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FTV banned in India on grounds of obscenity

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

The government of India has slapped a 10-day ban on the fashion channel FTV, effective Friday March 12, for showing topless models. Officials have said that the channel has violated several provisions of the Cable Television Networks rules by showing women in an 'obscene' manner.

The ban comes into effect at 1900 local time, said the information and broadcasting ministry.

The Information and Broadcating ministry's wrath was evoked by the channel when it showed topless women in a retrospective of fashion designer Alexander McQueen's show in Barcelona held in 2001. The show was broadcast on September 4, 2009. Ruling that the show was an insult to women and not suitable for children and unrestricted public exhibition. The ban was ordered for the violation of Cable Television Network (Regulations) Act.

However, this is not the first time for FTV to face such a situation. The channel was banned for two months, May-June 2007, on grounds of obscenity when programmes like 'Midnight Hot' were telecasted showing models in skimpy clothes. This ban was revoked when the channel apologised for the error and assured that it will not be repeated.

Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010: Variety at its best

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Lakme Fashion Week saw variety at its best presentation this season too, with some designers showcasing the very ethnic Indian, some going for the chic West and some featuring the vibrant Middle-east.

The best of Western styles were seen at the coming together of two greats, TIGI's International Creative Director and numero uno hair stylist, Anthony Mascolo along with top couturier Christopher Kane, for the first time on the Indian ramp. A unique combination of high fashion with unrivalled hair expertise was witnessed for the first time on the Indian ramp. Anthony Mascolo's amazing hairstyling kept the audience applauding while Christopher Kane's stunning garment designs in a medley of colour, fabric embellishments and creativity left them stunned.

Noted designer Anita Dongre stuck to her love for the 'very Indian' designs in her 'Jaipur Again' Collection, offering vibrant variety from her Timeless label. The perfect blend of colours and patterns with use of gota embroidery on Jodhpuris, silk jumpsuits, hand embroidered pitta and organza jackets and many such garments caught the eye of the ardent fashionista.

'Istanbul Not Constantinople' was what Lina Tipnis called her collection at LFW 2010. Based on the mystique beauty of the magnificent gems at the Topkapi Palace, the swirling Turkish dervishes, the beautiful blue Iznik tiles and the 14th century Grand Bazaar of the magical city of Istanbul, this interesting creation was something to look out for. She used the Trompe L'Oiel method (or Trick the Eye) to add new dimension to her designs and creations.

LFW 2010 sees unconventional Inspirations

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Lakme Fashion Week this season saw a variety of collections showcased by established and budding designers alike. But what intrigued all were the unconventional inspirations behind the collections.

Kallol Dutta presented his line titled 'Remission – Fall 2010' which was an unconventional creative offering that was influenced by the art of Goya and symbols of death used in the past.�

Designer Anand Kabra presented his line with an unconventional inspiration and an unconventional name - 'She was so Dark That She was Blue'. His collection was based on mythology, revolving around Draupadi.

Purvi Doshi's collection, called 'Kahchindo' i.e. Gujrathi for chameleon, had an innovative concept, with garments showing changing shapes and colours like a chameleon.

Shashikant Naidu had Goddess Parvati as an inspiration for his collection designed keeping in mind the modern, style-conscious women of today.

Masaba Gupta used the net fabric as the base and gave a perfect name to her collection - 'Chhalni'. Also, needless to mention, there was her favourite patch pocket sari over a printed petticoat as well.

Neha Agarwal's trendy sportswear was innovatively called 'Games People Play' and had never-seen-before prints like kites and trees.�

Dramatic prints, sharp shapes and triangles with sharp detailing was Swapnil Shinde's collection 'Let's Play a Game - Again' based on, and gave the whole line a futuristic, robotic feel.

Lakme Fashion Week this season saw a variety of innovative creations based on insights ranging from mythological snippets to the sands of the deserts, animals to human emotions...there was a lot to catch any fashionista's fancy.

Masaba Gupta captures fashion lovers at LFW 2010

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Young designer Masaba Gupta proved yet again that she belongs to the talented new lot of the promising few, as she showcased her creations at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010.

This time around Masaba used net fabric as the base of her creations and aptly called her collection 'Chhalni'. This was a collection of men's and women's couture using layered fabrics, giving a sneak-peek into the underlying cuts, embroidery and patterns.

Masaba's designs have always spoken of her love for the beauty of tribal Banjaran women; and this time too, the crushed muls, net and ikat with silk reflected this in her art. Also, the colourful embroidery, beadwork and zari added a dramatic touch.

What really caught the eye of the fashionistas attending the show, were her mul drape dresses, multi fabric jumpsuits, patchwork blue and yellow net jacket over sexy polka dot bikini, beach mul maxi, palm print men's silk jacket with dhoti pant, a sexy full sleeve net beaded anarkali and the famous Masaba patch pocket sari over a printed petticoat that made the collection very 'young', funky, yet rustic.

'Chhalni' apparently has not just caught the attention of the Indian style-conscious, but is also aimed at the Middle-eastern tastes.

The Ethnic and the Earthy rule LFW 2010

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

With Summer/Resort wear as the basic concept, Lakme Fashion Week this season seems to have hit it off really well with talented designers presenting earthy and subtle tones in their creations.

With subdued shades of grey, white, blue and pinstripes, Amalraj Sengupta displayed his unique creation – Decode � featuring dresses and men's wear. Using pure linen, Amalraj created the outfits on the ramp transformed from bags to jackets and from short to long and even came up with four armholes to effect quick change!

Designer Harangad Singh's label Harangad on the other hand, had an eclectic theme based on the Celtic arts and myths and was called 'Seanta'. Natural fibres and elusive colours complimenting the confluence of hand work, crafts, customised textiles and handlooms including Mashru, matka silk, organza in drapes and interesting cuts, added style to the garments.

The name itself speaking of earthy, 'Rust' by Anand Bhushan was a melange of the sombre and the deep, with dull shades of chocolate, wine, and grey, beige and burnt lilac on a canvas of taffeta, rich wool and heavy knits. Foliage themed jackets and rusty shade woollen sweaters grabbed all eyes.

Showing Kolkata's ethnic notes and feel was Neelanjan Ghosh’s collection with the theme 'Colonial Influence on Kolkata Past or Present'. The intriguing 3D feel to the garments with interesting drapes, cuts and patterns made it all the more soothing to the eye, especially with hues of olive, brown, jade, grey, charcoal, navy and teal, and images of Durga faces, Burlington checks, Buckingham Palace guards, playing cards, fish, boats, vintage cameras, horse carriages and much more coming alive on the garments in the form of appliqués and prints.

