Wedding without kanyadan

Delivering a blow to patriarchy, a family in Maharashtra got their daughter married without performing the traditional ritual of kanyadan. At the wedding ceremony of Ashay Sahasrabuddhe, son of BJP vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Shivada, the niece of BJP’s foreign affairs cell head Vijay Chauthaiwale, tradition took a new turn. According to a report by The Hindu, they duly entered wedlock without the kanyadan ceremony. Well, that’s not all… Quite unbelievably, the couple was solemnised by a female priest.

The mother of the groom, Nayana Sahasrabuddhe was particularly adamant that she will have none of the kanyadan rituals. “I believe that a kanya is not a commodity to be given away as daan. The ritual also takes away all sense of agency from the bride and is as though her parents are abdicating custody of her,” she was quoted as saying in the report.

Her firm conviction against the regressive rituals convinced the groom’s uncle to persuade the parents of the groom to give up the ritual. Reportedly, after some mulling over, they agreed. “We do kanya poojan on the one hand and refuse to recognise the rights of a woman on the other,” Chauthaiwale told the newspaper. He added that it is important for people to not encourage such hypocrisies and to completely give up on such mindless rituals.

Moreover, both the families decided to go a step ahead and opted for a priestess to solemnise the wedding because the families wanted to do away with the custom of having a priest to conduct the ceremony. Even though the priestess Padma Kasalikar was a little hesitant to do away with kanyadan, she understood that both the parties were assertive to go for a wedding sans it.Read more at:yellow prom dresses | orange prom dresses

The gowns

(Photo:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/mermaid-prom-dresses)

THE fashion gods know that we’ve seen too many ugly gowns on the Binibining Pilipinas stage over the years. But then Filipino designers were welcomed back with open arms in 2014—creating fantastic national costumes, scintillating swimsuits and ravishing eveningwear—and the competition became even more exciting.

At the 2017 Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, there were gowns of every hue, silhouette and weight. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, as cohost of the pageant, wore three long gowns: a pleated Francis Libiran, a Popo Go fantasy, and an enchanting Patricia Santos.

If the trend holds, the designers who created the winning Binibinis’ gowns would also be the ones to dress them during their international campaigns. That’s more opportunity and prestige for Filipino design talent to be showcased worldwide.

Adriano Samar designed the evening gown of Kristel Guelos, the second runner-up.

“This is a contemporary serpentina made of white soft and nude power tulle with a structural sequence of white appliqués. Swarovski crystals and ceramic stones are sewn in a pattern that accentuates the shapely fit of the entire cut. The total effect is dramatic in a subtly understated way,” the young designer explained.

Pablo Galicia Mendez III created the evening gown for Charmaine Elima, the first runner-up. Like the national costume that he designed for her, Charmaine’s gown was intricate and eye-catching. It’s white satin with silver sequins and one-shoulder sleeve cape for high impact.

Nelda Ibe, Binibining Pilipinas Globe, wore a Paolo Blanco creation: a nude tulle sprinkled with red sequins of coral-like appliques.

The controversial Katarina Rodriguez, the new Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental who’s a mix of Reham Snow Tago and Alice Dixson, wore a Francis Libiran design: a jewel blue electric-pleated gown in fine Mikado fabric with ombré airbrush details, intricately encrusted with fine crystals.

On her Instagram account,she decried the allegations about her not being grateful for her title: “Hi fam. Never made an announcement to anyone that I’m resigning the crown. It’s been two days since one of the most intense and fun experiences of my life.”

Elizabeth Clenci, Miss Grand International Philippines, bears a striking resemblance to the stunning Armi Barbara Crespo (Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1972). She is this year’s silent killer, nary on anyone’s best-bets list but proving to be deserving of her victory. She wore Jaz Cerezo’s one-shoulder, ivory-caped gown in neoprene. The most charming of this Binibini batch simply stated on her Instagram account : “Hi, I’m Chanel Olive Villamayor Thomas, your Bb Pilipinas 2017-Miss Suprantional!

