Curves Ahead: Kate Winslet

That’s right, drink it all in…see those curves? That tummy pooch, those hips? They’re called curves and the majority of woman have them. We love Kate’s curves, well us and most British women. After all, Kate Winslet’s been voted to have the body that most gals across the pond want. And it’s no wonder. While Hollywood keeps trying to portray stick-thin twigs as the epitome of femininity, in reality, I don’t think it’s any woman’s dream to have the body of a 12 year old boy.

 

 

 

So stop it, Hollywood. Stop telling us that curves are nasty and then creating “sex symbols” out of woman who are made from plastic. Yes, every woman is made differently and more importantly in the image of God. So see the value in that and embrace it. We say, “Work it like Ms. Winslet!” Show your curves some love with garments that accentuate what you’ve got. Bandage dresses, ruching, asymmetrical draping, belted waistlines…they’re all great ways to dress up your temple.

A Day For The Total Woman

It’s that time of year again…time to join us for our total woman workshop. It’s a day for the total woman; spirit, soul and body. Speakers include:

Paulette Whitfield Black,   Editor-in-Chief of COVERINGS magazine

Minister Wilma Walker,  Presiding Pastor of The Clinic in St. Louis, MO

Gwendolyn Robinson, R.N. Practitioner and Founder of Alpha Health and Wellness

Danielle Frasier, Director of Women’s Ministry at The Clinic in St. Louis, MO

You are in for a power packed day as you listen to these women share their tips and advice on how to live a stylish, healthy and God-fearing life. You’ll be treated to a high tea fashion show provided by Macy’s and a skincare class hosted by Lancôme.

Register at www.theclinicfamily.com or 314.388.4100
The Clinic Worship & Deliverance Center
10192 News Hall Ferry Rd.
Flourissant, MO 63136

Editor’s View: Real Fashion

Fashion is full of fallacies, fantasies, facts and fables. Just when you think you have it all figured out the rules change and there you are on the outside, looking in again. Haven’t you ever wondered why this is? Trust me when I say it is all by design…Pun intended! Fashion is a fleeting thing, designed to be just beyond our reach…keeping us chasing it, grabbing at it, struggling to catch up, keep up (with the Jones’), and hold on to. It is indeed a fanciful endeavor. A Trend will take us on a roller coaster ride that strips us of every dime and shred of dignity if we are not careful. There is something about being in the know, and what identifies it better than being one of the “Chic Elite?”

As you turn the pages of COVERINGS, you will find that our goal is to assist you in creating your own, individual style. We want you to be comfortable in your own skin, and not desire to be in someone else’s. Admiring someone is one thing, but disliking ourselves because we do not look like them is another. After all, “It is He (God) who has made us, and not we ourselves.” He likes individual style. Why do you think no two women look exactly the same? It stands to reason that if we are styled uniquely on the outside, then our innate sense of style is just as unique. I guarantee, you have panache and COVERINGS is on a mission to help you find it.

I have always loved to wear pants; jeans and jackets with basic pumps and hoop earrings. And I won’t be caught without wild hair and lipstick! It’s my signature look. This goes beyond fashion. It is my basic style. Every woman has one. It’s easy to get in touch with yours. It is time for us to give our sisters space to become a butterfly. Create your signature style. We won’t let you down.

Dior Fires John Galliano

“The Show Must Go On!”
And so it did sans Dior’s famously eccentric and former head designer, John Galliano. Dior’s fall 2011 fashion show, scheduled for March 4th, was one of the hottest tickets in town as fans and critics flocked to see how the fashion house would fare fresh off the heels of the PR nightmare created by Galliano.

In February, a couple accused the designer of making racial slurs toward them at a Paris café called La Perle. A second complaint was later filed with Paris police alleging an anti-Semitic verbal attack.  Video phone footage of the once prominent designer has also surfaced. It captures a seemingly drunk John Galliano saying, “I love Hitler…People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers, would all be f—— gassed.”

Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman, the face of Miss Dior Cherie fragrance,  about the incident: “I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today,” said Portman. “In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way. I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.”

The firestorm caused by Galliano could very well cause the fall of one of fashion’s finest houses. Dior is already reporting layoffs as the backlash of Galliano’s comments continues. The fifty-year-old British designer John Galliano has acted as head designerof Christian Dior since October of 1996, but his reign has since ended. Galliano was fired after a brief suspension. President and CEO, Sidney Toledano, told Women’s Wear Daily, “We unequivocally condemn the statements made by John Galliano, which are in total contradiction to the longstanding core values of Christian Dior.”

Only time will tell what will become of Dior.