All in all the whole experience is getting more and more cultural and subtle yet contemporary, being very simple too.

LFW Summer/Resort 2010: Showstoppers add to the Glam Quotient

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Lakme Fashion Week always gives more reasons than one to look forward to. Apart from its intriguing theme of resort wear, this season had some popular celebs walking the walk for various designers, and the event seemed promising on the first day itself!�

Celebrity designer Pria Kataria Puri enveloped the ethereal beauty, elegance and charm of the Royalty and Rajmata Gayatri Devi in her 'Royal Rajputana Collection' using all exotic embellishments and patterns. But what really topped it all was Bollywood glam girl Mughda Godse who walked the ramp as a show stopper in a dazzling slim orange lehenga, choli and net dupattas; aptly presenting the NRI bride.

Krishna Mehta made a fancy trip to Paris through his creations this season at the LFW Summer/Resort collection. The show stopper too was in tune with the theme inspired by the Parisian beauty, as the very dramatic Rohit Varma of Bigg Boss season 3 fame, glided elegantly and posed on the ramp in a sultry red printed georgette gown with a flowing scarf.�

For Gitanjali Lifestyle, that presented Rocky S with stunning ornaments by Queenie for Giantti, fashion lovers saw a unique 'Bridal Extravaganza'. Bipasha Basu in a lemon sari and blouse with a net pallav splashed with the most sensational embroidery and wearing a grand diamond necklace by Queenie for Giantti, stunned all with the grand finale.�

Babita Malkani's Boho Chic line saw Bollywood actor Harman Baweja in a sharply cut double breast jacket and billiard ace Pankaj Advani in an ivory woven Nehru jacket. While Pooja Bedi made a dramatic entry in an ivory net and satin draped gown sprinkled with sequins and a dazzling diamante cummerbund, for celeb designer Riyaz Gangji.

Contemporary, Chic, Superglam at LFW Summer/Resort 2010

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) 2010 with Summer / Resort wear as its theme, kicked off with a rocking start. With the already declared unique and ultra-chic idea, designers seem brimming with new creations.

Babita Malkani presented her Boho Chic line with Bhutan as the theme, showing the beautiful hilly lands with vivid colours, ranging from hues of coral, blue, nude, navy, khaki to black, white, yellow, pink and purple. Accessories like beautifully designed sling bags added to the charm of the garments inspired by Bhutanese Dzong architecture. With a blend of various patterns and fabrics, Babita presented various complex garments like Capri jumpsuits, pleated dhoti dresses, wrap blouses, intricately crafted waist coats and woven belts, in the apt ambience of soothing Buddhist music.

Top celeb designer and creator of the label Libas Riyaz Gangji presented comfortable and modern designs for men and women. Men's wear showed linen pants, waistcoats, jackets and lean trousers with controlled embellishments and interesting detailing like cutwork or embroidery on the predominantly ivory collection that revolved around resort comfort wear. Women's wear was modern and stylish in glamorous satin, gowns with detailing like pleats, cowl necks, Grecian drapes, cut-away detailing for sexy ultra evening wear that glittering with diamantes. Fabrics were textured and weave-centric with chiffon, satin, georgette, linen and cotton and the colours moved from pastel beige and mint to a hint of purple and coral.�

Vizyon, by Ayush and Shradha Murarka, that showcased the 'Celestial Bodies'; collection created by Ninon Palisse, was an elegant, simple yet uniquely interesting presentation, especially since it was inspired by the heavenly bodies of the universe. Pleats and drapes created a perfect mix with layers, zippers, textures in smooth flowing fabrics like organza, satin, georgette and chiffon. Apart from that, the glitter, contoured corsets, bandage dresses, flowing and structured silhouettes gave it all a glamorous touch.

The overall selection of fabrics and colours made the creations perfect for the coming summers.

8 �GenNext� Designers To Showcase Their Collections At LFW

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

There are eight fresh promising budding designers who have been selected to show case their collection at the Lakme Fashion Week, Summer Resort 2010.Theses designers will be take up to the ramp on the second day of the fashion festival.

'Picture Perfect' at LFW: Another Innovative Attempt

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) has been the most awaited event for fashionistas and over the past decade LFW has introduced budding talent in the form of designers, models, make up experts and stylists.�

Conducted twice every year, this year too the esteemed fashion week has commenced with full pomp and glory with budding as well as established designers and stylists, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai.�

Keeping up with its tradition of novelty and uniqueness this season too, LFW introduces 'Picture Perfect Award', an exciting initiative to recognise the brilliance in fashion photography and put a spotlight on the effort of the many participating photographers. Talking about this new initiative, Anil Chopra, Advisor, Lakm�, said that Lakm� Fashion Week is a great platform to create business and is a fertile ground for new talent to get discovered. Photographers are integral to the success and a key partner that needs acknowledgement. The Picture Perfect Award is our way of recognising their efforts; we look forward to bringing on this initiative in full process and invite all photographers to join in the pursuit.

The initiative has been extended to all accredited media photographers attending LFW and will be judged on photographs taken during the first four days. Starting Day 2, five pictures from the previous day will be nominated and displayed at the venue. From those nominations, one 'Picture of the Day' will be selected by the jury. On the last day, the jury will announce the Top 3 winners of the 'Picture Perfect Award' basis the pictures short listed over the four days.

The eminent panel consists of Anil Chopra, Advisor, Lakm�; Sujal Shah, Head of Fashion, IMG India and ace fashion photographers Atul Kasbekar and Jatin Kampani.

Parents lie to their kids 100 times a year

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

There are 100 lies that parents tell their children in a year - despite teaching them to be truthful, according to a survey.

The survey of more than 1,000 parents for Sheilas' Wheels home insurance found one in three has lied to teachers to take kids out of school for a day.

The mommies and daddies also encouraged youngsters to dodge the truth in explaining why they did not do homework or were late for school, the Daily Express reported.

And two-thirds also confessed using their children's name under the pretext of escaping a party or for being late.

The poll further observed that as many as 90 per cent tell their kids off for lying but did not follow their own set standards. (ANI)

Posh's bunions boost flat shoes sale in UK

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

It has emerged that former Spice Girls member Victoria Beckham's bunions have sparked a rush for comfy footwear as British women shun high heels.

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Internet searches for flat shoes and boots have risen by 40 percent in the past year.

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Tom Hyde of shopping website Ciao, which did the research, revealed that the press helped in making the decision.

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"Bad press about health conditions associated with high footwear means Brits go for the more comfortable option," the Daily Star quoted Hyde as saying. (ANI)

Pinnacle of marital bliss: 2 years 11 months and 8 days!