She wore Odelon Simpao’s fuchsia semi-serpentina gazar silk gown with fully beaded bodice and Swarovski crystals. The incomparable Cary Santiago created the raspberry gown for Maria Angelica de Leon, the outspoken Binibining Pilipinas International. The designer said the piece is completely hand-stitched, no side seams, no darts. He used a moulage on the stupendous dress.

Another world-class designer, Val Taguba created the silk chiffon orange and gold gown for Rachel Peters, our new Miss Universe Philippines who twirled it a la Dayana Mendoza at Miss Universe 2008.Read more at:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/quinceanera-dresses

The gownsThe glamourThe glory

(Photo:evening gowns)
THE fashion gods know that we’ve seen too many ugly gowns on the Binibining Pilipinas stage over the years. But then Filipino designers were welcomed back with open arms in 2014—creating fantastic national costumes, scintillating swimsuits and ravishing eveningwear—and the competition became even more exciting.

At the 2017 Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, there were gowns of every hue, silhouette and weight. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, as cohost of the pageant, wore three long gowns: a pleated Francis Libiran, a Popo Go fantasy, and an enchanting Patricia Santos.

If the trend holds, the designers who created the winning Binibinis’ gowns would also be the ones to dress them during their international campaigns. That’s more opportunity and prestige for Filipino design talent to be showcased worldwide.

Adriano Samar designed the evening gown of Kristel Guelos, the second runner-up.

“This is a contemporary serpentina made of white soft and nude power tulle with a structural sequence of white appliqués. Swarovski crystals and ceramic stones are sewn in a pattern that accentuates the shapely fit of the entire cut. The total effect is dramatic in a subtly understated way,” the young designer explained.

Pablo Galicia Mendez III created the evening gown for Charmaine Elima, the first runner-up. Like the national costume that he designed for her, Charmaine’s gown was intricate and eye-catching. It’s white satin with silver sequins and one-shoulder sleeve cape for high impact.

Nelda Ibe, Binibining Pilipinas Globe, wore a Paolo Blanco creation: a nude tulle sprinkled with red sequins of coral-like appliques.

The controversial Katarina Rodriguez, the new Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental who’s a mix of Reham Snow Tago and Alice Dixson, wore a Francis Libiran design: a jewel blue electric-pleated gown in fine Mikado fabric with ombré airbrush details, intricately encrusted with fine crystals.

On her Instagram account,she decried the allegations about her not being grateful for her title: “Hi fam. Never made an announcement to anyone that I’m resigning the crown. It’s been two days since one of the most intense and fun experiences of my life.”

Elizabeth Clenci, Miss Grand International Philippines, bears a striking resemblance to the stunning Armi Barbara Crespo (Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1972). She is this year’s silent killer, nary on anyone’s best-bets list but proving to be deserving of her victory. She wore Jaz Cerezo’s one-shoulder, ivory-caped gown in neoprene. The most charming of this Binibini batch simply stated on her Instagram account : “Hi, I’m Chanel Olive Villamayor Thomas, your Bb Pilipinas 2017-Miss Suprantional!

She wore Odelon Simpao’s fuchsia semi-serpentina gazar silk gown with fully beaded bodice and Swarovski crystals. The incomparable Cary Santiago created the raspberry gown for Maria Angelica de Leon, the outspoken Binibining Pilipinas International. The designer said the piece is completely hand-stitched, no side seams, no darts. He used a moulage on the stupendous dress.

Another world-class designer, Val Taguba created the silk chiffon orange and gold gown for Rachel Peters, our new Miss Universe Philippines who twirled it a la Dayana Mendoza at Miss Universe 2008.Read more at:quinceanera dresses

The tax pros and cons of getting married

There’s going to be a wedding in our family. That’s right, my sister will be tying the knot in August. When Laurie first announced her engagement, everyone in the family was excited – my mother especially. “I think you should have the rehearsal dinner someplace really palatial, with five courses and dancing afterwards; then breakfast the next morning for people from out of town – and I think you should hire that amazing band that your cousin had at her wedding a couple of years ago,” my mother said.

My father saw where this was going and said, “I’ll give you five thousand bucks to elope.”

