Iran bank manager fired for serving unveiled woman: media

TEHRAN, Iran - An Iranian bank manager who served an unveiled woman has been fired, local media reported on Sunday, as demonstrations triggered by the mandatory head covering rule shake the Islamic republic.

Women in the country of more than 80 million people are required to cover their heads, necks and hair, a law enforced by the country's morality police.

The September 16 death in morality police custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, for allegedly breaching the dress code rules, sparked nationwide demonstrations which authorities call "riots".

Mehr news agency reported that the bank manager in Qom province, near the capital Tehran, "had provided bank services on Thursday to an unveiled woman".

As a result he was "removed from his position by order of the governor," Mehr quoted deputy governor Ahmad Hajizadeh as saying.

Mehr said video of the unveiled woman "elicited a lot of reaction on social media".

In Iran most banks are state-controlled and Hajizadeh said it is the responsibility of managers in such institutions to implement the hijab law.

Dozens of people, mainly protesters but also members of the security forces, have been killed during the demonstrations, which Iran says are encouraged by its Western "enemies".

The hijab became mandatory four years after the 1979 revolution that overthrew the US-backed monarchy and established the Islamic Republic.

Later, with changing clothing norms, it became commonplace to see women in tight jeans and loose, colorful headscarves. 

But in July this year ultra-conservative President Ebrahim Raisi called for mobilization of "all state institutions to enforce the headscarf law".

Many women continued to bend the rules, however.

Agence France-Presse

Increasing women’s testosterone level boosts running capacity, new study finds

In the first study of its kind, a new European research has found that higher testosterone levels in females have a significant effect on a woman’s ability to run for longer.

Carried out at Karolinska University Hospital and Swedish School of Sports and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden, the new study looked at 48 physically active and healthy 18- to 35-year-old women and randomly split them into two groups.

One group applied 10 milligrams of testosterone cream to the outer thigh each day for 10 weeks, while the other 10 milligrams of an inactive (placebo) substance.

The women’s hormone levels and body composition—percentage of body fat and lean muscle mass—were measured at the beginning and end of the 10 weeks.

To test how the testosterone cream affects aerobic performance, the researchers measured how long the women could run on a treadmill before reaching the point of exhaustion, and to test the effect on anaerobic performance, which requires short bursts of energy, the women were asked to complete exercises such as squat jumps and standing vertical jumps.

The findings, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, showed that the women who used the testosterone cream experienced a rise in their levels of the hormone, with average circulating levels of testosterone increasing from 0.9 nanomoles/liter of blood to 4.3 nanomoles/l among these women.


Perhaps unsurprisingly, the women who took the inactive cream experienced no increase in testosterone levels.

The women who applied the testosterone cream also experienced a significant boost to their capacity to run for longer, with the team finding that running time to exhaustion increased significantly by 21.17 seconds (8.5%) in this group, compared with the women who took the inactive substance.

The testosterone group also experienced increases in muscle mass and leanness, though their body weight did not change.

However, there were no significant changes on any of the anaerobic performance measures, or any significant changes in weight.

It is already known that testosterone levels can impact sports performance. The researchers note that male athletes have, in general, an advantage of 10-15% in comparison with female athletes, which is most likely due to men having, on average, more than 15 times higher circulating testosterone than women.


There has been much discussion recently about whether women with levels of testosterone high enough to fall into the male range, as a result of rare inborn conditions, should be allowed to compete against women with normal levels of the hormone, although evidence is limited on the effect of testosterone on female performance.

However, the International Association of Athletics Federations has said that female athletes with high levels of the hormone must lower their testosterone levels to below 5 nanomoles/liter of blood to be eligible to compete at international level in middle distance races (400 meters to 1 mile), which has been widely criticized and legally challenged.

“Our results are therefore of great importance for the ongoing discussion of whether it is fair to allow athletes with naturally high testosterone to compete in the female category without reducing their hormonal concentration to the female range,” conclude the researchers. IB /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

US women win World Cup on their own terms

Megan Rapinoe left early, her work done for the day. The celebration came early, too, for a U.S. team determined up until the final minute to win this Women’s World Cup on its own terms.

No excuses. Certainly no apologies.


Just dominant soccer from a team that embraced the moment both on the pitch and in front of the microphones in France.

The argument about equal pay ends now. These women deserve more, much more, than anyone on the perennially underachieving U.S. men’s team.