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Two years, 11 months and eight days after saying 'I do' married couples are at their happiest.

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That's the conclusion of a new research that asked 4,000 husbands and wives to pinpoint their happiness.

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According to the research, the pairs will also enjoy a full sex life, have carried out enough DIY for their house to make it homely and still find time for romantic meals together, reports The Daily Express.

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Carol Richardson, from wedding website www.confetti.co.uk, said: "Our research showed that three years after walking down the aisle everything seems to come together – making each other laugh the most and cuddling up in front of the TV."

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"They'll also spend the longest amount of quality time together each evening and make small gestures like offering to cook dinner and help with the washing up. We've found the secret to the happiest time together isn't about big, expensive and lavish gifts, but being there for each other to share special moments."

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Wives are likely to receive flowers, chocolates and compliments two-and-a-half years down the line, the study found.

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A man's help with household chores reaches its peak just before their third anniversary, while big arguments will be a distant memory three months later, claims the research. (ANI)

Boys read much as girls, but prefer less challenging books

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0500

A new study has found than boys read as much as girls, but prefer far less challenging books.

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The reading habits coinciding with national curriculum test results of 100,000 British children were scanned as part of the study.

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It was found that at all ages girls score higher on reading tests.

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"Boys are clearly reading nearly as much as girls, a finding that may surprise some onlookers," the Independent quoted Professor Keith Topping, of the University of Dundee's school of education, who headed the study, as saying.

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He added: "But boys are tending to read easier books than girls. The general picture was of girls reading books of a consistently more difficult level than boys in the same year."

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The report stated that the change in standard of their reading habits becomes most marked between the ages of 13 and 16.

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Apparently, the favourite girl's book in this age group is Stephanie Meyer's vampire drama 'Twilight', while boys' favourite is British novelist Peter Lancett's 'The Dark Never Hides' from the Dark Man series.

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Meanwhile, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s has dropped from second to ninth place at the top 10 most popular children's authors.

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Topping said: "Perhaps the lapse in popularity of the Harry Potter books ... has left boys with few high difficulty books they have the urge to attack." (ANI)

Mums working part-time have healthiest kids

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

A new Australian study has found that mums working part-time raise healthier children than their counterparts who stay at home or have a full-time job.

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The study, "Do Working Mothers Raise Couch Potato Kids?" shows that kids of part-time mums have less junk food, watch less TV and are less likely to be overweight or obese.

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The study group carried out face-to-face interviews with mothers and measured their child's height and weight at ages four to five, and again two years later, at six to seven years of age.

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"When mothers work part-time, there's obviously something about the way the house is run, and the way parents are looking after their children that is protective," the Daily Telegraph quoted co-author and associate professor Jan Nicholson, principal research fellow at Melbourne's Murdoch Children's Research Institute, as saying.

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The study of over 4,500 Australian pre-schoolers found part-time mums let their children watch about an hour less telly each week than both stay-at-home mums and full-time working mothers.

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Their kids consumed fewer snack foods, had more time to exercise and were exposed to less junk-food advertising.

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The researchers said: "Although employment reduces the time parents spend at home, mothers go to considerable lengths to insulate time with their children.

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"They reschedule activities, sleep less and allocate less time to personal care and leisure to ensure that time with children is protected."

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The research also showed that women engaged in full-time work are likely to have unhealthier children.

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The reason why stay-at-home mums have less healthy kids in spite of having more time to implement healthy behaviour is not fully understood, and researchers believe closer examination of household dynamics is needed. (ANI)

New online therapy programme helps you beat the 'office' blues

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

For all those stressed with their jobs, an online therapy programme that could revolutionise how companies deal with on-the-job stress is being introduced.

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Depressed workers are being offered online counselling through a programme, called Beating the Blues.

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It is being trialled in New Zealand by behavioural healthcare company Instep.

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The program is available 24 hours to staff of those organisations, at no cost, for the three-month trial and uses cognitive behavioural therapy, widely accepted as one of the most effective and long-lasting treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, clinical depression and chronic fatigue syndrome.

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Instep psychologist Vanessa Caldwell said the launch of the program would help those left stressed by the recession.

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"The perception that the country is struggling, that companies are struggling, that workplaces are under review ... creates an enormous amount of stress because people then don't know how to plan for the future or know how secure things are," Stuff.co.nz quoted Caldwell as saying.

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"What we're aiming for is to get people into support and appropriate level of care before it becomes a real health issue and they have to take time off work or stress leave," Caldwell added.

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Caldwell said online therapy was an easier alternative for people who could not face a therapist and there was also no need to wait for an appointment. (ANI)

Oprah Winfrey sells off unwanted clothing, accessories for charity

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Oprah Winfrey has decided to sell her unwanted clothing and accessories for charity.

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The TV hostess has put up 150 items, including designer shoes, bags and dresses, for sale on internet auction site eBay.com.

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The details of her closet clear-out have been listed in her O magazine.

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People can bid for the items online from 1-11 March, reports the Daily Express.

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The proceeds will be forwarded to Winfrey's Leadership Academy girls school in South Africa. (ANI)

Fashion pals pay final respects to Alexander McQueen

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Stella McCartney were among those who paid their final respects to fashion designer Alexander McQueen.

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The supermodels were joined by his family for the service that took place at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge, west London.

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Moss struggled to hold back tears as they paid their respects.

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Mourners pulled out all the stops to remember the outlandish clothes guru with a suitably fashionable funeral.

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Kate wore five-inch Christian Louboutin stilettos, a simple black dress and stole, while Naomi, 39, remembered her pal with a fitted jacket and quirky hat.

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Socialite Daphne Guinness, 42, went even further in a billowing black cape, full lace veil and towering heel-less shoes.

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McQueen's father, Ronald, and his five siblings were also among the mourners at the late fashion designer's private funeral.

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"The mourners went all out to pay tribute to Lee, who was totally fashion-mad. I've never seen such an amazing selection of clothes. It looked more like a catwalk than a church," the Daily Star quoted an onlooker as saying.

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"The effort they all made showed just how much he meant to everyone in the fashion world," the onlooker added. (ANI)

Single men, unhappily married men at increased fatal stroke risk

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Get married? Well, then be grateful, for according to a new study, single men and unhappily married men may face a higher risk of fatal stroke in later decades.

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The study has been presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2010.

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The findings are based on earlier work in which researchers examined 10,059 civil servants and municipal workers (average age 49) who participated in the Israeli Ischemic Heart Disease Study in 1963. Using the national death registry and other records, researchers tracked the fate of the men through 1997, the last year for which underlying causes of death had been coded.