Turns out my sister can’t be bribed. A wedding it will be. I told Jim, my sister’s fiancé, that life will change big-time when he’s married. “Jim, I know you don’t realize it, but you and Laurie are using different names for her cat; you’ll need to start paying more attention to stuff once you’re married,” I said. “And one more thing: You’ll want to learn about the tax implications of getting married.” I then shared with him a few tips. Here’s a primer on the pros and cons of having a spouse under our tax law.

The definition

First, you should know that you don’t have to be legally married to have a “spouse” under our tax law – although marriage will do the trick. In fact, if you’ve been living with someone in a conjugal relationship for 12 months or more – same sex or not – then you’ll be considered spouses for tax purposes. You can ignore the 12-month requirement if you’re living together and you’re both parents of the same child. If you meet these tests, you have no choice but to be considered spouses by the taxman.

The pros

Having a spouse does comes with benefits – such as the ability to receive breakfast in bed (although in my case this requires sleeping in the kitchen). But there are tax benefits as well, including:

Tax-free rollovers. When you pass away, you’ll be deemed to have sold virtually everything you own, which can give rise to taxes on capital gains. Leave those assets to your spouse and taxes will be deferred until your spouse dies, or sells the assets.

Splitting pension income. If you receive eligible pension income, you can transfer up to one half of that income to your spouse. You’ll both be able to claim the pension credit and tax savings can be significant.

Claiming a spousal credit. If your spouse has income below $11,635 in 2017 then you’ll benefit from claiming the spousal credit, which could save you as much as $1,745 in federal taxes.

Transferring tax credits. If your income is too low to benefit from certain tax credits, it’s possible to transfer some to your spouse, including the age, pension, caregiver, disability, tuition (up to $5,000), education and textbook tax credits (the last two disappear after 2016).

Minimizing RRIF withdrawals. You can minimize the taxable minimum withdrawals from your registered retirement income fund by basing your withdrawals on the age of the younger spouse.

Transferring dividends. You can elect to transfer all your Canadian dividends to your lower income spouse if this will increase your spousal credit (see above). You could pay less tax as a couple.

Using spousal RRSPs. You can split income in retirement and save tax dollars by contributing to a registered retirement savings plan for your spouse. In a perfect world, you and your spouse should have equal incomes in retirement. This idea can help.

The cons

Having a spouse can also come with tax drawbacks. Consider these:

Paying your spouse’s taxes. If your spouse owes tax to the Canada Revenue Agency, you could be on the hook for all or part of those taxes if your spouse has ever given you money or other assets while being indebted to the taxman.

One principal residence exemption. Before becoming spouses, each of you would have been entitled to your own principal residence exemption, which can enable you to sell your home tax-free. As spouses, you can only claim one residence together.

Superficial losses can arise. If you sell an asset for a loss and purchase the same or identical asset in the 30 days following, or prior to, your sale, your loss can be denied. The rule will also apply if your spouse (or anyone affiliated with you) makes that repurchase.

Reduced benefits. Certain benefits can be reduced when family income reaches a certain level. If you have a spouse, you might hit that income threshold sooner, causing loss of benefits, such as the GST/HST credit, and certain provincial credits.Read more at:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/green-prom-dress | prom dresses online

Americans Spring into Summer with More Long Weekend Trips

Long weekend trips are in. Nearly three quarters of Americans are planning to take a long weekend trip this summer, according to data released today by global travel deals publisher Travelzoo . The Travelzoo® Summer 2017 Travel Trends Survey also found that half of travelers said they were likely to take more long weekend trips than they did last year.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

When it comes to a long weekend trip, defined as an extra day added to a weekend, Americans aren't afraid to go the distance. A majority of travelers are willing to travel three or more hours from home for their long weekend. Americans taking domestic long weekend trips will overwhelmingly travel by car. For those whose destinations are over five hours from home, 40% of survey respondents say they will swap their car for a plane or train.

Weekend in Paris, Anyone?

Travelers are showing an interest in long weekends to Europe, especially when the price is right. While only 9% of respondents are planning a longer vacation (five days or more) to Europe in 2017, just over half would take a spontaneous long weekend trip. With new low-cost carriers like WOW air and Norwegian, fares to Europe are more competitive than in recent history. More than 65% of respondents would travel to Europe for a weekend if the airfare was $500 or less. In line with findings from Travelzoo's Spring 2017 Travel Trends Survey (Feb. 2017), the latest survey also finds that nearly 60% of Americans will travel domestically for their primary vacation this year.