And give them an extra pat on the back for doing it their own way.

“An amazing group of players but even better group of people,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. “They put their hearts and soul into this journey and I can’t thank them enough.”


There should be thanks all around for this team, and not just because they won another World Cup. That was almost expected — the U.S. has now won four of the eight Women’s World Cups — but not many thought that it would play out in this fashion.

They kicked off the tournament by preening and posing with each goal — all 13 of them — in a rout of Thailand. They spoke out about parity in their paychecks and equal rights, and their pink haired captain got into a tiff with President Donald Trump over a possible White House visit.

And when their 2-0 win over the Netherlands was over, the message had gotten through. Fans dressed in red, white and blue chanted “Equal Pay” in support of their lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation.

“Give the people what they want,” Rapinoe said.

The equal pay will come, if not for this team then maybe for the next. It has to, because not only are the U.S. women more successful than the men, they are far more entertaining.

That showed when Rapinoe posed dramatically after putting the U.S. ahead for good with a second half penalty shot. It showed with some final match head banging that put one player out of the final and left another bloodied.

It showed all tournament long whenever controversy threatened to interfere with the mission of a group of very talented players and a coach not afraid to push all the right buttons.

“We’re crazy, that’s what makes it special,” Rapinoe said. “We have no quit in us, we’re so tight and we’ll do anything to win.”

They may not end up visiting the White House, but that doesn’t mean there’s not more celebrating to do. The final had barely ended when they were invited to a parade Wednesday in New York City, and there will be the obligatory late night TV appearances for Rapinoe and her teammates.

What it means for the future of women’s soccer is less clear, if only because great breakthroughs that were predicted from earlier World Cup titles never quite happened. The good news is there were some encouraging signs this week with ESPN agreeing to televise National Women’s Soccer League games the rest of the season and Budweiser announcing on Sunday it was signing on as a multi-year national sponsor of the league.

Still, in one final indignity, the women didn’t even have the day to themselves in soccer. For some reason international soccer officials not only played the Copa America final on the same day, but the 2019 Gold Cup, too.

This was a day to celebrate, though, not to complain about what should be. That can come later, though the fact FIFA is looking to expand from 24 to 32 teams for the 2023 World Cup is further evidence that world soccer is beginning to take the women’s game more seriously.

What is also evident is that the rest of the world is catching up to the U.S., though the Americans never trailed in any match. With European countries in particular devoting more resources to the women’s game there’s going to be a World Cup in the not so distant future in which the U.S. isn’t an overwhelming favorite.

It won’t help that those future teams will also likely be without the 34-year-old Rapinoe, who was the unquestioned star of this World Cup, on the field and off. She scored goals in bunches, wasn’t afraid to tangle with both her own president and the ruling soccer elite, and was the center of attention everywhere.

And when she posed majestically after scoring the only goal that would be needed against the Netherlands?

Well, let’s just say she did it better than any man.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Here’s the Deal Behind Alicia Keys’ #NoMakeup Music Video Look

Last month, Alicia Keys released the video for her newest single “In Common” where she’s seen without any makeup on. Don’t get us wrong, she looks beautiful with and without makeup, but we wonder why she decided to go for that look.

In the latest issue of Lenny Letter, Alicia reveals that she’s been going for the au naturel look ever since she worked with photographer Paola Kudacki for her upcoming album. “It wasn’t until I walked into one of my first shoots for my new album recently that the issue was front and center again,” she writes. “I’d just come from the gym, had a scarf under my baseball cap, and the beautiful photographer Paola (never met a Paola I didn’t like) said, ‘I have to shoot you right now, like this! The music is raw and real, and these photos have to be too!'”

The photo Paola took is now the official cover art for her single, “In Common.”


Aside from her music video, Alicia has also fronted the latest issues of Vanity Fair and Fault Magazine without any makeup on. She adds on her column that she hopes this #nomakeup trend becomes a revolution among women.

“I felt powerful because my initial intentions realized themselves. My desire to listen to myself, to tear down the walls I built over all those years, to be full of purpose, and to be myself! The universe was listening to those things I’d promised myself, or maybe I was just finally listening to the universe, but however it goes, that’s how this whole #nomakeup thing began,” she writes. “I hope to God it’s a revolution. ‘Cause I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.”

