I recently asked on my Facebook page how parents got their children to eat a nourishing diet (most of us follow a traditional diet model, with foods like grass-fed beef, organic produce, and pastured dairy).

I thought the replies were so insightful and helpful that I should share them with you!

Prepare it right

Chrissy: "Make it yummy. Make things you really like to eat. Many nourishing foods can be ruined by over cooking, under seasoning, boiling (ugh...I really dislike almost any boiled food)...etc. My kids like roasted veggies better than steamed buttered and sea salted better than plain."

Don’t give them other options

Sharon : "Give them nothing else."

Model a healthy diet for them

A Living Doll-: "I find whatever my mom eats is what I want to eat just because if mom eats it, it must be something good. That's how she always got my sister and I to eat foods."

The power of a few good ingredients

An Appetite For Joy: "Lemon, sea salt and/or butter."

Don’t always serve leftovers

Dulcimer: "Give them a break from leftovers for lunch, and plan some lunches that feel "fresh" and different from what we had for dinner last night. Last night's dinner may have been nourishing and awesome, but let's face it: when lunch rolls around, sometimes we want something different."

Have them help cooking

Claudia: "Have them help cook it. My son loves eating what he's cooked."

Get them involved in the shopping

EliLeslie: "I let them pick out things to try at the store. They're always at least willing to try the foods this way. And more likely than not, they end up enjoying them. We've introduced rutabagas and Brussels sprouts and kale chips quite successfully this way."

Cut out junk food

Lisa: "Honestly? Not giving them anything BUT good food. I've found that exposing them to convenience and "junk" foods makes them not want nourishing foods. Even though it's organic and gluten free "treats," it still seems to take away their desire for real food. So I don't give it to them. It's amazing how much they love orange glazed beets, Brussels sprouts, and roasted asparagus, and liver if they aren't comparing it to organic gummy candy or gluten free cookies!"Read more here:cheap bridesmaid dresses uk

Emma Stone's 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' New York premiere look was inspired by the ''disco era''.

The 25-year-old actress' make-up artist Rachel Goodwin wanted to give Emma a gorgeous beauty look to compliment her nude Prada dress with silver embellishment, so chose a luminous foundation with sparkling eye shadow to achieve a romantic 70s vibe.

The Chanel celebrity make-up artist told Fashionista.com: ''[It was] a 70s party girl meets a princess. To me, the dress had that disco era glam to it but also elegant lines. It was so romantic and beautiful, it was a moment.

''I used the fleshy tone and the purple detailing to inform the colour and textures I chose for her.''

Emma's look was set off with a high-impact berry lip, which accentuated the tones of the stunning dress.

Rachel explained: ''I wanted everything to be luminous. I was inspired by disco-era makeup which is all about shimmer. I wanted it to be really shiny and shimmery and fun feeling.

''I used a lip liner underneath a berry stain (Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in Adore and Chanel Aqua Crayon Lip Colour Stick in Rosewood), and on top of that I used a fun lip gloss (Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Raisin Rage). I wanted it to pick up the purple tone that was on her dress.''

The 'Easy A' star debuted her new ombré fringe bob while posing outside the Ziegfeld Theater last week and Rachel revealed Emma's low-maintenance new crop means she doesn't have to worry about having perfectly-groomed brows anymore.

She added: ''She's had bangs in the past, but it's been a while. It's such a cute look, I love how French girl it is! I think she was feeling a little change - there was no deep motivation.

''The bangs change the eyebrow situation. I'm very eyebrow-obsessed in general. I guess I was a little less focused on the perfect eyebrow, but I still obviously do them just in case the wind blows or something!''Also read here:www.sheindress.co.uk/princess-prom-dresses

Day after day in a fashion studio on N.C. State’s campus, Sydney Whittington Smith cuts glass.

Inspired by ancient techniques utilized by stained-glass makers in 15th- and 16th-century Europe, the N.C. State senior cuts thousands of tiny triangles of glass and hand turns flame-retardant wire, which she embeds between the pieces of glass before firing in a kiln to create a shimmering chain maille-like material for her Sklo fashion collection.