A Season of Reasons

With the average American getting just two weeks of vacation time annually according to data from the U.S. Travel Association's Project: Time Off, it's surprising that one of the least cited factors in planning a long weekend trip is taking advantage of a national holiday—even with three opportunities to do so between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Regardless of the timing of their trips, the majority (85%) of travelers named visiting family and friends as their main reason to take a long weekend trip.

Life's a Beach

This spring and summer, more than half of respondents would prefer beach getaways. Most travelers surveyed said they would spend their time on rest and relaxation combined with touring and dining. Ultimately, summer vacations, whether short or long, are just not enough for most travelers. Nearly half of those who travel for business have taken a "bleisure" trip—combining business with pleasure by adding extra time at a destination at the beginning or end of a business trip.

Mike Stitt, Travelzoo's President of North America said, "Long weekend trips are in, and the good news is that there are more options now with lower fares to Europe and the increasing availability of last-minute deals. Even with the ongoing headlines about safety and security, Americans are still eager to get out of town this summer."

Concluding, Stitt said, "It's a known fact that Americans don't use all of their vacation time. But it's encouraging to see Americans' increasing interest in long weekend trips, whether that means combining business and leisure or a quick jaunt to Europe. This trend could ultimately mean more trips and more travel experiences overall for American travelers."

Become a Travelzoo member today to start receiving your personalized insider travel deals from one of our deal experts.

About the Research

*The Travelzoo Summer Travel Trends 2017 Survey was completed by 1,367 consumers in the United States who responded to an online questionnaire distributed by third-party research agency Toluna. The questionnaires were completed April 3–4, 2017.

About Travelzoo

Travelzoo® provides our 28 million members insider deals and one-of-a-kind experiences personally reviewed by one of our deal experts around the globe. With more than 25 offices worldwide, we have our finger on the pulse of outstanding travel, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences. For over 15 years we have worked in partnership with more than 2,000 top travel suppliers—our long-standing relationships allow us access to the very best deals.

Travelzoo and Top 20 are registered trademarks of Travelzoo. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.Read more at:pink prom dresses | http://www.marieprom.co.uk

Organic fabrics for upcycled labels

There are two things that the recently concluded Fashion Revolution week 2017 taught us — one is to ask the all-important question: who made my clothes? Second is to look forward to be flag bearers of sustainable fashion. With several youngsters enthusiastically becoming a part of the movement that focuses and attempts to curb ‘fast fashion’, CE met two ‘sustainable-fashion driven’, bloggers-cum-designers Sruti Ashok and Shivani Patel, who were part of ‘love story/haulternative’, a workshop curated by Fashion Revolution India and Rossbelle. Chatting with CE, the duo talk about everything that’s upcycled, eco-friendly and ‘all about loving nature’.

For Sruti, her ‘Live Raw’ movement/blog started two years back when she stumbled upon articles and facts about the fast fashion industry. Recalling her first brush with these stories, she narrates, “I read about industrial pollution, wages, working conditions and so on, and was quite shocked to say the least. That’s when I decided to stitch my own clothes.”

Since then, Sruti says she has become the ‘legitimate owner’ of her clothes — from fabric to the final knot stitch. From stitching kurtis using her grandmother and mother’s old saris to revamping an old skirt and wearing it to weddings, this young blogger has done it all — without any design/fashion background, whatsoever. “My mother is my inspiration. She chooses her clothes wisely and knows what exactly she wants. This way, there’s no wastage of clothes. I make sure I leave no leftover fabric — just like my mother,” she says and points to her polka-dotted summer dress. “I stitched this from a fabric I procured from a factory that was shutting down. It had been with me for years and I decided to put it to use.”

With a knack for renovation and reinvention, the graphic designer-cum-blogger is all set to launch her own label – Thole (skin). “My family was in the leather business and just like the cloth industry, there’s a lot that goes waste in leather too. So, I am planning to use all the waste to make accessories,” she adds.