MAC Beauty Pick

Let’s take a look at Coverings favorite MAC Beauty collection.  It is called MAC Future Face Collection and it was created to make the complexion flawless. Have you ever donned your favorite cosmetics line and felt like a clown afterwards? Well, the beauty of this makeup is that it does not feel like you are “made up”. Among the collection is an array foundation, powder, and tinted moisturizer in shades that closely  master sheer perfection.  MAC’s Future Face makeup collection is for every woman striving to achieve a flawless looking complexion.

The Milkmaid Braid

It is the latest rave in Hollywood and it has been slowly growing fad or fashion statement. It is the Milkmaid braid.  And it’s back! From runway models to women on the streets, many women are daring this new look. Yet, it is not so new after all, because some say it originated in Spanish, Boho, or Scandinavia- at any rate it’s European. Beautiful women have been enhancing their style with the new braided hairstyle! I think it looks very soft and feminine for just about every occasion.  Make it neat or loose for a natural look. Local teens in my area have been making their own attempt at the look, too.  I have edited so steps to achieving your own Milkmaid Braid:

•  Comb the hair and split into two sections. Use a clip or ponytail holder to secure the top of the braid, if necessary.
• Make a braid into a section of hair and secure a clip to the hair to the opposite side while you’re braiding, so it will lie flat when it’s wrapped.
• Repeat this process on the each side of the head, making a second hair braid.
• Wrap each braid around the head, using a cross over pattern towards the back center part.
• Tuck the ends of the braids in underneath one another, to conceal elastic bands don’t show. Try to secure the braids with a bobby pin underneath the braid.

Furs, Faith Fasion: An Interview with Evangelist Shirley Wooten

With a 6.5 millon membership, the Church Of God In Christ gathered in St. Louis for the first time, for their 103rd COGIC Holy Convocation.  Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten and First Lady Shirley Wooten of Williams Temple COGIC, were one of three co-hosts at the helm. They have attracted international attention as innovative Christian Leaders for the 21st century. No matter what your denomination, Lady Wooten has a relevant and inspiring message for all Women of Faith.

Coverings: Let’s talk about your style first. Do you have a favorite designer?

Lady Wooten: I don’t really have a favorite designer. I do shop at Macy’s, and there are some boutique’s that I like. I usually look for a bargain when I shop. Even though I like nice clothes, I do not believe in paying $5,000 for a suit when I can look just as good in something of quality that costs much less.  I can use that money to take care of the needy. My favorite makeup brand is Fashion Fair.

Coverings: How have styles of dressing changed for women in the Church of God in Christ over time?

Lady Wooten: In the past women did not wear make-up, earrings or open-toed shoes. Skirts had to be worn down to their ankles.  Some of the older saints still practice that today. But most of us have changed. We do wear make-up, moderately; we wear open-toed shoes, now. There used to be no finger nail polish, in fact there is still no wearing of red or loud nail colors. We wear soft and neutral colors.  So we have changed a lot in terms of fashion and what is permitted.  There was a time when you were considered to be unsaved if you went against those rules, but now that has changed. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

Coverings: Have you found that there are more women coming into the denomination now that those changes have occurred? Lady Wooten:  Yes, yes I believe so. At one point, many women felt that the rules were so strict they said, “If I have to give up everything, then I don’t want to be saved.”

Coverings: Is there anything else you would like to say about that?

Lady Wooten: Only that women now are given more liberality as far as ministry is concerned. There was a time when women didn’t really minister. We now have them conducting revivals, when they once were not even allowed in the pulpit. Now that’s changed. There have been a lot of doors opened in terms of ministry in COGIC also.

Coverings: That’s wonderful. When did that happen, ten or twenty years ago?

Lady Wooten: Things are still changing and getting better day by day. In many of the national meetings we have women who minister. For instance, I was blessed with the opportunity to minister as one of the keynote speakers at the COGIC Women’s International Convention. It was held in May 2010 in Los Angeles, California and was attended by an audience of about 25,000 people.

Coverings: Was that the video I saw on YouTube?

Lady Wooten: Yes. And there are also women who are Pastors. They can’t be ordained, but they can be Pastors now.

Coverings: I love it. That is really exciting!

Lady Wooten: Yes.

Coverings: Now, I must ask because women want to know. There are a lot of women Pastors, and women in ministry, who have had some type of cosmetic surgery done. I know that Joyce Meyer was one of the first ones who had something done a few years back. Coverings tried, but could not obtain an interview.

Lady Wooten: Oh really? What was it facial surgery?

Coverings: Yes, she was one of the first ones to have her eyes done. I think it was about ten years back.

Lady Wooten: Oh I didn’t know that.