This is Art2Wear.

For more than a decade, students in N.C. State’s colleges of design and textiles create exactly what the show’s title implies – wearable art.

Smith, along with 11 other student designers, will present collections on the Stafford Commons outside Talley Student Union on Friday at 8 p.m. This year’s theme is “Accelerated Evolution: Speed.”

3-D printing ‘incredible’

The student collections feature a myriad of techniques, many as unconventional and complicated as that used by Smith.

Gillian Page, a senior majoring in art and design, turned to principles of math and engineering as inspiration for her Generative Edge collection. Influenced by the concept of generative design – a method in which the design is generated by an algorithm – Paige’s collection incorporates printed fabrics and 3-D printing techniques. Paige created sketches, which were converted to digital files and then printed on the 3-D printer at State’s Hunt Library.

“The 3-D printing has been a really exciting process for me,” she says. “Generative design is sometimes used in the creation of 3-D printed materials, and I definitely wanted to try it for myself by creating accessories. Getting to see these pieces created by the 3-D printer was pretty incredible.”

LeBlanc as mentor

Paige also found inspiration from her professor, and recent “Project Runway” finalist, Justin LeBlanc. LeBlanc, who wowed the televised competition show’s judges with his own 3-D printed design elements last summer, plays the Tim Gunn role at Art2Wear, serving as co-adviser (along with fellow professor Katherine Diuguid).

“Tim Gunn taught me a lot about myself and about how to effectively mentor,” LeBlanc says. “Through his support in tough times, constructive criticism, constant respect and endless encouragement, he made me a better designer and person. I see my role in Art2Wear as being very similar to Tim’s in ‘Project Runway.’ I only hope that I am as effective as he was.”

LeBlanc, who has been involved for several years with Art2Wear as both a student and professor, says this year’s designers have challenged convention to elevate the show to new levels of creativity.

“The biggest thing that impresses me about this year’s group of designers is that they have really pushed the boundaries of fashion through the materials, silhouettes and colors,” he says. “This is certainly the boldest show to date.”

Origami influence

Another veteran of Art2Wear, Sarah Cannon, and her collection, Folded, certainly have contributed to that higher level of creative artistry. Cannon, a senior who interned for designer Jason Wu and has participated in Art2Wear all four years of school, created this year’s collection with the help of a grant from the National Science Foundation. Intricate and tactile, her pieces incorporate origami-like techniques.

“The grant has inspired me to really dive into the world of fabric manipulation with folding techniques,” she says. “I wanted to see what folds I could take from origami, smocking, etc., and the impact the manipulations would have on my creations. Every piece in my collection has a type of folding in it, whether it’s a small detail or the entire piece.”

Crucial experience

For these students, who aspire to be fashion designers, costumers and more, the challenges they face and the experience they gain in creating a collection for this fashion show will teach them skills no mere class could ever impart.

“I have been able to grow as a designer through Art2Wear. Each year I strive to improve and challenge myself to do something new,” says Cannon. “This being my last year, I have strived to do my best and do a collection that I could really see creating for my own label. Art2Wear has taught me more than I could have ever imagined.”Read more here:uk bridesmaid dresses

The sought-after stylist has fashionable friends such as Marc Jacobs and Diane von Furstenberg, who she can call her mentors. However, when it comes to business advice, Rachel turns to her father Ron and husband Rodger Berman to point her in the right direction.

“Don’t try to tackle a problem on your own. Swallow your pride and turn to someone you trust with more experience to help you navigate a trying situation,” she explained to news.instyle.com when asked how she overcomes obstacles. “I tend to be more creative, so [my dad and Rodger's] pragmatic, rational outlook is always a huge help.”

When faced with a problem, the blonde fashionista doesn't dwell on the negative. Instead, she recommends approaching the predicament with an optimistic outlook and learning from mistakes.

“When something goes wrong, find a solution (or twenty) before you present the mistake to your boss or colleagues. Then, use the misstep as a chance to come out on top,” she added.

Rachel ensures she keeps a cool head when under pressure. Having become a respected name in the industry after years of hard work, the style expert has understood how to handle things in an appropriate manner.