As we talk of leather and sustainability, Shivani Patel, co-founder, Arture, says that it’s not just about wearing organic products, but also about ethical fashion. Making wallets and hand-bags out of cork fabric, instead of leather, she says, is an ‘eco-conscious’ way to create something fashionable.

Looking back at her journey, she reminisces, “After graduation from NIFT in 2013, I wanted to start a sustainable label. But most brands replace leather with synthetic and we didn’t want to do that. Thus, after research we found cork to be a fabric that could help in making premium accessories that would be at par with leather...but

is also more eco-friendly at the same time.” .

Though she is barely two years old in the industry, she says that the takers for sustainable fashion have increased. “Cork-made accessories will suit their needs of vegetarians and vegans who cannot use leather Many have even asked us to expand our range to include more products,” she says.Read more at:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/cheap-prom-dresses-uk | occasion dresses

The Beauty of Uncertainty

Many of us are so obsessed with knowing – knowing who we are, where we are going, who we will end up with, what we are meant to do, who it is we will become, or how our future will play out. Naturally, we are inquisitive.

Some people do not take the time to recognize the beauty amid the chaos. They are in this constant loop of searching for answers like a record on repeat. We can spend hours, days, weeks, months, and even years trying to analyze a situation or dissect people’s behaviors or intentions, but you will never learn the truth. We will only end up feeling emotionally drained.

Our minds are rational; they want to have answers and make decisions. They value control, order, and understanding. When we don’t have that, our minds make us feel scared, stressed, nervous, and confused. While our brains tell us that we must have answers, we cannot have control in knowing everything. We can however, control our mentality.

Maybe, it is not about the discovery, but about the journey to get there. Maybe, it is not what we know, but what we experience along the way. Maybe, we do not have to have a map, plan, or have a set direction. Maybe, we can just close our eyes and trust, take a deep breath, pray, and know that we are meant to be right where we are.

Maybe, life is about expanding our minds and our experiences – diving into life rather than trying to fully understand it. Maybe, we are not meant to know because things will unfold the way the universe wants it to. Maybe, it is better to walk forward directionless for now. There is no rush. No one will be there to check off society’s expectations of your life at the end, and there is no last call.

Next time you’re caught up in a routine, pause for a second. Look around like you are in a photograph. In that stillness is where you can find the enchanting little things that life has to offer you. There’s a sort of beauty in making something out of what seems to be nothing. In breaking out of the clutter to discover and create a glorious vision of your own world. Imagine living your whole life with little moments like that.

There is a beauty in transience. We’re all only here for a period of time; we all know that death is inevitable and that nothing lasts forever, yet as we go on about how we need to treasure what we have, about how to live life “now”, how many of us actually do it? Why do so many of us not live in the present? It is because we fear.

If we change our mentalities and realize the beauty of transience, we lose a bit of that fear, we put our brave faces on, and we make choices that allow us to live in the present.

Don’t stay if you don’t like where you are now because all things change. Even if you don’t do anything to change things, there is no guarantee that all else will remain the same. You can’t control the actions that others take and you most certainly can’t control what curveballs life throws at you.

There is no guarantee to anything, no promises that are certain, and no forever. All I can promise you is that there is a certain beauty in the temporary nature of things, how they unfold, and how we seizure every moment. If we realize what excitement and happiness such moments can bring us, then I urge you to step out and truly live life in the moment. Make the change your heart tells you to. Do the things you want. Love the people around you. Fall completely in love with your life, and be part of the evanescence.

Make some time to believe. Nowadays, we are still questioning what exists and what doesn’t. Even so, make some time to believe that there is something in this world- something that can’t be defined. There is something that takes care of us. Some call it God, some call it destiny, some call it fate. Just believe in something, because this something may be the reason why we are all here. Believe that there is still good in the world – in people, in their actions, in everything.