[The Cut]


Photo by Paola Kudacki

source: preen.inquirer.net

WATCH: High tech mattress can detect cheating partners

Cheats between the sheets, beware—there’s a new detective in town.

Men and women have a new way of finding out if their partner is being unfaithful, as Spanish firm Durmet has come up with a high-tech mattress that can monitor “suspicious movement” in the bed.

The ‘Smarttress’, a normal looking-mattress, offers a one-of-a kind “Lover Detection System”  that uses 24 ultrasonic sensors to detect when it’s in motion and how many occupants are using it.

Citing reports from the Huffington Post, the slick invention generates a 3D map to show which areas of the mattress are receiving greater pressure and what movement is taking place.

It gets better, the deception-detecting device also measures frequency, intensity, time of use and speed—which then sends an alert via a smartphone app, informing the worried party that their bed is being used.

The 1-minute and 41-seconds promotional video shown , also gave a glimpse of the company’s hilarious tag-line “If your partner isn’t faithful, at least your mattress is.”

According to Durmet, the idea behind ‘Smarttress’ stems from studies showing that men and women in Spain are the most unfaithful bunch in Europe.

“We came up with an idea that could reassure men and women not only during the night, but also during the day when they leave their home to go to work,” said company spokesperson Jose Antonio Muíño.

“Smarttress isn’t the type of product you’d go shopping for at the weekend with your partner if you suspected them of cheating, so it will only be available on request,” he added.

The infidelity-exposing mattress comes in four different sizes and buyers can expect total confidentiality with every purchase.

Those who seek to catch their partner red handed, however, must be prepared to shell-out a hefty $1,350 (P62,565). Khristian Ibarrola, INQUIRER.net

source: technology.inquirer.net

In Japan, women buy sweets for men on Valentine’s Day

TOKYO — Perusing the Valentine’s Day chocolate selection during my lunch break made me stand out in the crowd in Tokyo: I was the only male in the Godiva store.

In Japan, women buy chocolates for men on Valentine’s Day, not vice versa. And not just for their boyfriend or partner, but also for co-workers, friends of both sexes and even themselves these days. It’s a big business: the Godiva store had shelves of specially boxed assortments rising to its high ceiling, while competing chocolate makers went head-to-head at temporary counters set up at a commuter rail station.

Two female co-workers brightened our office Friday by handing out chocolates to everyone else: a handful of Hershey kisses from one, a minibag of M&Ms from the other.

Women get their “desserts” just one month later. Marketers have created “White Day” on March 14, when men are supposed to reciprocate with gifts for women.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

PH tops Asian countries with highest share of women managers

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines bested other Asian countries in terms of the proportion of women among managers, a report of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) showed.

With a percentage share of 47.6 percent, the Philippines placed fourth worldwide and first in Asia in the latest ILO report on women in business and management.

“In Asia, the highest ranking country is the Philippines in 4th place (47.6 percent), followed by Mongolia with 41.9 percent in 17th place,” the report said.

Jamaica topped the list with 59.3 percent of its managers being women, followed by Colombia at 53.1 percent and Saint Lucia at 52.3 percent.

The Philippines also ranked fifth among countries with the most share of women in senior and middle-level management positions.

“Our research is showing that women’s ever increasing participation in the labor market has been the biggest engine of global growth and competitiveness,” said Deborah France-Massin, director of the ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities.

The report said a lot has changed in the last 20 years, with women now holding 40 percent of the world’s senior and middle management positions. However, only 5 percent of chief executive officers of the top global corporations are women.

“It is critical for more women to reach senior management positions in strategic areas to build a pool of potential candidates for top jobs such as CEO or company presidents,” France-Massin said.

Last year, the Philippines ranked ninth in the Global Gender Gap report of the World Economic Forum.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

No wax, just water

Women who’ve gone through a lot of lipsticks and glosses can tell how waxy their lip product is after drinking water. When water comes in contact with an extremely waxy lipstick, you’re left with an uncomfortable feeling as the lipstick components—particularly wax—are broken down by the water.

At a glance, Dior’s latest hybrid lip color, the Fluid Stick, looks like the regular Dior Addict lipsticks, except for a transparent cap showing off the lipstick’s shape and shade. However, the knob at the end of the tube unscrews to reveal a wand and color applicator.

The optical illusion created by the tube is intentional, an echo of the characteristics of the brand’s new formula.