“Resist, at all costs, the urge to panic,” she stated. “This is not easily taught and comes with experience, but if you can take control of a potential freak-out and just breathe, you will realise that no problem is as colossal as you think it is in the moment.”

Rachel had her big break dressing actress Jennifer Garner for the 2003 Emmy Awards. She makes sure to treat her clients as close friends to keep an ongoing relationship.

“I worked with Narciso Rodriguez to design a gorgeous halter-neck cream gown that blew everyone away, and Jennifer has been a dear friend and client ever since," Rachel smiled.Also read here:cheap bridesmaid dresses uk

When Cara Delevingne told Vogue that one of her favourite apps was the newly released Asap54 – which uses visual-recognition technology to identify clothes – it was a PR shot in the arm for the new player in an area where competition to become the definitive technology is rife.

Snap Fashion in the UK, Style-Eyes from Ireland and Slyce in Canada are just a few of the companies that are using elaborate software to allow shoppers to take a picture of clothing on their smartphone and then be linked to a retailer where they can buy that piece or something similar.

Image-recognition software, where algorithms are used to identify and match one image with another, has been used in security and marketing for a number of years, and the move into fashion is seen as one of the first steps in the widespread commercialisation of the technology.

Jenny Griffiths started the groundwork for what would become Snap Fashion during her degree at the University of Bristol where she graduated in 2009. Launched during London fashion week in September 2012, it notched up 250,000 users in its first year.

When a picture is taken of a shoe or a piece of clothing, the software – on a desktop or mobile – analyses it by looking at the colour, pattern and shape, and tries to find a match on an existing database of products from 170 retailers ranging from New Look to Harrods. Another app called ColourPop matches products solely by colour.

"I think it is really fascinating but also someone's job to push technology into consumer spaces because we are wasting the tools [smartphones] we are carrying around every day," said Griffiths. Snap Fashion has created an app for Westfield shopping centres that lets shoppers upload a picture and then receive suggestions from the ranges in stock.

Mark Hughes, who has worked in image recognition for 10 years, is a co-founder of Dublin-based Style-Eyes, which has attracted about 65,000 users since it launched last year. Users take a picture of what they want to find, draw an outline round it and the image is matched against a database of 1.5m pieces of clothing, shoes and handbags. Suggestions of where they can buy something similar across 600 shops are shown.

"If someone matches a very expensive dress, the chances are they will not be able to afford it but what we intend to do is bring back similar ones that might be in the price range so you can filter all the results with what your intended range is – [for example] 'Find me something like that that is less than £200'," said Hughes.

Both firms make commission when items are bought via their sites – Snap Fashion makes 5-15% and Style-Eyes 5-12%. Style-Eyes says it receives up to 15 pence each time a user clicks through to a retailer. Both say just over one third of searches result in users going through to a retailer's website.

Although there are numerous players in the field, one industry commentator from a fashion retailer said no single company has managed to reach the tipping point that will make it the standard technology for consumers and brands to use. Technological glitches can happen when the various programmes cannot recognise clothing because of a lack of distinguishing features and no one yet claims a 100% success rate.

"Fashion, from a technical perspective, is very difficult for image recognition mainly because clothes change because of what way someone is sitting or what direction you are taking it [the picture]. With standard image-recognition technology now, it works really well for static objects – the front of a box of cornflakes or the front of a big building – it never really changes, the structure remains the same. That is almost a solved problem but with fashion it is a lot more difficult," said Hughes.

Griffiths does not believe a 100% success rate is possible. "Sometimes you have that experience when you Google something and you say 'actually that is not what I am looking for' and you have to try a different search term. So just the nature of search is you are not going to get it right 100% of the time. It is all about getting the user to manage it when they get the wrong result to getting them to the right one," she said.

Cortexica, a London-based firm, uses its FindSimilar software to build image-recognition facilities for retailers such as Zalando in Germany where shoppers upload images and are redirected to stock items.