Most importantly, make some time for yourself and for everything that makes you feel glad that you are alive. I don’t know for how long we are all still here for, but as long as we exist now, we need to make time for everything that brings us happiness right now.Read more at:pink prom dresses | green prom dresses

Getting Ready for the 2017 Met Gala With Big Little Lies’s Laura Dern

Call it a match made in Met Gala heaven. This year, actress Laura Dern teamed up with designer Gabriela Hearst on a modern column gown that made a sleek statement on a red carpet filled with mind-boggling veils, bodysuits, and naked dresses. “We wanted to highlight Laura’s statuesque silhouette, [but] obviously we wanted to include a nod to the genius of Rei Kawakubo,” she explained of the 2017 exhibition’s titular subject. “She is one of the greatest influences to designers, and she herself is an incubator of talent. Rei is able to evolve while still being authentic to herself.” In tribute to the grand dame of Comme des Garçons, Hearst incorporated geometric cutouts and a removable polka dot train.

For Dern, working with Hearst was “a gorgeous, tactile, and loving collaboration,” adding, “Her design honors the iconic nature of Comme des Garçons, but it also carries a boldness and sense of architecture.” Dern is a big fan of the Met Gala and the getting-ready routine, which for her involves plenty of sustenance. “You have to have a big meal early on in the day because you might not eat again for a while,” she said.

While prepping for the biggest night in fashion, she also contemplated what her Big Little Lies character might have worn for the Met. “Renata would never not be at the Met Gala,” Dern said. “It felt preordained that I would have to go in her honor this year. I think she would need to have the most cutting-edge, innovative designer dressing her, and the quality of all fabric touching her skin would have to be the highest quality—so I think we’ve done her justice.”

Above, Dern (and Renata, in spirit) takes us behind the scenes of her pre-Met routine.Read more at:graduation gowns | prom dresses 2017

Victoria Justice Attend Harper by Harper’s Bazaar Party for the Stallone Sisters

(Photo:royal blue prom dresses)

Good looks tend to run in the family in Hollywood, so it’s no surprise that the Stallone sisters — Sophia (20), Sistine (18) and Scarlet (14) — have attracted attention just like other famous siblings before them. On Wednesday night, Harper by Harper’s Bazaar and Sephora toasted the mini mag’s May cover featuring the pretty troika at Mama Shelter in Hollywood.

In addition to their proud parents Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin, Victoria Justice, Delilah and Amelia Hamlin, Debby Ryan, Joey King, Lily Reinhart and a host of other PYTs showed up to celebrate. The sisters also took a few minutes to chat with WWD about their ascent in Hollywood and fashion. But not before their father tried to butt in.

“Why don’t you ask me about my cool Rolex instead?” he asked. “Stop it,” said Sophia. “He’s always trying to steal the attention,” they all said. “Hey,” Stallone said, backing away. “We have to go network,” said Sistine. “I don’t know how to do that, but I guess we’ll figure it out.”

WWD: Is this your first magazine cover?

Sistine: We did a trade cover together for the Golden Globes and then finding out we got Harper by Harper’s Bazaar was ah-mazing.

WWD: You also just did your first international ad campaign together, right?

Sistine: We did an Australian campaign for The Daily Edited [the Sydney, Australia-based accessories e-tailer] so we got to have these cool custom handbags that we were posing with; it was so fun. We actually shot it in L.A.

Sophia: But it would be cool to go to Australia. I don’t think any of us have been there yet…

WWD: What’s it like modeling with your sisters?

Scarlet: It’s not really any different. We are goofy both on- and off-camera so doing it with our sisters makes the experience so much easier and so much fun. I love that we are coming into the Hollywood business all together.

Sophia: And it’s nice through this that none of us have really changed. None of us have gotten a big head; I think we all ground each other, so on-camera or off-camera we’re very consistent.

WWD: Who do you follow on Instagram?

Sistine: I follow every major design label because I like to keep updated with what’s happening. Someone who’s very consistent is Jeremy Scott. He’s always posting and he posted a photo of us because we were wearing Moschino for one of the shots in the [Harper] shoot so it was so cool that he took a photo and tagged us.

Scarlet: I follow a lot of actresses, so Blake Lively is my favorite. And Selena Gomez is my favorite singer, and she also produced “13 Reasons Why,” which is also one of my favorite TV shows.

Sophia: I love to follow Karlie Kloss. I love what she stands for, she’s a beautiful model and she’s also extremely smart — she was at a TED talk recently.

