Analyzing Trends (Parsons School of Design)

Medi-Spa Treatments

For years, people have been going to spas to feel rejuvenated. In an atmosphere of relaxation, surrounded by people whose job it is to make you look and feel younger, a visit to the spa can be reinvigorating. Now, the concept of a "spa" has been taken to a whole new level with the innovations of the medi-spa.

At a medi-spa, a medical doctor uses the latest technology to achieve those same results. After a visit to  medi-spa, you'll notice an immediate difference in the visible signs of aging. The treatments that they offer in Rochester, including collagen and BOTOX injections, can smooth out age lines and make your skin look smoother, clearer, and more youthful.

New spray on make up: foundation

Want flawless looking, glowing skin without applying thick, cakey foundation? Suzanne Somers' patented, revolutionary system could be just what you are looking for. Her water-resistant, oil-free Spray On Makeup Professional Foundation provides the look of professional air-brush foundation in just seconds. Simply spray it on and the light mist dispenses evenly to give you a totally natural look. And with aloe vera, chamomile, vitamins and other remarkable ingredients, your skin is hydrated at the same time.

New ways to fill your surroundings with Scents

A hot new trend for the spring/summer is the decoration and use of reed diffusers.  These are bottles filled with different scents ranging in quality that emit the scents into the air through the reed sticks creating a boquet effect for elegant room decoration.  This new form of room scent is a trend that has becom e popular among the less expensive home stores like Pier 1 Imports and the more expesive high brow retail stores like Henri Bendel.  The scents are found in a variety of soothing scents that enhance the rooms feel as well as the visual attractiveness of the vase and reed bouquet.

Food in America

More and more people are eating meals at home these days. On average, Americans eat 8 of 10 meals at home. The top ten food trends these days are: 1. No prep convenience foods 2. More meat and potatoes 3. New age dairy 4. Ethnic recipes 5. One dish meals 6. Suppers at home 7. Bottled water 8. Snacks like granola bars 9. Fruits & vegetables 10. Cooking oils and condiments. Americans are, suprisingly, becoming more and more health conscious. Overall, things have shifted to become not only healthier but faster as well.

Find Your Luck

Download bracelets.psd

After the charm trend, the big bracelet trend, and the 'personalized' discs on necklaces trend, as a result came these bracelets that incorporate a bit of all the mentioned. They each have a permanent single charm that represents usually lucky or inspirational symbols. The red one is in fact an evil eye protector. These can accessorize any outfit or other jewelry, and are great for any occasion. Anyone looking for inspiration or who is a believer in one of these is prone to love these. The macro trend found here is people believing and needing symbols as aspiration.

Customize. Perform. Win.

The NFL draft for 2006 is just over and fotball is getting hot again. For the upcoming season Nike has introduced a new football shirt, called Nike Pro iD, which is meant to be customized. The shirt comes in four different styles: loose fitted or tight fitted and with short or long sleeves.
After choosing the right style and color (there are 13 different to choose from) it is time to, as Nike puts it, tell the story by adding letters, numbers, and symbols on the sleeves. On the right sleeve one can have up to two numbers and ten letters, and there are four different fonts and 13 colors for this. For the left sleeve it is meant to have a band around the biceps together with three small symbols. Among all the different symbols to choose from one can find the 50 states of the USA and short words like TEAM, POWER, TRUST, etc.
Finally, on the left sleeve there is also the big Nike tri-bolt symbol. All this is to help anyone perform the best on the field and to win.

Beer Cocktails

Bartenders are mixing a very different ingredient into their cocktails lately… beer. Doesn’t sound very appealing, but it’s actually not such a new concept. Europeans have already been mixing up their beer for years, and now Americans are following in their footsteps, creating a variety of new beer-based beverages. Anheuser-Busch seems to be leading the trend with their new orangutang (Bud Light and orange juice) and the “BE Bomb,” a caffeinated beer and Jagermeister mixture. The Budweiser website features a variety of new drink recipes including “Cinful Hot” (Budweiser, Grenadine, Cinnamon Schnapps) and “Passion Play” (Budweiser and Passion Fruit juice). Salitos (Beer and Tequila) is one that's been around for awhile already.

The go-to hair and makeup girl for NY's social set

Tonight is the annual Costume Institutes Gala and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And when young socialites are given dresses and shoes, the only thing they really find themselves having to pay for is hair and makeup, so it better look stunning! And who better for the job than Alexa Rudolfo. This Mexican born hair and makeup artist is on every socialites speed dial. According to Style.com her clients include model spokeswomen Margherita Missoni and Jacquetta Wheeler; editrixes Meredith Melling Burke, Elizabeth Saltzman Walker, and Alexis Bryan; and girls-about-town Tinsley Mortimer, Zani Gugelmann, and Fabiola Beracasa; as well as designers Carolina Herrera and Roberto Cavalli ("I gave him highlights once," she confides). While Rodulfo won't discuss her rates, it is whispered that she can command as much as $2,500 for a half-day. Today, she's booked solid from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Bathing Bettie

"From a Tennessee orphanage to the Playboy mansion, from honor student to bondage model, Bettie Page embodies a lifetime of contradictions" -style.com. With the BioPic about Ms. Page starring Gretchen Mole just released, fashion is taking notice of the great impact Bettie Page has had on beauty. She has been imitated by the likes of Dita Von Teese and Paris Hilton. Also, on the Fall '06 catwalks we saw many designers showing clothing and beauty looks that were reminscent of the 50's glamour girl. Strong bold lips and dark prominent brows were featured with thick lashlines. Tuleh's Fall collection exemplifies the look with it's "Vassar Girls", a more refined take on the 50's pin-up girl.

Denim

The new trend for spring handbags is denim.  All of the major fashion houses are using denim in their spring lines.  This Prada handbag with leather details and the Prada stamp on it is a great example.  It retails for $850.