Iain McCready, chief executive of Cortexica, said the rapid development of technology will enable clothes to be identified from video within two generations of iPhones. Eight computer scientists in the staff of 20 at Cortexica are constantly updating the software, which was initially developed by Imperial College London.

So far the software has largely been aimed at women's fashion – the largest part of the market –but it is expected men will soon feature. Style-Eyes hopes to expand to the US in the summer, and Cortexica is already setting up there.

Griffiths says there is not a lot of difference between various visual search companies' products and expects one to emerge as the dominant technology in the future.

"I like to think we are close to the tipping point as an industry and I like to think we are leading. I think it will be one company that does [succeed] because I don't think consumers will be bothered downloading a load of visual search apps and test them out for themselves," she said.

How does it work?

Style-Eyes uses a technique called "machine learning" where a computer is trained in the same way as a human. By showing the computer thousands of images of clothes, shoes and handbags, the computer distinguishes between them.

A fingerprinting system, where a digital code is created for each item using visually distinctive characteristics such as colour, shape and pattern is then used to categorise each one for search and comparison across a database of products.

Algorithms that Snap Fashion's Jenny Griffiths created at the University of Bristol to identify colour, pattern and shape are still used today although are now 100 times faster.Also read here:cocktail dresses

Deborah Thomas loves page 115 of her new book. It shows The Australian Women's Weekly cover from November 24, 1971, when the magazine was still a weekly.

''Enchanting party dress to crochet, directions page 38'' says the headline, next to a glossy-lipped model wearing a fluffy, woollen, multi-tiered dress in white. It looks like a cross between a wedding cake and a toilet-roll dolly.

''How to macrame your own 'in' things,'' says another headline. All this and more for the cover price of 20 cents.

A former editor of The Weekly, from 1999 to 2008, Thomas was asked by the National Library of Australia to write a book, The Australian Women's Weekly Fashion: The First 50 Years, covering looks from the 1930s to 1980, as featured in the pages of the iconic women's magazine. Thomas was thrilled to oblige, but enlisted some help from a friend, former Vogue editor Kirstie Clements.

''I know The Weekly - I was there for nine years - and I'm quite good at the socio-political influences on fashion,'' says Thomas, now public affairs director at Bauer Media, the magazine's publisher. She felt Clements could add a deeper understanding of fashion history. ''And it would make it a fun project because she's a great girlfriend, so we turned it into Saturday mornings sitting at the dining room table with our laptops, chatting and laughing.''

What struck them, going through the images from the past, was how glamorous the clothes look in retrospect. ''It was fashion to inspire,'' says Thomas. She is particularly enamoured of late 1960s headwear. ''When you had a bad hair day, there was nothing better than a turban, or to wrap a scarf around your head.''

Most of the illustrations and photos in the book come from Weekly covers. They were carefully chosen to evoke each era, the important fashions and trends, from the first two-piece swimsuits to wartime frugality, Christian Dior's New Look to crocheted party dresses. The covers also mark important events - Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, the Beatles in Australia, men on the moon, the opening of the Sydney Opera House.

It is also interesting to note the magazine's radical nature at different times. ''Equal Social Rights for SEXES - Mrs Littlejohn Outlines Big Issues To Be Fought For'' reads one headline of the inaugural Weekly on June 10, 1933, but the main story on the front page is ''What Smart Sydney Women are Wearing'', complete with ''camera pictures''. This was very unusual for the time, when fashion was mostly represented with illustrations.

Australian women loved the new title, which by 1979 was selling 400,000 copies a week (it remains the country's highest-selling monthly magazine). It seems odd now, but the first editor was a man, George Warnecke. ''No one would have blinked at the time,'' says Thomas.

Australia's first accredited female war correspondent worked at The Weekly. Another conducted a ground-breaking interview with Germaine Greer in the 1970s. ''It was very indicative of the different editors and journalists who worked there,'' Thomas says, of the magazine's swings from cutting edge to conservative.

Thomas was The Weekly's second-longest-serving editor, but Esme Fenston holds the record, from 1950 to 1972. ''For that kind of reign during so much change, think of what she dealt with during her time,'' Thomas marvels.