WWD: How do you feel about being role models for young women?

Sistine: If anyone viewed any one of us as a role model, that’s such an honor and an opportunity to not only be an influencer, but also as the Millennial generation, we have such a strong voice on social media, so being able to put a voice out there or put any type of inspiration, it only takes the click of a button and I think that’s so cool.

Sophia: We all have really good moral values. I’m in college, Sistine just graduated high school and Scarlet is just starting high school, so I really hope people do look up to us, because we want to do the best for them.Read more at:black prom dresses

Martha Stewart Celebrates Next Generation of Female Leaders at Glamour Event

(Photo:vintage prom dresses)

Glamour honored the next generation of female leaders at its 60th annual College Women of the Year Awards on Tuesday.

Held at La Sirena at the Maritime Hotel in New York, the event is a chance for the Condé Nast-owned title to shine a light on trailblazing young women in a range of disciplines from journalism and activism to science and business. The awards are the stepsister of the magazine’s splashy Women of the Year event that is held every fall — but that doesn’t mean recipients don’t go on to do great things.

Glamour editor in chief Cindi Leive rattle off a list of well-known former recipients, including former Cosmopolitan editor in chief Kate White, Katiti Kironde, the first African woman to appear on the cover of a women’s magazine — it was Glamour — and businesswoman extraordinaire Martha Stewart. All three were on hand, and Stewart, who won in 1961, gave the keynote, kicking off the luncheon.

“That’s me,” said Stewart, pointing to an image of a girl wearing a red poncho posing at the top of a flagpole. “I wore a poncho coming out of prison. It was so prophetic.”

“It was a fake pole,” she deadpanned. “It was Photoshopped. There I was. I looked so elegant.”

Back then, the awards honored best dressed women on campus, explained Stewart, who said she was called into the dean’s office of her alma mater, Barnard College. She was informed that Glamour wanted to make her a “best dressed college girl.”

“That’s surprising. I had no clothes,” she said with a laugh. “I went to the meeting at Glamour and I showed them all the clothes I made. It was fun.”

Over time, the awards became more about achievement than looks.

This year, presenters included Huffington Post editor in chief Lydia Polgreen; “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts; Public School creative directors and cofounders Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne; filmmaker Paola Mendoza; Yahoo global news anchor Katie Couric; model, writer and activist Cameron Russell; Women’s March global coordinator Breanne Butler; EpiBone chief executive officer and cofounder Nina Tandon, and Penny Abeywardena, New York City Commissioner for International Affairs.

Each presenter had been paired with an award winner and served as a sort of mentor for them — at least for the afternoon. Winners were journalist Marjorie Kirk; social entrepreneur Ellen Chilemba; filmmaker Rebecca Dharmapalan; gun reform advocate Sarah Clements; Angela Jin and Nishiki Maredia, the duo behind social justice lifestyle brand 1950 Collective; transgender rights activist Eli Erlick; basketball star Kia Nurse; environmentalist Destiny Watford, and scientist Samantha Marquez.

“We barely talked hoops, we talked life,” said Roberts, who presented University of Connecticut basketball star Nurse with an award. “As we’ve been talking about the different areas we’re in — whether it’s fashion, whether it’s women’s rights — we’re all just together. I’m so grateful that you, Cindi and Glamour, are celebrating and embracing athleticism and the strength that these women have along with everybody else here.”

Roberts, using her sportscaster voice, called up Nurse, leading with her jersey number to laughter and applause.

“By the way everyone that hasn’t gone up, you also have to do that,” Leive said.

The event wound down with Couric, who said: “I hope everyone will give their e-mails to Cindi. I’d love to stay in touch so I can do stories about many of you. Just don’t put Robin Roberts on that e-mail.”

The journalist, who recently produced National Geographic’s gender identity documentary called “Gender Revolution,” presented Erlick with an award.

“The percentage of trans people in general…who have attempted suicide, according to one study, is 41 percent,” Couric said. “Eli is helping other people be their authentic selves….I just wanted to say to Eli, it’s because of the courage of people like you that will help all of us really better understand that we all are just people. This is just packaging.”Read more at:mermaid prom dresses