Coverings: Well, she is talking about it now.  I could tell back then because this is my business, and my eye is very keen. Anything that has to do with beauty and fashion is my business. I am trained that way. The truth is that women frequently consider having cosmetic procedures done, but do not want to offend God. They look to leaders like yourself, to know not only if it is ok to have it done, but also the way in which it can be done.  So, can you tell us a little bit about your views on cosmetic surgery for women? You can talk in general or specifically about women inside the body of Christ.

Lady Wooten: Well, I would not have cosmetic surgery done just because I wanted to change my nose, features or something of that nature. But I have had two knee replacements done. I was born with Ricketts; soft bones and bones that did not develop properly. I was very bow-legged.  About five years ago, the cartilage in both knees completely wore out and the joints were bone-on-bone. My doctor recommended that I have the knee replacements, or in a few years I eventually would not even be able to walk. Therefore, within three months I had both knees replaced in 2009, and made a miraculous recovery.

Coverings: Yes, you sure did. You don’t walk like you had it done. You don’t even look like you ever had knee surgery.

Lady Wooten: And I am not even bow-legged anymore. You know, most people who have [this type surgery] done, have to walk with a cane or a walker, or they are limping. But you saw me in those 4-inch heels yesterday…

Coverings: Yes, I did. I would have never guessed you had that type of surgery done.

Lady Wooten: I made a miraculous recovery from that. But for someone to have surgery just for cosmetic reasons…I wouldn’t recommend it, because of the possible complications,  such as blood clots. They let me fall at the hospital right after the second surgery.

Coverings: What?

Lady Wooten: Yes, with the first surgery my recovery was so rapid, I left the hospital walking without a cane or a walker. With the surgery I had three months later, they let me fall on the very knee where I had just had the surgery. They rushed me to x-ray thinking the knee had totally come apart. Miraculously, everything was fine and I was discharged two days later.  My leg was severely swollen from my hip all the way down to my toes. I was sent home and started therapy. I looked at how large my leg was swollen and thought, “that fall must have really made it bad.”

Later that night, I had a dream that I had died: there were a lot of saints standing around wearing white robes and the voice of the Lord said, “Everyone wearing white robes are going to die but you have a chance to testify before you die.” And in the dream, I was the first one to testify; wearing a white robe. I said, “I thank the Lord for my life and how He blessed me down through the years”…then all of a sudden, I just went on up to heaven. Then I woke up and told my husband, “I dreamed that I died last night.” And he said, “We rebuke that in the name of Jesus.”

In the meantime, this leg was still looking funny, but I said “you can’t die from a knee surgery.”  I called my doctor and was told to go to the emergency room. I thought, well it doesn’t look that bad. But then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Remember that dream you had? Go immediately to the emergency room.” So I went to the ER, and told them what had happened.  They took x-rays and did not find any fractures. One of the nurses came in and said  maybe I had a blood clot. She said they would do a blood test to check for blood clots, but could not use the Doppler machine because it would not be available until much later that evening. After the blood test, the doctor said everything looked good; almost 100% certain that there was not a clot and I could go home and didn’t have to wait for the Doppler machine. Then the Lord reminded me that the doctor said, “almost 100%; remember the dream; don’t go home; wait for the machine tonight at 9:30.”

It was only 4pm then, but I told the doctor I would just stay there and wait for the machine. He said, “But you can go home, you don’t have a clot.” I told him, “well, you said almost 100% and I want to wait for the machine.” He said, “Ok, it’s your choice.” I stayed there until they ran the Doppler studies at 9:30pm. They found a big  blood clot. They immediately put me in an ambulance and rushed me to Christian Northeast Hospital.  They told me, “don’t move, don’t cough, don’t go to the bathroom. This clot is about to break off any minute and could go to your brain, your heart or your lungs and you will be dead.”  The doctor asked, “What made you come?” I said, “Now you’re not going to understand this, but I had a dream that I died and that’s why I came.” He said, “Listen, let me tell you something, if you had not come, your husband would have found you dead in the bed.”

To read the rest of our interview with the powerful Lady Shirley Wooten contact us for the latest issue of Coverings!

A Tartan Tale Holiday Colour Collection

Here is a new collection called A Tartan Tale Holiday Colour Collectionto celebrate the holiday.  Donned in rich, vibrant, punk, ancestral, shades of the scottish culture. New true bold colors and patterns that scream enchantment and fantasies to transform a new you!

MAC Holiday ’10 colour collection will dress you into playful tartan pattern finish with a storybook array of Eye Shadows …

Use an eye pencil that speaks rich, luxurious colour for an added a touch, the pigment is a highly concentrated loose color powder containing ingredients to maintain its staying power. It does not streak or cake giving a subtle hue that is easy to blend and long-lasting. Please take note that the containers can appear to be less than full due to settling of the product.