This included irate proprietors. Frank Packer, who launched the magazine, took a great interest in its progress. He started The Australian Women's Weekly Portrait Prize, which William Dobell won in 1957 with a painting of Helena Rubinstein, and his wife, Gretel, introduced the magazine's Dream Home competition, offering readers the chance to win a house.

Packer did not always appreciate the latest fashion trends. He once marched a young editorial assistant wearing hot pants into Fenston's office. ''Are these hot pants?'' he demanded, outraged. ''Yes, don't they look sweet?'' Fenston replied.

Thomas admits it would be harder to pick fashion trends from more recent decades. ''It's less obvious now because up to the '80s, people did slavishly follow what was in fashion, whether it suited you or not. You wore colours and styles that didn't suit you, because that was the fashion. As we've moved through the '80s into the '90s and beyond, women have gone, 'Nope, I want clothes that suit me'. You do see some overall trends, but different designers have different fashions for different clients. It's a whole different approach.''Also read here:princess prom dresses

The 20's are the golden decade of our lifetime. It is the perfect young adult period when you are free to act on either side of maturity and throw care to the wind.

As much as it applies to life in general, it also applies to youth and beauty. You have the best skin of your life in your 20's (especially after the skin problems that adolescence usually brings along).

As you age, your hair may improve or remain the same, your dressing sense will definitely evolve, and you will be able to carry yourself with poise and grace. But your skin will never be as youthful and forgiving as it is in your 20's.

The best time to start taking care of your skin is when you hit 25. As they say, prevention is always better than cure. But if you have failed to do so till now, don't lose heart. Your 30's are also the perfect time to take stock and start a diligent skin care routine.

Go for organic lifestyle changes

This is the time you stop taking your god-gifted beauty for granted and put some extra efforts towards its maintenance. Know your skin type and how it reacts to certain lifestyle choices, such as your diet and sleep routine. The first and most effective changes are organic - so start with the basics. Eat a balanced and nutritious diet; drink a lot of water, and sleep a good eight hours. These things compound over time, so don't expect miracles. Just know that you will be thankful for it a decade later.

Kick your vices

It is near impossible to curb your alcohol intake when you are out on the town every weekend and partying like a 20-year-old. But your 30's are the perfect time to tame the party animal in you. Alcohol dehydrates your skin and late nights promote wrinkle formation and dark circles. Know that you've had your share of wild nights and this is the time to prepare for the future of your healthy glow. It's definitely a small sacrifice, compared to what you gain. As long as we are talking of vices, let us tell you smoking is the worst enemy of your skin. Enough has been said about the effects of smoking on your body.

Know your skin

Before you start taking measures to improve the quality and texture of your skin, you need to know your skin from the inside-out. How does it react to certain things like sunlight, skin care products, sugar, caffeine, etc.? This is the time to really start paying attention. The way your skin reacts to these things is the way it is trying to speak to you. So listen to it, provide what nourishes it, and subtract the things that cause bad reactions.

Invest in quality beauty products

If you have managed to sail along smoothly till now, without even purchasing a deep nourishment moisturizer, you have been extremely lucky. But that lucky streak doesn't continue well into the 30's. So go to a good beauty store and stock up on some quality cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. Don't forget the sunscreen and a good night cream for skin repair and rejuvenation. Start following the skin care regime religiously every day until it becomes a habit.

Never sleep with make-up on

Always, always, always wash your face before going to bed. Sleeping with the make-up on is like asking for wrinkles. You might have gotten away with it earlier but not anymore. Don't make that mistake again.

Visit a dermatologist

It makes sense to visit a dermatologist if there is a specific skin problem that is bothering you, even though slightly. Prevention is the best cure and it is always good to see a professional for a minor issue before it flares up into something bigger.

Exfoliate

Dead skin cells don't go away by themselves - so you need to take steps to shed them off completely. As your skin cells grow and regenerate, the skin on the surface starts looking dull. This is the layer of dead cells that needs to be sloughed off with a good exfoliation routine. You can do that yourself at home or opt for a regular skin cleaning sessions at your salon. Exfoliation will bring up the newer, radiant complexion that's hiding under the surface.