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Among the men who in 1963 were single, 8.4 percent died of stroke in the following 34 years, compared with 7.1 percent of the married men. Considering age at death and adjusting for socioeconomic status, obesity, blood pressure, smoking habits and family size, as well as existing diabetes and heart disease at the time of the earlier survey, single men had a 64 percent higher risk of fatal stroke than did married men. That figure is comparable to the risk of fatal stroke faced by men with diabetes, said Uri Goldbourt, Ph.D., author of the study.

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Furthermore, in 1965, the married men had been asked to evaluate their marriages as very successful, quite successful, not so successful, or unsuccessful. In an analysis of the 3.6 percent of men who had reported dissatisfaction in their marriage, adjusted risk of a fatal stroke was also 64 percent higher, compared with men who considered their marriages very successful.

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"I had not expected that unsuccessful marriage would be of this statistical importance," said Goldbourt, a professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine at Tel Aviv University in Israel.

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While the effects of marital status and success may be similar in women, "there are still differences, and research on women is clearly needed," Goldbourt said. (ANI)

Claudia Schiffer dismisses calls for ban on size zero models

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Claudia Schiffer has brushed aside the size zero controversy by saying "models have always been thin" and there's no reason to believe they are unhealthy.

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"No I don't think so, because I think models have always been thin, ever since I can look back anyway - I've never... no I don't think there has ever a moment where it's been any different," the Mirror quoted Schiffer, as saying at the Elle Style Awards.

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The 39-year-old German beauty added: "The most important thing is that they are healthy. There will always be an exception somewhere, within any profession, whether it's acting or singing. There will always be that one person that is unhealthy and doesn't eat anything and God knows what else they do.

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"I mean, you should be able to spot that, if you are a company or a designer you should be able to say this one particular person is not healthy and maybe we shouldn't use her.

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"But in general I think, you can be thin and be healthy, you can be bigger and be healthy as well, you know. It just depends." (ANI)

Exercise at school "improves kids' fitness"

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

A new Swiss study has found that stretching the PE lessons at school and assigning kids a ten minute exercise homework can improve their fitness.

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The study has appeared online in the British Medical Journal.

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The research showed that children who exercised more at school and during homework were fitter and put on less weight than others.

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The research, which lasted a year, compared the health of children given extra exercise with their counterparts on the standard three lessons a week programme.

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It was seen that children aged seven and 11 who did the extra exercise could run the equivalent of 20 seconds faster, their body fat as measured by skinfold thickness was 2mm less and their body mass index improved.

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However, there was no major shift in overall daily physical activity and quality of life.

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"To our knowledge, this is the first study of a school based, long term physical activity intervention that documents beneficial changes in all these parameters," the Telegraph quoted lead author Susi Kriemler, assistant professor for paediatric sports medicine in the Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Basel, in Switzerland, as writing.

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Kriemler added: "Our study was a demanding 'real life' intervention trial, in which we successfully increased physical activity, thereby achieving multiple beneficial health effects." (ANI)

Attention hogging teens no longer popular with their peers

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Life at the top is not necessarily a breeze - even for teenagers, suggests a survey by a girl magazine which found that cool kids are actually disliked by a lot of people.

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Magazine Girlfriend quizzed 1500 readers aged between 13 and 18 surveyed to come up with the conclusion, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

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Most of the respondents said they were glad they were not in the popular group.

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"A massive 94 per cent of readers rank being well liked as more important than being popular," Girlfriend's editor Sarah Cornish said. "Once upon a time, being popular was something positive - it meant being well liked.

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"Now, it's not about how many people like us, but the quality of the friendships we cultivate that's important - and this is really a positive sign."

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According to Girlfriend, five key characteristics define the popular Mean Girls-style group, with physical attractiveness being most important.

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Intimidating others also matters, as does sexual experience, wealth, and regular drug/alcohol use, the mag claimed. (ANI)

Psychiatrists call for ban on 'glamourising' of eating disorders

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Psychiatrists are urging a ban be put on the 'damaging portrayal' of eating disorders in advertisements and various other publications.

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The Royal College of Psychiatrists' (RCPsych) Eating Disorders Section is raising its voice against the promotion of unhealthy and airbrushed images of underweight models in magazines and on television.

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Experts fear the 'harmful' effects these images can have on children by 'glamourising' eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

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"Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses. Although biological and genetic factors play an important role in the development of these disorders, psychological and social factors are also significant," The Telegraph quoted Dr Adrienne Key, consultant psychiatrist at the RCPsych, as saying.

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"There is a growing body of research that shows the media plays a part in the development of eating disorder symptoms – particularly in adolescents and young people," Dr Key added.

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Susan Ringwood, chief executive of beat, the eating disorders charity, also pointed out: "The media is a powerful influence and we know how vulnerable some people at risk of eating disorders can be to its visual images in particular." (ANI)

Simple tips to boost happiness

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Happiness can be self-controlled and boosted through certain practices, claim researchers.

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Earlier, scientists had suggested happiness is primarily determined by genetics, health and other factors mostly outside of our control, reports the China Daily.

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Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California, Riverside, said: "The billion-dollar question is, is it possible to become happier?"

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"Despite the finding that happiness is partially genetically determined, and despite the finding that life situations have a smaller influence on our happiness than we think they do, we argue that still a large portion of happiness is in our power to change."

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After analysing 51 studies, that tested attempts to increase happiness, Lyubomirsky has jotted down five things that can improve happiness:

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1. Be grateful - Some study participants were asked to write letters of gratitude to people who had helped them in some way. The study found that these people reported a lasting increase in happiness - over weeks and even months - after implementing the habit.

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2. Be optimistic - Study participants were asked to visualize an ideal future - for example, living with a loving and supportive partner, or finding a job that was fulfilling - and describe the image in a journal entry. After doing this for a few weeks, these people too reported increased feelings of well-being.

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3. Count your blessings - People who practice writing down three good things that have happened to them every week show significant boosts in happiness, studies have found. It seems the act of focusing on the positive helps people remember reasons to be glad.

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4. Use your strengths - Another study asked people to identify their greatest strengths, and then to try to use these strengths in new ways. For example, someone who says they have a good sense of humor could try telling jokes to lighten up business meetings or cheer up sad friends. This habit, too, seems to heighten happiness.

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5. Commit acts of kindness - Helping others also helps ourselves. People who donate time or money to charity, or who altruistically assist people in need, report improvements in their own happiness. (ANI)

Elle Macpherson reveals how she keeps in shape

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Supermodel Elle Macpherson has revealed how she keeps her body in shape.