The Fluid Stick eschews wax—a staple base for most lip color—completely, using water instead as base for the intense pigments encapsulated in gloss beads. The advantage of using water instead of wax is that you won’t get the weighed-down feel typical in waxy formulas.

Because the Fluid Stick is water-based, applying it for the first time results in a shiny and wet glossy texture on the lips. But once the water evaporates, the pigment sits on the lips comfortably. You’d feel like you’re not wearing anything at all.

Even though it’s water-based, the pigments are not sheer. One coat is enough for vibrant and intense coverage.



To make application easier, the tip of the applicator is shaped like a brand-new lipstick’s tip, allowing you to contour lips easily and to enable you to apply the product mirror-free (every woman should learn how to apply lip color without a mirror).

The lightweight formula is perfect for our hot weather, and for those going to the beach (applying an opaque lip color helps protect lips from sunburn).

Fluid Stick comes in 16 shades, with names inspired by memorable couture pieces from Dior’s rich fashion history. Because coral is always a staple during summer, try Aventure, a pure coral that goes well with all skin tones. For those who prefer a bold hue, try Pandore, categorized as a pure and flamboyant red (it’s also what Dior Addict model Sasha Luss is wearing in the ads shot by Steven Meisel). If you want to stay on trend, Wonderland is a fuchsia that echoes one of the year’s trend colors.

Dior is available at G/F Rustan’s The Beauty Source, Shangri-La Plaza.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

We check out bag-friendly restaurants

Where does your bag sit when you go to a restaurant?

Sounds like a silly question, if you think about it. But consider the size, not to mention the value, of bags women and not a few men carry around these days, and you would have to agree that where your precious cargo sits when you dine out is a relevant subject for discourse.

It was several years ago when we started receiving bag hooks as Christmas presents. Necessity is the mother of all inventions, they say, and boy were we awed at whoever thought of this nifty little idea! Just slip it in your bag, and whip it out when you’re in restaurants or wherever you need a place to set down and secure your carry-on.  








No way on the floor

As it would turn out, though, we didn’t quite take to those portable bag hook or hanger things, and we’re not alone.

“If your bag is heavy, they don’t work,” an editor acquaintance pointed out. They could also misshapen one’s purse, said a fashion designer who was quoting a stylist-friend.

But of course, to each his own. We know a few who are never without a bag hanger in their purse, unwilling to take the chance that, maybe, just maybe, wherever they decide to nosh that day has a built-in hanger thoughtfully placed under the table.

For some of us, those built-in bag hangers are no different from the portable ones. They could ruin the handles or straps of a heavy purse, and tables are never high enough for your bag not to end up touching the floor. Because no one—no one!—we know who spent a good two, three paychecks on a purse would willingly set it down on a presumably filthy floor or carpet.

Acceptable solution

So in some restaurants that have come up with what we think is the most acceptable solution to this modern-day dilemma: bag stools. You come in, the waiter pulls out a chair for you, and sets down a little stool next to you to place your purse on.

You needn’t pull in the empty chair from the next table for your bag. You don’t even have to worry about having to hang your bag behind your chair and risk it getting swiped. And you can forget about those silly hangers.

Bag stools are like water bowls to dog owners: These days, a waiter is assured of his/her tip when the customer’s beloved pet is instantly offered a water bowl as they take their table.




Nicer tip if there are ice cubes in the bowl.

It goes to show that these establishments recognize the evolving needs of their diners: If you have provisions for kids’ high chairs, why not a water bowl for pets or a bag stool? Kids, pets or bags are precious cargo to different customers.

Added perks

Of course, we don’t expect to get these added perks from, say, a fast-food joint. We’re looking here at good restaurants, and there are more than a few around. From experience, we’ve been given a bag stool in restaurants like People’s Palace, and restaurants in nicer hotels, like Inagiku, Shang Palace and the now-defunct Red at Makati Shangri-La.

Our editor-friend also mentioned Lusso and Yakumi at Solaire. Abroad, she also experienced using these covered bag baskets at the ramen chain Ippudo, similar to the ones we’ve seen at the dim sum chain, Din Tai Fung.

Props also to People’s Palace for an added treatment: After you’ve set down your purse on the stool, the waiter puts a cloak over it—extra protection against spillage and thieves—just like in restaurants in China where they put a cloak over your coat or jacket in the back of your chair.