Take vitamin supplements

The kind of food we typically eat these days just gets us through day-to-day functioning. However, if you are expecting a sub-par diet to work miracles for your skin, think again. Your skin needs extra nutrients to look its best. Consider taking a multivitamin supplement that has Vitamins E, C, and B complex, after consulting with your physician.

Eye cream and/or serum

The skin around your eyes is the thinnest and most sensitive. No wonder the first signs of ageing appear around the eyes in the form of wrinkles and crow's feet. Make sure you start taking care of the skin around your eyes sooner than later. Invest in a good eye cream or serum and apply it lightly and evenly before going to bed every night. Besides the long-term effects, you will start noticing a reduction in dark circles and will have brighter, sparkling eyes.

Get regular facials

Again, most people don't even think of getting a facial before their late 20's. If you are 30 or above, it makes sense to get a monthly facial done by a professional. It is not only relaxing, but cleanses thoroughly and enhances the elasticity of your skin, giving you that much-coveted youthful glow.Read more here:backless prom dresses uk

As she approaches the milestone, we take a look back at the life and times of the woman who first rose to fame as Posh Spice, a footballer's wife, and later, transformed herself into a global fashion icon.

Victoria Caroline Adams was born on April 17 1974 in Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire, to parents Jackie and Anthony Adams, an electrical engineer who owns a supply warehouse.

As a youngster, Victoria attended the Jason Theatre school and later Laine Arts Theatre College in Surrey. In 1994, Beckham was chosen, along with four other singer dancers, to form a band managed by Simon Fuller, called The Spice Girls.

Victoria shot to fame with the girl group in 1996 when their first single, Wannabe, reached number one in more than 30 countries and remained in the top spot for seven consecutive weeks in the UK charts.

The Spice Girls went on to become an international phenomenon and are still the best-selling female group of all time, with over 75 million records sold worldwide.

Known as 'Posh Spice' in the group, Victoria, alongside bandmates Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Melanie Brown became the fastest-selling British group since The Beatles and performed for the Queen at the Royal Variety Show in 1997.

In the same year, Victoria met then Manchester United footballer David Beckham at a charity football match.

After dating less than a year, the couple, who became known as Posh n Becks, were engaged to be married and tied the knot at a lavish ceremony held in Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland only three months after the birth of their first son, Brooklyn Beckham in 1999.

With the future of the Spice Girls looking uncertain after the departure of Geri Halliwell in 1998, Victoria concentrated her efforts on pursuing a career as a fashion designer and model. She made her debut appearance on the catwalk for Maria Grachvogel during London Fashion Week in 2000, and went on to become the face of high fashion houses, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs and Roberto Cavalli.

Following the eventual break-up of the Spice Girls in 2001, Beckham had a short-lived solo career, releasing her first single with Dane Bowers in August 2000. Despite a heavy promotional campaign, the song, Out of Your Mind, lost out on the number one spot to Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

The pop star went on to have three more top ten hits by 2004, but later admitted that her solo singing efforts had been a mistake. She told Harper's Bazaar in an interview in 2009: "People never believed the solo singing career, and it wasn't the real me - I was a little bit lost at the time. I don't mind making mistakes. I just can't live with anyone else's mistakes."

Following the birth of her second son, Romeo James Beckham, in September 2002, the singer had more modelling triumphs becoming the face of Rocawear, alongside Naomi Campbell, and was a brand ambassador for Dolce & Gabbana in 2003. She then turned her hand to designing, launching her own denim range, dVb Style, an eyewear range, and her own perfume, Intimately Beckham. The Beckhams' third child, Cruz, was born in 2005.

In 2007, the Beckhams moved to Los Angeles after David left Spanish giants Real Madrid to sign for LA Galaxy in the US Major League Soccer.

She later told Allure magazine that her time in the States was the happiest of her life. ''Living in America for six years was the happiest I think I've ever been. Yeah, it was much more accepting for a woman to have a career, as well as a man. And I loved it," said the mother-of-four. Here she is at David's media conference wearing a hot pink Roland Mouret Moon dress and matching Birkin bag.

