light pink hue (such as morganite, kunzite and pink quartz), tasteful floral designs and pave diamond ovals. Ear climbers, as the name connotes, literally reach up the earlobe towards the temple creating a dramatic effect. Snakes and leaves are often used, giving this style an organic look.
Necklaces
Large necklaces are shaping up to be a significant accessory. Inspired by scarves, necklaces are long with tassel ends, often tied and wrapped. Another popular style is the classic, chic chain-link necklace, but it’s shorter and worn closer to the neck. Bold pendants in the shapes of falcons, eagles, feathers and snakes often come to life in oxidized sterling silver.
Rings
“Organic” and “interesting” are the two words used to describe fashion rings for spring. Some of the noteworthy gemstones are opaque, sultry gems like moonstone, hematite, rutilated quartz, lapis lazuli and labradorite. Long gone are the days when women want to wear only perfectly faceted gemstones with no inclusions. Today, women appreciate the imperfections as well as the conversations that ensue because of their special beauty.
Bracelets
Good-bye gladiator bracelets; hello malleable mini-cuff. Due to the high price of gold, large bracelets are sized down this season. Bracelets made from sterling silver and blackened sterling silver will be prevalent, however, gold bracelets with open-work treatments continue to remain popular.
Refinery.com’s 50 fresh beauty buys for spring
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I’m a sucker for beauty lists – best of, award winning, editor favorites. I love these types of lists and read every one to see if I share a common fave or, even better, find a new product to try.
So you can imagine my joy when I came across refinery29.com’s Editor’s Picks: 50 Fresh Beauty Buys for Spring. Yes, 50 — from drugstore to designer.
I’m eager to try Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Debbie, a coral pink. I’ve worn Buxom before, but truthfully, I have so many glosses that even a brand I like sometimes gets overlooked in my stash.
This is what Christie Craft, managing editor for refinery29.com, had to say:
“It might sound crazy, but I swear Buxom’s Big & Healthy Lip Polish is like a straight shot of Restylane to the lips, minus the needles and risk of looking like a blowfish. Plus, it’s free of all those questionable parabens, sulfates, and GMOs, and conditions your lips, leaving them feeling super-soft and healthy. I have this gloss in a wide spectrum of colors, but Debbie’s coy coral hue is perfect for a spring-y, coquettish pout.”
And this isn’t the first list that has included Sachajuan Volume Powder. Brenna Egan, refinery29.com’s Los Angeles editor, said:
“I am so obsessed with this spray powder that I travel everywhere with a canister of it. It serves as both a dry shampoo and root-lifter, but doesn’t have the dangerous dehydrating effects that so many other brands I’ve tried do. The added benefit is that this Swedish line is entirely sulfate-free. Win. Win.”
Check all of the 50 products here.
Swimsuits flying off the shelves at Walmart
If this unseasonably warm weather has you thinking about summer, and especially swimsuits, you’re not the only one.
According to Walmart, the chain already has sold enough swimsuits to outfit everyone in Louisiana and Montana and enough shorts to dress everyone in Arizona and Nebraska.
Other hot-selling items at the world’s largest retailer include patio furniture, outdoor decor, grills, coolers, summer toys and beach towels.
And, remember, it’s only April 2.
Sephora video: Tangerine Tango smoky eye
No need for me to remind you that this is the year of orange. Tangerine Tango, so says Pantone Color Institute. Already this color is showing up on apparel and accessories. And, yes, even makeup.
This how-to video from Sephora shows you how to incorporate the color into your smoky eye look using the Sephora collection of shadows, lipstick, eye liner, blush and brushes.
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration lotion sunscreen
Summer weather, especially in Oklahoma, can be hard on your skin. Now comes Hawaiian Troic Silk Hydration lotion sunscreen, touted as the first and only sunscreen with hydrating silk ribbons to nourish and moisturize skin.
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration lotion sunscreen was developed to deliver intense moisture as a solution for dull and dry skin that is often a result of long days soaking up the sun. It is infused with silk protein and shea butter to pamper and protect skin when in the sun, providing 12-hour moisturization as well as UVA and UVB protection. It is available in SPF 12, 30 and 50.
Hawaiian Tropic Sun Care is taking its newest product to the runway this summer as the official sun care sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013 Collections in Miami. And Hawaiian Tropic is giving one lucky fashionista the opportunity to attend Fashion Week. Through May 31, sun lovers can enter the “Hawaiian Tropic Brand Style Your Skin” sweepstakes on a dedicated Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim tab on the Hawaiian Tropic brand Facebook page, www.facebook.com/HawaiianTropic.
One fan and a guest will have the opportunity to enjoy a four day, three night trip to Miami, complete with VIP access to designer runway shows, a shopping spree, spa treatments and more. An additional 25 fans will be awarded with a luxurious Hawaiian Tropic brand gift basket.