"I have a very holistic perspective on health. I choose to look after my body from a Chinese medicine perspective, which promotes and maintains wellness rather than treats illness," the Daily Telegraph quoted her as telling The News of the World newspaper in the UK.

"I have acupuncture regularly and I see a Chinese doctor who treats most common ailments with herbs.

"Maintenance is a concept for me across the board. For example, every six months I go to my doctor to have ultrasound checks on my breasts, ovaries and uterus," she added.

Elle, 46, talked about how she cares for her body.

"These days I practice wellness over fitness. I feel I've discovered the things that are really important to maintaining health as I've got older because my body has become more sensitive," she said.

"Number one is sleep. Often when I don't sleep enough I notice a difference in the way I respond to everyday circumstances. Five hours sleep as opposed to eight makes a huge difference to my well being. Sleep can also be a great detox for the body, giving it time to regenerate so it can function more efficiently on every level," she added.

Macpherson also revealed drinking water is essential to her.

"I have six 500ml bottles that I refill every day. I put them on the kitchen table or on my desk and I count them down towards the end of the day. It's a good trick because every time I walk past them I can pick up a bottle and drink it as I walk around. I make sure those bottles are gone by the time I go to bed."

Elle also revealed her diet.

"Diet is very important to me and particularly for my children, as I have seen that low blood sugar levels can affect their moods along with excess sugar, salt, preservatives and food colourings.

"From a nutritional perspective, organic food is really important. I can't stress enough the importance of eating non-processed food where possible. I try to buy Fairtrade and local fruit and vegetable produce that's in season."

Elle said that exercise is vital for her but it has changed over the years.

"When I was younger and had more time on my hands, I would run six miles or go to the gym every day. It didn't take a lot for me to stay in shape because genetically speaking I was born with good architecture. As I've aged, I've realised that continuous strenuous exercise isn't necessarily the best thing for my body. Strength and flexibility are really important so I choose to do different things," she said.

"When I'm in London, I'll do Pilates or yoga and I'll work with my trainer.

"I'm gentler on my body than I used to be. It's not that easy because I don't have the same physique as I did when I was 20 and there's a temptation to do what used to work for me when I was younger. I've now realised that a more gentle, consistent, self-loving approach is more beneficial. As well as yoga and Pilates, I choose sports I love. I go water-skiing every morning when I'm in warmer climates, and I go skiing when I can in winter. I love to hike, surf and paddleboard. I do sport I really enjoy," she added. (ANI)

Kolkata Fashion And Lifestyle Week Postponed

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Kolkata Fashion and Lifestyle week (KFLW) is postponed. �

Plus-size models walk the ramp at London Fashion Week

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Times are changing on the ramp, as the London Fashion Week witnessed normal-sized women catwalk-ing this year.

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The Bora Aksu fashion show at the event had healthier looking models instead of size-zero wannabes.

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"Over the last couple of seasons they have become more noticeable," Sky News quoted Aksu as saying.

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He added: "You also notice that these are girls who look healthy and happy."

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Also, supermodel Naomi Campbell thinks it is not necessary for a model to be super slim.

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She said: "I think the bigger the better. I don't comment on size, I think if someone is beautiful then they should do what they want to do."

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Meanwhile, high street giants like Debenhams have begun using plus size mannequins in their windows.

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Sarah Travers, who runs Europe's largest plus-size modelling agency, said: "The average British woman is a size 14 to 16 and it's important that the woman on the street is able to walk into a shop and feel comfortable with the choice available." (ANI)

Music 'boosts kids' brain development'

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Music training can shape a growing child's brain, says a new research.

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At the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting, a Northwestern University neuroscientist had argued that music training has profound effects that shape the sensory system and should be a mainstay of K-12 education.

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"Playing an instrument may help youngsters better process speech in noisy classrooms and more accurately interpret the nuances of language that are conveyed by subtle changes in the human voice," says Nina Kraus, Hugh Knowles Professor of Neurobiology, Physiology and Communication Sciences at Northwestern University.

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"Cash-strapped school districts are making a mistake when they cut music from the K-12 curriculum," says Kraus, director of the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory in Northwestern's School of Communication.

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Kraus suggested that music education can be an effective strategy in helping typically developing children as well as children with developmental dyslexia or autism more accurately encode speech.

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"People's hearing systems are fine-tuned by the experiences they've had with sound throughout their lives," says Kraus. "Music training is not only beneficial for processing music stimuli. We've found that years of music training may also improve how sounds are processed for language and emotion."

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Researchers in the Kraus lab provided the first concrete evidence that playing a musical instrument significantly enhances the brainstem's sensitivity to speech sounds. (ANI)

Dame Judi Dench 'to auction off Elizabethan dress' for charity'

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Dame Judi Dench is reportedly set to auction off the Elizabethan dress she wears in Sir Peter Hall's Midsummer Night's Dream.

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The British acting legend, who plays Titania in the production, has purportedly decided to place the threads under the hammer to raise funds for theatre.

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"She is to auction off the Elizabethan dress she wears in the play to raise money for the theatre," the Telegraph quoted a source as saying.

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"It is not exactly the sort of thing you would pick up from Oxfam, but it is a part of theatrical history," the source added. (ANI)

Women's looks sway men, even in the virtual world

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Men judge women on the basis of their looks, even in the virtual world, a researcher has found.

Avatars and robots are increasingly appealing people these days, courtesy video games and blockbuster movies.

Now, Karl MacDorman of Indiana University in Indianapolis, Indiana, wanted to find out how people treated avatars when faced with an ethical dilemma, reports New Scientist.

To reach the conclusion, the expert presented 682 volunteers with a dilemma. Playing a doctor's role, the volunteers were faced with a female avatar, Kelly Gordon, pleading with them not to tell her husband at his next check-up that she had contracted genital herpes.

The dilemma is intended to make medical students consider issues like doctor-patient confidentiality, not to produce a right or wrong answer, says MacDorman.

Gordon was presented to the volunteers in one of four different ways, either as an actress superimposed on a computer generated (CG) background or a CG female on the same background (pictured) - and then either edited to move smoothly or in a jerky, unnatural way.

On the whole, females responded more sympathetically to Gordon, with 52 per cent acceding to her request compared with 45 per cent of men. But whereas women's attitudes were consistent however Gordon was presented, the male volunteers' attitudes swung sharply. The two human versions got a far more sympathetic hearing than their avatar counterparts.

"Clearly, presentational factors influence people's decisions, including decisions of moral and ethical consequence," says MacDorman.

"The different response from volunteers could suggest men showed more empathy towards characters that they see as a potential mate," he says.