It’s not just the utter convenience of these bag stools that make diners—especially, designer-bag-owning diners—happy, it’s also the added security of knowing your purse is within sight, because you never know when thieves will strike.

I recall an incident in one popular restaurant in Taguig sometime ago. The American guest of a group of Filipino diners suddenly realized her bag had gone missing. Perhaps to save face, the local hosts hauled the hapless waiters to the police precinct. It was ugly. Other diners, us included, could only watch, appalled.


Inelegance

In the absence of stools, we tend to put our purses either on our laps, under our napkin, or on our chair behind us, which often takes up half the seat. Inconvenient—but hey, at least we know it’s still there, touching our back.

We’ve heard of people committing the inelegance of looping their bag straps around their leg, or slinging the bag across their body throughout the meal, to ward off theft.

But not all of us walk around with cross-body bags, or would want to suffer the indignity of falling over from a forgotten bag strap coiled around our leg.

Bag stools are no guarantee that your purse won’t get stolen. Ultimately, it’s your responsibility to look out for your belongings. But it does pay to know that there are establishments that are looking out for us—not just to have a pleasant meal, but an incident-free one at that.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Blooms on your hair

Trends come and go, just as the seasons do. Some trends become mere memories, as new ones overtake them.

But more often than not, we can’t help but take a walk down memory lane and revive those classic styles, proving that yesterday’s fads can stay in vogue.



Back in the day, flower wreaths were a popular tradition, especially for brides and flower girls. Young maidens of poorer families, unable to afford the grand jewels of the wealthy, would dress their hair with a circlet of fresh flowers. Those flowers were picked from bountiful gardens as vibrant as Paris’ Jardin de Luxembourg in summertime, and woven into little wreaths that elegantly sat atop their heads.

Since 2012, dainty flower crowns have been back. The new floral headpieces are soft and sweet, but with a bold, high-fashion edge.

Full-flower crowns are perfect for music festivals and fancy photo shoots, but more wearable versions of the trend have been around for quite a while now, and are certainly here to stay.  


Short hair, long hair, an updo or beach waves—any hairstyle can use a flower crown. This is why it is one of the most wearable trends.





Celebrities such as Katy Perry, Kirsten Dunst, Paris Hilton, Keira Knightley and Lady Gaga have also been seen sporting this soft whimsical look.

Flower crowns are a key trend not only because they can perk up a girl’s look, but more importantly, because they are also very easy to design and make. They can be bought in popular clothing brands and accessories stores.

To save, make them yourself  and design the perfect flower crown that best suits your personal style.

Plus, do-it-yourself projects exploit your creativity and are fun. So, here are five simple steps to make that flower crown you deserve.

Visit a craft shop or a home décor store and buy faux flowers in the color, size and kind you like. Also, buy thin wire, green floral tape and glue stick for a glue gun.

Shape the wire into a circle to fit your head, then secure its ends.
   
Pick the flower buds from the stems, then let your creativity take over. You can design a full crown or a simple, dainty one, a crown of one type and color or a vibrant variation—it’s up to you. Wrap thin wires around each bud, twist it onto your wire base. To fill in empty spots, you can also attach leaves or smaller flowers. Also, if some parts are not secure, you can use your glue gun to attach buds.
   
Once you have attached the flower buds, wrap everything with the floral tape to conceal the wires and to make the base appear like the stem.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

4 ways to perfectly messy hair—without spending

Summer has come and gone, but your hair has stayed the same. Nothing is better for dreary bed weather than the slept-in look, and thankfully for those who aren’t particularly morning people (or hygienic, for that matter), it is now socially acceptable to seem like you haven’t taken a shower.

The trend has been around for longer than you think. Brigitte Bardot in the 1960s defined her image with her sexy, unkempt blonde locks, differentiating it from the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe, who all sported neatly styled ’dos.

After the glam rock period, ’90s grunge brought the look back. The early 2000s’ boho chic trend reinforced the trend, with Mary Kate Olsen and Nicole Richie showing off their messy hair for the paparazzi.

So many girls spend too much time perfecting the bed head, but really, the secret to it is not caring at all. The more you style it, the more it seems forced and deliberate.

Here are easy ways to achieve the look effortlessly.

Go au naturel



Take a shower right before you go to bed, sans conditioner, and untangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb. The key to messy hair is clumped locks. Blow dry lightly, with the nozzle facing upward for volume.

