Posts with tag brazil

Nugaard Designs is the passionate enterprise of Brazilian born friends and business partners Alessandra Feio and Erica Pacey. These ladies combine a talent for creating stunning jewelry with a lifelong passion for fashion and a love of their homeland. In addition to maintaining environmentally conscious practices in the extraction of the many natural materials used in their designs, including leaves and golden grass native to Brazil, Alessandra and Erica are also mindful about going green in their offices and with their business travel as well.

Just about every supermodel working today hails from Brazil in particular. Think about it – Gisele Bunchen, Adriana Lima, Ana Beatriz Barros, Fernanda Motta, Raica Oliveria, Jeisa Chiminazzo, Isabeli Fontana, Alessandra Ambrosio, Raquel Zimmerman, Aline Nakashima. Even if you don't recognize the name, Google it and you'll certainly know the face.

It must be something in the water that gives them makes them so desirable -- such gorgeous faces, lush hair, itty bitty waists, round booties and big busts. Or maybe it's just South America's big "what up" to plastic surgery.

No matter. The point is they are all stunning. Even if you don't look like you hail from the exotic banks of Rio de Janeiro, you can still capture the same exotic lifestyle as all of these lovely ladies.

This is a model from the Cia Maritima runway show at Sao Paulo Fashion Week. Next to this nearly anorexic figure, we suppose anyone would look fat.

Because while the fashion industry claims to have realized the error of its ways -- denouncing ultra-skinny models, and learning to love the "real women" of the world -- it turns out those revelations must have been a passing fancy. Karolina Kurkova, a Victoria's Secret model, appeared in the same show, and response has been scathing -- just because of a little cellulite.

Oh those lanky, leggy girls who can wear just about anything. Yes, that means the lucky few like Whitney Port, Blake Lively, Paris Hilton, and the fierce (and seriously scary) Naomi Campbell.

We dedicate the last "Suit up" installment to those long ladies that we secretly despise for their limby... uh... ness.

Brazil may be more well known for their soccer team than anything else, but that isn't to say they don't know how to set a trend. Ever heard of a Brazilian wax, a Brazilian (thong) bikini or a Brazilian butt augmentation? Yeah, that's what we thought. Brazil knows what hot, so we thought that we should check out their Fashion Week, going on right now.

Naomi's had a crazy year thus far: she had an emergency surgery in Brazil in February and then was arrested for hocking a loogey on a cop in London's Heathrow Airport in April. Now, it seems that the rage-prone supermodel will be toning it down and getting back to business with a cameo in the season finale of Ugly Betty. It's about time that her agent found her something to do that would net her some good PR for a change.

Naomi Campbell has had a rough couple of weeks. First, she was banned from British Airways, basically for just being her normal psychotic self aka hacking a loogie onto a police officer. Then, she headed down to Brazil to give blood but they wouldn't take it! Ouch, that had to sting. Naomi was just trying to do good for others but she still got rejected.

Naomi Campbell has had an abdominal emergency. The poor super model is said to be recovering in a Brazil, in a hospital in Sao Paulo from an operation to remove a cyst.

Details are still coming out, but right now all that is known is that a gynecologist and a specialist in infectious diseases were both on hand to treat her. I don't want to jump to any conclusions -- but, gyno + infectious diseases = seriously EWW!

One doctor, who first mentioned how he isn't authorized to reveal anything about the operation, went on to talk about giving Naomi a laparoscopy -- "doctors use a thin, lighted scope to view internal organs." Fortunately, said doctor did not mention into which door said scope is inserted.

Naomi's publicist said, "Following the successful procedure, she is now resting and is looking forward to getting back to work. She would like to thank the doctors who have kindly looked after her."

Getting back to what work? After like 7 different cell phone throwing incidents I assumed people stopped hiring her. I guess in the fairytale land of fashion -- anger management problems + beautiful face = amazingly popular supermodel.

Via Gawker and CNN.

What better way to start the Hump Day than with a full-spread post about Brazilian supermodels?

You can thank me later, but let's not miss the real point. Forbes magazine recently ranked the top-earning models in the world and AOL Latin points out that three of the Top Five were Brazilian women. It's hardly surprising, coming from a country that turns out exotic, toned, golden-skinned, vibrant and curvaceous women. Who are they who made the Top Five? Gisele Bündchen, who made "$33 million this year. According to Forbes, her fortune is close to $200 million," Adriana Lima, the "fourth highest paid model in the world, with an estimated income of $6 million," and Alessandra Ambrosio, "a Victoria's Secret model. (Remember that lingerie made entirely with candy?) She follows Lima in the Forbes' list, ranking fifth and earning $6 million last year."

But they're not all. There are quite a few Brazilian models samba-ing down the runways. Aol

• Isabeli Fontana
• Raica Oliveira
• Jeisa Chiminazzo
• Ana Claudia Michels
• Ana Beatrix Barros
• Fernanda Tavares
• Fernanda Motta
• Ana Paula Araujo
• Aline Nakashima

Gisele Bundchen is generally consider the supermodel with the best personality. Personality, unfortunately, can be interpreted widely. It could mean that she's the model with the best boobs -- which she is. Or it could mean that she's the model with the best hair -- which again, she is.

A third possibility is that "personality" refers to Gisele's mind, but I doubt it.

How do I know? Well, Gisele likes to talk. Some supermodels -- Kate Moss being the best example -- shy away from interviews and microphones, so we're thankfully spared their oh-so trenchant thoughts. Gisele, on the other hand, loves to chit chat. She loves it so much that she's ever so often apt to say something congenitally stupid.

A case in point is Gisele's recent comments regarding Pope Benedict's latest visit to her native Brazil. During his visit, Benedict came down harshly on the use of contraceptives in the predominately Catholic nation. The pope's message dismayed Gisele -- and rightfully so I'd say -- so she took it upon her narrow shoulders to set the holy pontiff straight:

"It's ridiculous to ban contraceptives. You only have to think of the diseases that are transmitted without them. I think it should be compulsory to use a contraceptive."

Sure, it's admirable that she sticks up for what she believes in, but I really think she ought to look up the word "compulsory" before she tries to use it again. Condom police sound like a bad idea.

I love anything with a fidget factor. When I am somewhere and I can't read a book or open up my laptop I get bored quickly. Therefore the Palomina Bag from La Chica Chic appeals to me. The big white goatskin bag has bangle-like decorative handles and a whole collection of fidget-friendly doodads such as Swarovski crystals, Murano glass beads, Brazilian citrine, amber and onyx. This playful bag would be a great summer bag, perfect for lunch at an outdoor cafe (and if your lunch date is delayed you have something to keep you busy). It sells for $240. La Chica Chic also sells belts, bracelets and necklaces all made in Brazil, that are embellished with bright, light-catching beads.

Last week, I mentioned the provocative runway show of Antonio Miro in Barcelona, which used eight illegal immigrants as models. In a similar attempt to make a political statement through fashion, the Brazilian clothier Daspu sent sex workers dressed in its designs down the real life catwalk of the streets of Rio. Daspu was created by Davida, a organization that defends the rights of sex workers in Brazil. The name Daspu is actually a spin-off from Daslu, a famous Brazilian famous house.

To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of this trend. Part of me admires companies that take a stand on issues of social justice such as the treatment of illegal immigrants and sex workers. But another part of me feels like these fashion designers are exploiting the very people they aim to help.

What do you think?