The study will be published in a forthcoming edition of the journal Presence. (ANI)

Posh comes to defence of skinny models

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Former Spice Girls member Victoria Beckham has come to the defence of skinny models.

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Posh, 35, backed the right of fashion designers to use size zero catwalk girls, and said that people should not discriminate.�

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"Most of these girls are naturally thin," the Daily Star quoted her as saying.

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"I don't think we should be discriminating against someone because they are too thin or too curvy or too large or whatever it is," she added. (ANI)

Alexander McQueen's label to continue

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Bosses of fashion icon Alexander McQueen's clothing company have said that his name will live on in the industry.

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The British fashion designer hanged himself at his apartment in London last week and a post-mortem later confirmed he had died from asphyxiation.

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But the owners of his fashion company have vowed to continue the brand in honour of the late designer.

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Francois Henri-Pinault, chairman of holding company PPW, called McQueen a 'pure genius' and a 'poet'.

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"You understand, the Alexander McQueen trademark will live on. Fashion has lost one of its extraordinary people. He was one of the falling stars that comes across our generation. He is a person we will miss enormously," the Daily Express quoted him as saying.

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Robert Polet, president of PPW subsidiary The Gucci Group - which owns a 50 per cent stake in the McQueen label – added: "We believe in the future of the brand." (ANI)

Jessica Simpson designing fashion watches range

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Singer Jessica Simpson is said to have added a new venture to her ever-growing lifestyle brand by designing fashion watches with Pascal Mouawad.

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Simpson, 29, struck an exclusive licensing agreement with world-renowned celebrity jeweller Mouawad to design, develop, produce and distribute a line of fashion watches for her brand, the Jessica Simpson Collection.

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"Creating and inspiring the collection is very near to my heart - my mom and I work on this collectively and it is a passion for both of us. It is a joy to be able to create a line that is affordable and fashionable," Fox News quoted her as saying.

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"And collecting watches, both vintage and new, has been a hobby of mine for some time so adding watches to the collection was a natural extension," she explained.

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The license marks the 21st product category for Simpson's brand.�

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"Jessica is a business woman with great vision and the Camuto Group (the master licensee for the Jessica Simpson Collection) has done a phenomenal job in building the brand across multiple categories," Mouawad said.�

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"With Jessica's good taste, flair for fashionable trends and iconic image, it was a natural fit for us to collaborate on a collection of fashion watches," he added.

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The debut collection will include 35 designs, retailing from 60 dollars to 250 dollars, that speak to Simpson's personal style, varying from classic leather and menswear styles to fashion forward jewellery-inspired looks.�

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The collection is slated to launch Fall 2010 at upper tier department stores, specialty stores and select online stores, including JessicaSimpson.com. (ANI)

Indians, Pakistanis biggest fans of online dating

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

India and Pakistan have some of the largest numbers of enthusiasts for online dating, a new poll has revealed.

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The BBC World Service global poll surveyed close to 11,000 Internet users in 19 countries, reports the New York Daily News.

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And it showed that 30 percent Web users aren’t looking online for bargains or jobs. In fact, they have romance in mind, and are surfing the Internet for a boyfriend or girlfriend.

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According to the poll, 59 percent of Indians and 60 percent of Pakistanis are using the Internet to track down a potential partner.

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The research, conducted by polling firm GlobeScan, showed that the urge to cyberdate isn't quite as strong among other countries.

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It revealed that 21 percent of Americans use the Internet for finding a partner, as do 16 percent of South Koreans, 28 percent of Brits and 27 percent of the French. (ANI)

Blame parents for lack of boyfriends

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Wondering why you're always single while your friends move from man to man? Well, a new study shows it might be all your parents' fault.

According to University of Western Australia researchers, some of attraction secrets are apparently hidden in certain immune system genes inherited from our parents.

The scientists, who studied the DNA of almost 150 university students, found that a woman's appearance or sweat contains clues to the genetic make-up of her immune system, reports The Telegraph.

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Boffins reported in the journal Animal Behavior the finding that the more varied the genes were the more boyfriends a woman was likely to have.

The scientists said they couldn't be certain why a woman's immune system affected her success with men. The scientists were also unclear whether her genes make her irresistible to the opposite sex - or whether she finds them irresistible.

However, through the study boffins could explain why some women remain unlucky in love.

In the study, participants were asked to provide a DNA sample as well as completing a detailed questionnaire about their love lives.

Then the DNA was scrutinised for variations in genes known to influence the immune system, where the more diverse these genes, the stronger a person's defence against disease.

The results of the test were then compared to the survey.

The Daily Mail reported, this showed that the women with the most varied major histocompatibility (MHC) genes, had the most sexual partners.

"None of these explanations are mutually exclusive and, regardless of the underlying mechanism, the effect of MHC diversity is intriguing and deserves further investigation," the research team concluded.

But there was no link between a man's MHC genes and his success with women. (ANI)

India lands 8th spot in '20 best looking nations' list, America tops

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

India has landed the eight spot in a new list of 20 best looking nations, which concluded that Americans are the most attractive looking people in the world.

The United States topped the poll more than 5,000 globe-trotting Britons, reports The Telegraph.

Second place was grabbed by Brazil while Spain was third.

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Australia came fourth, Italy fifth.

Sexy Swedes helped the nation into sixth spot, and England made it into seventh place in the poll.

India was eighth, France ninth, and Canada finished off the top 10.

A spokeswoman for www.OnePoll.com, which carried out the UK study, said: "America has got a lot on offer and boasts some of the sexiest people on the planet."

"The likes of Jessica Alba, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt all help America's image as a hot bed of good looking people."

"But with a population of more than 300 million, they do have an unfair advantage."

She added: "England's talent only got them into seventh place and despite Gerard Butler waving the flag for Scotland, they only just beat the Germans."

"But in fairness, when you think of good looking countries, Sweden, Italy, France and Brazil talent all spring to mind before us lazy, pale Brits."

"If you're looking for some fun in the sun, you now know where to head on holiday."

Other countries to feature in the top 20 include Portugal, Japan and Netherlands.

Germany completed the top 20.

Top 20 "Best Looking Nations"

1. America

2. Brazil

3. Spain

4. Australia

5. Italy

6. Sweden

7. England

8. India

9. France

10. Canada

11. Mexico

12. Portugal

13. Wales

14. Russia

15. Japan

16. Ireland

17. Argentina

18. Netherlands

19. Scotland

20. Germany. (ANI)

Kate Moss turns fashion director, stylist

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

British supermodel Kate Moss has added fashion director and stylist to her list of growing credentials.