The Spice Girls also reunited for a short-lived tour the same year, performing 17 sell-out shows. But despite the tour grossing over £16.5 million, Victoria vowed never to sing again, and turned her efforts instead to forging a career as clothes designer.

Victoria launched her eponymous clothing range, known as VB, at New York Fashion Week in 2008. The debut collection impressed the fashion world and Posh went on to make her name in the world of high couture, winning ''designer brand of the year'' for her collection at the British Fashion Awards in 2011.

In 2012, the pop star launched a more affordable secondary label, Victoria by Victoria Beckham. That summer also saw the Spice Girls perform at the London 2012 Olympics, where Victoria was reunited with her band-mates once again.

The Beckhams' fourth child, daughter Harper Seven, was born in July 2011. Two years later, the family temporarily moved to Paris, after David moved to French club Paris St-Germain, and returned to the UK late last year.Also read here:princess prom dresses

For designer Hunter Bell, Birmingham Fashion Week is not just about showing off her fashion line. It also serves as a homecoming of sorts.

“Alabama was a home away from home for four-and-a-half years,” she said. “The state will always be and still remains a special place in my heart and I love to give back to that state.”

The South Carolina native and University of Alabama alum will show her fall 2014 collection on Friday, April 24 as the opening designer of fashion week's final night. She describes her involvement as “second nature” because of her connection to the area.

She said the 30-look collection will have elements of Southern style but an urban edge, thanks to her decade of living in New York.

“You going to see a little bit more of an urban, I guess you could say edgier side to the brand than people are typically seeing,” she said. “I think that’s what’s really exciting; our New York side is really shining through in this collection.”

Bell’s clothing line is in shops all over the state, including Marella and Manhattan South in Birmingham and Effies in Tuscaloosa. Her designs have been seen on Lake Bell, Emma Roberts and Maria Menounos, according to her website.

She describes her costumers as individuals

“She’s not subjecting herself to a set number of rules,” she said. “I like to see my girl really take risks and be able to be, obviously true to herself, but also stand out in a crowd.”

She said she always knew she wanted to be a designer. While studying fashion design and studio art at Alabama, she also interned with designers in New York City. One of those designers is Birmingham Fashion Week headlining designer Rebecca Taylor.

Bell describes participating in the same fashion show as Taylor as “exceptionally cool.” She credits time with Taylor as a defining moment in her career.

“I’ll never forget sitting in one of the fittings in their office, the sun was setting and I think it was close to one of my last days of being an intern. I was so sad to leave the city to go back home,” she said. “I just got chills, it was that ‘a-ha’ moment, knowing that was not only moving in the right direction as a fashion designer, but I also wanted to have my own fashion line.”

Another big moment for Bell was wining the grand prize on the second season of NBC’s “Fashion Star” last year. She said the show taught her how to work well under pressure. Bell likened the experience as camp and said it left her reenergized.

“The experience on ‘Fashion Star’ gave me the confidence that I needed that I think at one point I was lacking,” she said. “It gave me more belief in myself and encouraged me to keep pressing on.”Also read here:princess prom dresses uk

She said the South has always been a source of support for her.

“I think it’s the camaraderie, the friendliness and the encouragement that I get from everyone there that helps me to keep pushing and keep going,” she said. “The excitement is infectious in the sense that it really keeps pushing me to strive for the best and also to keep working hard so I can give back to the other students at the University of Alabama that are studying fashion design.”

According to Bell events such as Birmingham Fashion Week provide exposure for designers and a direct connection to consumers.

“I think it’s a great way for designers to present their collection and to really get excited about shopping locally and giving back to the small businesses that I care to support. I’m also a small business,” she said.

"You're never too young - or too big - to do something about it."

At 22, Sam Weaver was a new mum and had just gotten married. Her wedding photos depict a smiling bride in a beautiful white gown. But at 144kg, Sam was the heaviest she had ever been. "Everything was perfect," she says. "But I was still really unhappy with myself."