You can also bend over and blow-dry your hair while it’s dangling in front of you. Sleep in with slightly damp hair, with a towel spread on your pillow to make it more comfortable.

For those with naturally straight hair, style it into a low, loose braid so it’ll last until the next day. You can apply a light hair product or very little gel (no heavy hair creams, as these will make the hair look flat) to tame the baby hair sticking out on top. This might not work with women with oily skin and scalp, because their hair will come out greasy late in the day.

Use sea-salt spray

Sea salt causes the fibers of your hair to naturally separate and clump. Beauty boutiques never say this, but you don’t actually need to buy sea salt spray. You can make it at home, and even customize the recipe according to your hair type (oily, dry, etc.), for less than half the price of store-bought spray.

Buy an empty 12-oz spray bottle in the drug store, fill it with warm distilled water, and mix in these ingredients:

    1 tsp of sea salt
    2 tbsp of epsom salt (or more for extra texture and hold)
    1 tsp of aloe vera gel
    A few drops of coconut, almond or jojoba oil (for moisture)
    A few drops of essential oils or a spritz of your favorite scent (optional)

Shake it vigorously before spraying on shampooed hair. Scrunch up your hair as it dries. The spray can dry out your locks, so wash it off in the evening and apply conditioner to avoid hair damage.

Braid, then bun

Some people do braids and some people do buns to get messy hair, but you can actually do both. After you bathe in the morning, lightly blow-dry your hair and apply styling product or sea-salt spray from the middle to the end of your locks. Style it into a braid, and tie the braid up in a bun.

Pick your outfit and put on makeup while waiting for your hair to set. You can untie it right before you go out of the house or get out of the car. You can even keep it that way until you go out at night after school or work. Apply hair spray for additional hold.

Triple it!

If your hair is thick, you may need more braids and buns. Separate hair into three parts: two on the sides and one at the back. You can part it into more sections if you have the time. Apply product on damp hair, braid each hair part, and tie it into a relaxed bun with a thin elastic. This looks ridiculous though, and cannot be worn in public while you wait for the hair to set. Do not forget to untie it before you go out. People will raise their eyebrows.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Star of Tod’s collection is Sella purse

Tod’s is one of the most successful leather goods brands because it never veers far away from its roots, and thus does not alienate its core customers. The coming Fall-Winter season is no different; it is a collection that is a nod to “the quality and craftsmanship of Made in Italy.”

Tod’s has been masterfully reinventing its classic wheel. Apart from new iterations of its signature Gommini driving shoes—in polka dot suede, and zebra stripes and mottled calf pony for women this season—some of its Fall bags are reinterpretations of its classic styles, including the iconic D-bag.

The D-bag has five limited-edition couture styles, one of which is fully hand-embroidered with crystals. It weighs more than a supermodel.

Star

The star of Tod’s 2013 Fall-Winter collection, however, is the Sella purse, inspired by saddlemaking but interpreted in a minimalist, feminine, curved shape. It comes in three sizes: a full-size shopper in dark purple or brown calfskin; a small satchel in several colorways; and a stunning mini version with a detachable shoulder strap—in yellow, orange, hot pink, turquoise, nude and black.

The mini Sella also comes in zebra-striped and leopard-print calf pony. The bigger sizes have variants in crocodile and python.

The Italian company, one of the last brands to still craft all its products in Italy, incorporates an often-used signature element—the Gommini pebbles—on the dressier women’s footwear, on the heels of its calf pony booties and metallic pumps. Tod’s fans will also find saddle straps on its other booties and boots styles, done in either plain calf or calf pony.

Two loafers get the metallic treatment, with the vamp embossed with the Tod’s emblem.

At the recent presentation at Tod’s Greenbelt 4 in Makati City, the Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI) team highlighted Tod’s’ made-to-order men’s footwear business, offered only at the Italian flagship store in Milan. It’s a luxury space called Sartorial Touch, akin to an English men’s club, and includes a bar and a lounge. (SSI is Tod’s’ exclusive distributor here.)

The iPad presentation underscored each step of the handcrafted process, from the choice of leather to the painstaking hand-dyeing, all the way to the finished product.

Tod’s also offers made-to-order luggage, bags and small leather goods.