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The catwalk queen took to the camera to direct her first photo shoot, a raunchy spread featuring her friend Lily Allen who posed topless with a pair of bunny ears.

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Moss, who has graced over 300 magazines, styled and helmed the singer's recent shoot for Love magazine, The Daily Express reported.

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The acclaimed model, who designs her own clothing line, was said to be eager to continue her work behind-the-scenes.

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A source told the Daily Mail: "Kate has an eye for detail and wants to do more fashion direction. She is slowly cutting back on her modelling contracts and taking a more behind-the-scenes role." (ANI)

Serious diet behind Sir Anthony Hopkins' skinny frame

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Sir Anthony Hopkins has revealed that he owes his new skinny look to serious dieting.

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The Silence of The Lambs star has shed 80 pounds over 10 months after getting serious with his diet.

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The actor sparked health concerns last year (09) by sporting a slim new frame.

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However, he has said that he just needed to lose weight after years of eating badly.

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"I got tired of being heavy, so I went on a really good regime of eating healthy and exercising for an hour a day," Contactmusic quoted him as telling Men's Journal magazine.

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"I'm not a nutty, macrobiotic kind of guy, but I enjoy being alive," he added. (ANI)

Gran's care can make kids obese

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Children who are looked after by their grandparents are likely to be obese, a new study has suggested.

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The extensive University College London study, which included 12,000 three-year olds, found that the risk was 34 percent higher if grandparents cared for them full time.

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However, kids who went to nursery or had a childminder had no increased risk of weight problems, the International Journal of Obesity reported.

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Study leader Professor Catherine Law said the study did not look at why grandparent care was associated with being overweight but that indulgence of children and lack of physical exercise were two possible explanations, reports The BBC.

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"One of the ways forward would be to talk to small groups of grandparents to see the challenges they face.

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"Some of the things that might help would be educating the population in general about healthy lifestyles but also things like avoiding food as a reward and suggestions for building activities into daily life," she said. (ANI)

Being fat can help you live longer in old age

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Contrary to popular belief, the key to a long life may be to put on a few pounds, says a new study.

According to the new research, the death rate among men and women, aged 70 to 75, is lowest for those classed as overweight.

And those pensioners classed as obese have the same risk of death as people of 'normal' weight.

However, being underweight is associated with the highest mortality.

It is thought that fat reserves could help frail older people recover from bouts of illness such as pneumonia.

Obesity is a well known risk factor for a range of fatal illnesses including cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

However, the latest study by Professor Leon Flicker suggests that losing weight once you pass 70 can dramatically increase your chances of dying.

For the study, the researchers looked at 9,240 adults, aged 70 to 75.

They found that those overweight were 13 per cent less likely to die from any cause over a 10-year period, compared with those of normal weight.

Those underweight were 76 per cent more likely to die, while obese elderly people had the same mortality risk as those of normal weight.

"This study has demonstrated that, for people who have survived to the age of 70, the risk of death is lowest among those with a BMI [body mass index] classified as overweight," the Daily Express quoted Professor Flicker as saying.

"Those in their seventies who were classified as normal weight had a higher risk of death than the overweight group," Professor Flicker added.

The link between weight and mortality applied to the most common causes of death.

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"Even after removing the effects of early mortality, those who were overweight were still at lowest risk. This is a finding consistent with the observation that weight loss in older age groups is associated with greater incidence of death," Professor Flicker said.

He admitted it was not clear why excess weight appeared to protect the elderly from death.

"We can only hypothesise, but it may be that, as we age, the presence of nutritional and metabolic reserves - ie fat - are advantageous," he said.

The research is to be published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. (ANI)

Bollywood actors walk the ramp on Valentine's Day eve

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Bollywood actors Arjun Rampal and Minissha Lamba walked the ramp for a fashion show organized in Kolkata on the eve of Valentine's Day.

The fashion show on Saturday witnessed models showcasing trendy clothes tailored for the youth.

Models stood pretty in clothes designed by designers Jaya Mishra, Devarun and Tanjim, an urban clothing brand from Dhaka.

Actor Arjun Rampal stole the show with his die-hard attitude on the ramp. He even danced with a lady from among the audiences.

"We are here for a really wonderful thing to celebrate and that's love. I think nothing is more important than love. It's been wonderful to be here. Kolkata is very special to me. I have done a movie here. I have worked with Bengali actors and it's a really wonderful city. That's why every opportunity that I get, I always come here," Rampal said.

Bengali actress Rituparna Sengupta also walked the ramp in a cream-colored sequined gown. �(ANI)

Time constraints make older adults turn to net to find love

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Older adults turn to the Internet to find "The One" largely because of the time constraints in their busy lives, experts have observed.

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Alicia Cast, the Iowa State University associate professor of sociology and her graduate research assistant, Jamie McCartney, examined nearly 175 central newlywed couples and found that spouses from 25 of those couples first met, courtesy the World Wide Web.

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Boffins, in a preliminary analysis presented at the Midwest Sociological Society's annual meeting, explained structural constraints had much to do with the resort to turn online.

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Cast said: "In many cases, there are some real structural forces that encourage the support and use of these technologies. And one of them is just structural constraints on people's time -- such as people who have kids, or have full-time jobs, or work long or extensive hours. They might also be older and the majority of people who are in their pool of eligibles are already in relationships."

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Cast continued: "There's an interesting contradiction there because the people who look online may not be perceived as being serious [by friends and family]. But the people who are doing the actual searching may look at it as a way to be incredibly serious about the process. And one of the things we found was that, indeed, their courtship periods are shorter." (ANI)

Tips for singles on how to celebrate V-Day

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Experts have come up with ways single people can dodge self-pity and revel in the Valentine's Day celebrations.

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Kansas State University relationship expert Tony Jurich said those without a partner on the traditionally couples holiday do not have to stay indoors and sulk in.

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Instead, they should mingle with other people or happy singles and celebrate their status with just as much enthusiasm as couples, Jurich recommended.

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He said: "When you're surrounded by couples you might start to think that something's wrong with you. It not only makes you acutely aware that they have something you don't, but it makes it seem like the "normal" people are together."

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Jurich continued: "If you are single, you probably know other singles. Go out make it a night of it. When you make a restaurant reservation, they'll assume that you want a table for two, and you can say "no, a table for 12.""

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He added: "Make fun of the assumption that people need to be coupled. Make light of it, kind of get even a little bit with the assumptions. Celebrate your singleness together."

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Throwing a get-together at home or going to a movie may also not be a bad idea for the day, the specialist pointed out.