Sam recently put her wedding dress back on, but this time, her three-year-old daughter could fit inside it with her. Now 24, she has lost 65kg in the last two years and weighs less than when she did when she was 14.

"Absolutely everything is easier," she says. "I feel my age. I feel happy. I feel healthy."

Sam struggled with her weight since puberty, but the number on the scales reached a critical juncture when she became pregnant. This was also around the same time that her father was injured when crushed by a chimney in the September 2010 Christchurch earthquake.

Her doctor advised of her increased risk of diseases like diabetes and suggested gastric banding as a solution. But Sam wanted to lose weight the old fashioned way: portion control and exercise.

In her newborn daughter she found the motivation she had previously lacked. "I grew up on a farm with awesome parents," she explains. "I wanted to be that mum, not the one who had to sit on the sidelines." With the support of her husband, Sam felt ready to make the changes necessary to reach her goal weight of 70kg, and joined Weight Watchers.

Sam's perseverance is remarkable when one considers what she overcame to become the "fun mum" she wanted to be for her daughter. Like many New Zealanders, she battles anxiety and depression and says that, before slimming down, she hardly left the house.

When she decided to lose weight, she was faced with the prospect of squeezing her 144kg self into a swimsuit: knee problems meant aqua aerobics was her only exercise option initially.

When she graduated from pool to footpath, Sam's maiden outing around Christchurch's Hagley Park took her two hours. The same trip now takes her 40 minutes, but it wasn't knee pain that made her first steps towards a healthier lifestyle so excruciating. Passers-by abused her for her efforts, and even threw drinks at her. Sam says that what made the ordeal even worse was that she was pushing her baby in a pram at the time.

Fat hatred being one of the last bastions of socially acceptable prejudice, it was not the first time she had been on the receiving end of such behaviour. "Because you're fat, it's okay for you to be treated like crap," she says. "But I didn't lose weight to fit in. I did it so I'd be healthy and happy."

"You've got to realise you're doing it for yourself and that it doesn't matter what other people think."

Despite these experiences, Sam calls exercise "the best antidepressant". She goes for three six to 10 km walks a week and does exercise videos from YouTube at home with her daughter - this is one of her faves. She rarely drives, preferring to walk most places. And these days, she doesn't get strangers commenting on her size.

Sam's eating habits have also radically changed. Historically not a breakfast eater, it is now her biggest meal of the day. She has regular snacks and enjoys transforming old favourite recipes into healthier versions. She explains the key is balance and moderation, because a mentality of deprivation leads to a cycle of binging and starving. "I still eat chocolate every day," she says. "But it's a fun-sized bar, not a whole block."

Since getting down to a size 12, Sam has discovered an enthusiasm for fashion she never knew she had. As a teenager shopping with friends, she would have to buy herself a handbag. Today, she doesn't even need to try clothes on to know they will fit her. "I dress pretty funky now," she says. "I'm making up for lost time."

Sam's new life has not come without cost. Though her social anxiety has diminished, she remains self-conscious about excess skin on her arms and legs - a disheartening side effect of losing almost half her body weight. She says it is a cruel irony that, had she had gastric banding surgery, she would have been more eligible for government-funded skin removal surgery. To go private, she says it would cost her $51,000.

But Sam's weight loss has also opened up opportunities. She recently became a Weight Watchers leader and now supports others whose struggles she can intimately relate to. She says her biggest motto is 'positivity is going to get positive results' and she has a zero tolerance policy for negativity during the meetings she hosts.

Instead, she encourages participants to remember where they've come from, and where they're going. "We need to be kind to ourselves," she says.

Sam's recipe for healthy brownies

400g kidney beans, well-rinsed

3 Tbsp apple puree

3 eggs

½ cup cocoa

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1/3 cup raw sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

40 g dark chocolate chips

Put all ingredients except the chocolate chips into a food processor and blend until extremely smooth. Put mixture into a lightly-oiled baking dish and sprinkle with the chocolate chips. Bake at 180 degree Celsius for 20 minutes. Leave to cool completely before cutting into 24 pieces.Also read here:short prom dresses