But if a trip to the Milan flagship isn’t an option, men can choose from the new season’s in-store collection that includes boots with elastic bands on the uppers, classic calf loafers, and suede or calf pony Gomminis, as well as sturdy-looking lace-ups with boot-lacing details reminiscent of trekking shoes.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Karmin Win Rolling Stone's Women Who Rock Contest

The votes are tallied and Rolling Stone is pleased to announce Karmin as the winner of our “Women Who Rock” flip cover contest.

In partnership with Garnier Fructis, Rolling Stone's “Women Who Rock” contest celebrates the diverse array of female artists currently dominating the music world. Karmin singer Amy Heidemann will grace the flip cover of the iconic “Women Who Rock” issue, on newsstands Sept. 28th, and the duo is featured in the magazine along with other female musicians.

Karmin took the internet by storm last year after posting a cover of Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now" on YouTube. The clip instantly went viral and became one of YouTube's most viewed videos of 2011. The duo has since released debut album Hello and racked up over half a billion views for their videos.




"Congratulations to Karmin!" says Nathan Brackett, Rolling Stone Deputy Managing Editor. "They approached the 'Women Who Rock' contest like they've approached the rest of their career – with a lot of hard work, enthusiasm and a real grassroots talent for connecting with their fans. They've earned this."

Garnier Fructis is the sponsor of the "Women Who Rock" contest. Garnier Fructis' stylists worked with the acts throughout the competition to help them discover and establish individual styles both on- and off-stage. Garnier Fructis was also instrumental in helping Karmin become cover-ready.

For more on the "Women Who Rock" flip cover contest winner, as well as runner-up Rita Ora, visit RollingStone.com/WomenWhoRock.

source: rollingstone.com

Ultrasound helps catch cancer in higher-risk women: US study

Adding an ultrasound to annual mammograms for women at higher-than-average breast cancer risk helps catch more early-stage tumors but increases the chance that healthy women will get follow-up biopsies unnecessarily, according to a US study.

For most women who fit into an "intermediate-risk" category, including those with very dense breasts, or who have a family member with breast cancer, the extra chance of false positives and more testing is probably worth it, said lead author Wendie Berg, from Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh.

That's because along with those women's higher chances of getting cancer, mammograms may not work as well on women with denser breasts, for example.

"The vast majority... of women who are well aware of these risks would still gladly choose to have the ultrasound, knowing that it increases the chance of finding cancer if it's present and finding it early," Berg said of the study, which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Recommendations from cancer and radiology organizations call for women who are at high risk of cancer, including those with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, to get magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to annual mammography.

But guidelines haven't specified whether extra tests are also the best option for those in the intermediate-risk category, which may include up to 30 percent of women.

Berg said that adding annual MRIs for these women isn't such a practical or cost-effective option, and many people feel claustrophobic during the procedure or just don't like it. So she and her colleagues wanted to see if ultrasounds, which are less bothersome and less expensive, might be an alternative addition to mammography.

Their study involved about 2,700 women seen at 21 different sites. More than half of those women had a history of breast cancer themselves—also classified as intermediate risk.

Every year for three years, women had both a mammogram and an ultrasound to check for signs of cancer. Finally, the researchers offered participants one MRI as a final check.

Over the study period, there were 111 new cases of breast cancer, 59 of which were picked up during mammography. Another 32 tumors that weren't spotted on mammograms were found with ultrasound, 30 of which were invasive cancers.

Out of 612 women who opted for an MRI, nine more cancers that hadn't shown up on other screening tests were detected. Eleven cancers were diagnosed at some point during the study through means other than screening.

Despite catching the additional cancers, there were downsides to the extra tests. One out of every 20 women had to have a breast biopsy because of ultrasound results, though only a small fraction of those ended up having cancer.

"We are always in a quandary because we don't know what to do with these intermediate-risk patients," said Regina Hooley, who studies breast cancer screening at the Yale School of Medicine but wasn't involved with the study.

"MRI is costly and it's invasive. I think (ultrasound) is actually a very, very good alternative for these patients and I would probably recommend that they just get ultrasound."

But Susan Roth, a radiologist from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, said the rate of false positives with ultrasound was concerning.

"The more tests you add, we'll find more cancers, and they're real. The question is, what are we willing to pay for that, in terms of the downsides and the dollars?" she said.