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Jurich pointed out: "If you can laugh at Valentine's Day and laugh at the 'misery' of being single, you will give yourself distance -- and distance will help you stay out of the self pity thing." (ANI)

Julia Roberts becomes new face of Lancome

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Julia Roberts has been made the brand ambassador of cosmetic giant Lancome.

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And the 42-year-old star is thrilled by the offer.

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"I have to stand up straighter, and wash my face more. Isn't this every girl's dream … to be 42, have three kids – two are twins -- and be a working mom. �Says a lot about Lancome and what it stands for," Fox News quoted her as telling reporters in Paris.

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Having already posed for her first ad shoot with famed photographer Mario Testino, Julia's campaign will be released this summer to coincide with the release of another one of her new flicks, "Eat, Pray, Love", based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestseller about a post-divorcee travelling the world to find herself. (ANI)

How to maintain a healthy romantic relationship

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Maintaining a healthy relationship can be a very strenuous exercise, and the only way one can be successful is to understand the development of one's own love history.

According to Dr. Mark Beitel, a licensed clinical psychologist and psychotherapist at Greenwich Hospital''s Center for Integrative Medicine in Cos Cob, CT, the only way to overcome experiencing the same negative romantic outcome is to break the pattern.

"Certain conditions for loving, and being loved, are created and then maintained across a person's lifespan," Beitel explained.

"Negative life experiences can damage the developing capacity for love. People get stuck because the conditions that they have set up for loving tend to operate just outside of awareness," he said.

We all yearn for the kind of love that works. In fact, the very experience of loving is good for your health.

Beitel explains that brain chemicals like oxytocin and endorphins are released during the experience of love. These substances are associated with pleasure and well-being.

There are simple ways to put yourself on the path for a healthy happy love life. It starts by taking better care of yourself.

"It is much easier to develop the capacity to love yourself and others when your biology is in balance," Beitel, who works with patients on their mental health while encouraging them to seek help with nutrition and exercise as well, said.

One way to iron out the developmental wrinkles in the capacity for love is simply to be more present, or mindful, in everyday life.

"The practice of mindfulness can also help us to see our loved ones as they are rather than as we want them to be," he said.

"Negative expectations run outside of awareness, so increasing mindfulness gives them less room to operate.

"Seeing others clearly reduces the confusion, biases, and inappropriate expectations that prevent us from connecting authentically," Beitel explained.

Psychotherapy is designed to help a person become aware of repeating negative expectations about love and to correct them so that a more enjoyable love life can be pursued. (ANI)

How to tackle school avoidance in children

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Child and adolescent psychiatrists have explained the causes of school avoidance and also described measures to tackle the problem.

Psychiatrist Martin Knollmann and colleagues say truancy assumes psychiatric relevance only if it occurs frequently and is accompanied by psychiatric symptoms.

Children typically play truant for the first time at the age of about 11 years, whereas anxiety related school avoidance occurs in children as young as 6 years.

School avoiders seem to be exposed to more stressful life events, but physical disorders such as asthma or obesity may also play a part.

In contrast to truancy, of which parents are usually unaware, children displaying school avoiding behaviour often stay at home. They often express fears and anxieties, especially in the morning, and complain of diffuse physical symptoms.

The authors assume that a proportion of 5 percent to 10 percent of children is regularly absent from schools in Germany. How many of these children have mental health problems is unknown.

In adolescents, school avoidance is clearly more common than in children, and some studies have shown that boys are affected twice as often as girls.

In school avoidance, the primary objective of treatment is to quickly re-establish regular school attendance.

Sick notes or prescriptions for residential care breaks are usually not advisable because the child's behaviour may deteriorate as a result.

Appropriate treatment options include cognitive behaviour therapies, in combination with antidepressants if required.

Exclusively child and adolescent psychiatric treatment, however, is usually not sufficient; those children who are affected need a support network consisting of school staff, youth services, and medical professionals.

The report has been published in the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. (ANI)

Kate Moss designs booze handbag!

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

Supermodel Kate Moss has designed a handbag that allows her to carry two alcoholic beverages at once.

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The supermodel created a line of bags for luxury label Longchamp, reports Contactmusic.

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Talking about an over-the-shoulder bag, Kate explained: "This one is great for Glastonbury - you can hold two drinks and put it over your shoulder, it's perfect!"

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The beauty, 36, also added extras with the accessory.

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She told vogue.com: "If I put anything on a bag, it would be a scarf. They wanted a keychain or something, but I'd always use a scarf so I wanted to add that." (ANI)

Fashion world mourns loss of "genius" designer Alexander McQueen

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0500

The fashion world is mourning the shock suicide of British designer Alexander McQueen, best known for producing some of the most controversial collections of the past two decades.

The iconic fashion designer hanged himself because he was overcome with grief following his mother Joyce's death 10 days ago, reports The Mirror.

The stars of the industry paid tribute to McQueen, 40, and hailed him as the brightest talent of his generation.

Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue, said: "McQueen influenced a whole generation of designers. His brilliant imagination knew no bounds."

Designer Jeff Banks said: "He was a strange combination of intellect and manufacturing capability."

Fellow British designer Katharine Hamnett said: "He was a genius. What a terrible, tragic waste."

The body of McQueen, whose real Christian name was Lee, was found yesterday at his flat in London's Mayfair. Joyce's funeral had been due to take place today.

For the past few days McQueen was posting a series of Twitter updates that showed how traumatised he was following his mum's death.

On February 3, he said: "My mother passed away yesterday if it she had not [had} me nor would you RIP mumx." A minute later he added: "But life must go on!"

On Sunday evening McQueen wrote: "Been a f****** awful week but my friends have been great but now i have to some how pull myself together."

A close friend said: "We are all in a state of total shock. Nobody can believe this has happened.

"He was obviously so close to his mum �and was devastated by her death. But nobody saw this coming. His private pain must have been unimaginable."

Devastated Kate Moss scrapped all her business engagements following the news of McQueen's death.

A source said: "Kate is obviously really upset."

Victoria Beckham led showbiz tributes, saying: "Today the fashion industry has lost a true great. An icon. He made all he touched beautiful and will be desperately missed."

Naomi Campbell, described by McQueen as his muse, said: "I am truly devastated to lose my close friend. His talent had no boundaries and he was an inspiration to everyone."

X Factor judge Cheryl Cole, who regularly wore his designs, said: �"Fashion has lost one of its most inspirational figures."

Actress Helena Bonham Carter declared: "It's absolutely tragic. What horrible news.

"It's just horrendous to think that someone was so devastated by his mother dying. He had such lovely vision, originality comes quite hard these days." (ANI)