The eye pencil promotes a rich, luxurious color with a touch of shimmer that is soft, smooth, and creamy formula as it glides on for a perfectly intense line. It is so soft that, yet its soft texture allows you to blend. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof.

Going for dark drama? Get the Zoom Lash, but with carbon black pigment. It saturates lashes with the richest black ever that glides on so creamy and velvety, the  formula builds density while it conditions. 

Put texture along with color on your lips that stands out in a crowd! MAC’s favourite Dazzleglass is creamier and smoother, but no less shiny or dazzling effect.

Find vibrant colors for the  cheeks and face with a variety of formulas. 

Go visibly different with this revolutionary new high gloss formula. Three long-lasting finishes in Cream, Sheer, and Frosted.

Coverings’ Favorite Things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things…

Ok, well maybe not exactly those things. We’re more into shoes that fuse fashion and function, stress induced breakout stoppers, and figure flattering wardrobe pieces; those are a few of our favorite things! We dug through our closets and makeup bags to give you the gift of must-have essentials to keep yourself beautiful and stylish from this year and into the next. With a little something for everyone, the Coverings Crew wishes you style and grace.

Born Shoes

We love the handcrafted comfortableness that is Born Shoes.  I purchased my first pair of Born biker boots for a little over $100 several years ago. I get complements every time I wear them, which is almost daily in the fall and winter seasons. I could walk a mile in those shoes…actually, I literally have. At a price point that truly makes them worth the investment, these shoes buck the cliche that you have to suffer for fashion!.

ASOS.com
We have been drooling over this British website for years, now…but 2010 is the year that ASOS finally came across the pond. That means faboosh fashion for every man, woman, and child minus the international shipping rates!

Leggings
These form fitting bottoms work for almost every body! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Wrinkle free, slimming, and offered in an array of textures and patterns, it’s no wonder the leggings trend has gained juggernaut status.  I’m personally one pair of leggings away from joining a support group.

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Treatment
Stress is an inevitable part of the human condition, which is bad enough, but add a face full of pimples and your likely to start screaming ,”Why, God? Why? I’m too old to have breakouts!” Well, first of all, take a few deep breaths…then,take the paper bag off your head. With just a pea size amount of this miracle treatment from Neutrogena, you can fight back against stress induced acne before it gets the best of you.

Bobbi Brown Eye Repair Cream
Our very own CEO totes this stuff in her makeup bag, and she has the rest of the Coverings Crew totally hooked! A few pats of Bobbi Brown’s Eye Repair Cream around your eyes and your “stayed up all night to put a magazine to bed” eyes will look well rested and refreshed.

Gel Nail Polish
We had our first gel manicure this year and we absolutely LOVED it! Not only did my nails grow ridiculously long, my mani didn’t crack or chip for 2 weeks. Sure the new gel manicure costs a little extra, but believe me it’s totally worth it. My nail salon actually reassured me that if for any reason my mani didn’t last I could come back and they would fix it for free. While it does take about an hour to apply this revolutionary new technique, you leave the salon with nails that are completely dry and unbreakable. To read more about gel nails, check out this article from Stylist.com.

bareMinerals Refillable Buffing Brush
I love Bare Minerals because it gives me flawless looking skin with lightweight coverage. Now, I love it even more since getting my hands on their refillable buffing brush. With a twist out center compartment you fill with Bare minerals powder, you can easily retouch your face without spilling makeup all over yourself! Just twist open the brush, shake until the powder makes it’s way onto the bristle tips, and apply. Easy, easy, easy.

Gold Beauty Bronzer

No matter the age of a woman, we have to find the right holiday dress.  Well, a sheer bronze called Clarins’New Barocco Shimmering Gold Powder has arrived to finish any fashionista’s look for an evening.  This bronzer brings an ultimate sparkle and sure-fire spotlight effect to the already fantastic lady who owns a room when she walks into it.

I really wanted to grow up and dazzle people with my inward beauty that lit every place I entered,  just like my mother.  She never had a problem being treated like the wonderful woman that she was and always will be to this day. People that my sisters and I happen to meet in our hometown all say “…she was always a real lady”.

Clarins’ new Barocco Shimmering Gold Powder will enhance the beauty that is already in you!  The powder is super-fine with a subtle glimmer affect that accents the face shoulder and legs.  Try it for yourself, the sparkle is sure to require little jewelry. Clarins Barocoo Shimmering Gold Powder for Face and Decollete is available at select department stores near you for only $55.

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