For women at normal risk of breast cancer, the government-backed US Preventive Services Task Force says evidence supports mammograms only, done every other year between age 50 and 74. –Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Yahoo! She launches in the Philippines

In celebration of the International Women’s Day, Yahoo! the premier digital media company, announced the launch of Yahoo! She – the one-stop online destination that offers “Real Women; Real Answers”. Echoing the voice and objectives of this significant global date, Yahoo! She aims to empower women, inspire ideologies and contribute towards building a nurturing environment for Filipino women.

Different from other women’s sites, Yahoo! She takes on topics that Filipinos are reluctant or hesitant to talk about openly, meanwhile delivering the information with taste and engaging its readers to partake in the discourse. The lifestyle property for 18-34 year olds is modeled after Yahoo! Shine – the leading site for women in the US, with more than 38 million unique visitors per month (comScore, January 2012).

Arlene Amarante, Country Ambassador and Sales Director of Yahoo! Philippines, said, “We are proud to be associated with the International Women’s Day and celebrate the successes and achievements of everyday women via Yahoo! She. As the Internet platform which has sought to connect and communicate with over 700 million users worldwide, Yahoo! aims to be a strong and supportive online hub where women can share views, express their thoughts and have real conversations with each other.”

She added, “Filipinos are widely familiar with Yahoo! Shine and access the US site on a frequent basis. With the launch of Yahoo! She in the Philippines, the site will bring locally relevant content that speaks to everyday Filipino women on topics that matter most to them whilst offering real answers – be it through tips, tools or practical advice to make their daily lives manageable and more productive.”

Yahoo! She offers a combination of original and syndicated content from some of the top lifestyle publications such as Cosmopolitan, Lovefood, Grazia, Juice, Investopedia and Forbes; independent bloggers and expert columns by Dr. Diana Sarmiento (for Health & Wellness), Oliva Yao (for Parenting & Relationships), Erica Paredes (for Fashion & Beauty), Chinggay Labrador (for Home & Organizing), Angel Rivero (for Health); polls and surveys; advertiser sponsored content and promos on topics ranging from beauty, skincare, healthy eating, exercise and diets, maintaining work-life balance and getting organized.

Press release from Yahoo!

source: gmanetwork.com

Syphilis tests could save a million babies: experts

The lives of almost a million newborn babies could be saved every year if simple, cheap and rapid tests for syphilis were offered to pregnant women in poorer countries, global health experts said on Thursday.

The Global Congenital Syphilis Partnership, a group set up to help tackle the sexually transmitted disease, said testing women in early pregnancy would cost less than 1 pound ($1.58) per woman, and those who tested positive could be treated with a single dose of the cheap antibiotic penicillin.

"Screening and treating pregnant women for syphilis is one of the most cost-effective ways to save lives. New rapid tests are easy to use, ... affordable and give a result in just 15 minutes," said Peter Piot, chair of the partnership and director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

He said if screening were carried out routinely and women who needed treatment got it before 28 weeks' gestation, "no stillbirths or neonatal deaths would be due to syphilis."

"It's as simple as that," he told a briefing in London.

Experts estimate around 2 million pregnant women are infected with syphilis every year and more than half of those pass it on to their unborn children. According to the World Health Organization, between 3 and 15 percent of women of child-bearing age in developing countries have the disease.

If untreated during pregnancy, syphilis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, low birth weight and in some cases death of newborns. In Africa alone, syphilis causes almost 400,000 stillbirths and newborn deaths each year.

A team of researchers led by Rosanna Peeling and David Mabey at the LSHTM found in a study due to be published soon that introducing rapid tests to increase access to syphilis screening was both feasible and cost effective.

"This ... research has shown that new simple tests for syphilis can be effectively introduced all over the world, from urban areas in China and Peru to remote villages in East Africa and even more remote indigenous populations deep in the Amazon rain forest," Piot said.

The syphilis partnership includes several global health and development groups, among them the Gates Foundation, Save the Children, the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the LSHTM.

Justin Forsyth, chief executive of Save the Children, said that while international efforts were succeeding in reducing the number of deaths in older children in the under five-year-old bracket, death rates of babies in their first month of life had not fallen.

With less than three years to go to reach the millennium development goals set in 2000 by the international community to improve health and reduce poverty by 2015, the partnership said it wanted a new three-year push help countries fight syphilis.

"By failing to ensure that all pregnant women are screened for syphilis and provided with timely treatment we are missing a huge opportunity to save lives," Forsyth said. –Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com