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  • See Ya, Bikinis! One-piece Swimsuits Poised for a Takeover

    Dieting and exercising are perhaps the most popular New Years Resolutions, but don't worry if you've indulged on a few too many holiday treats this year. Swimsuits are already trickling onto retail shelves and the spotlight is on one-piece swimwear, not bikinis. Yes, that extra inch to pinch around your tummy can potentially remain hidden all year.


    Every stylish celebrity from the curvier gals like Beyonce, Christina Hendricks, and Kim Kardashian, to the skinny-minnies like Taylor Swift, Kate Moss, and Kirsten Dunst are rocking one-piece bathing suits, or "maillots." As a result, the rest of us are heading directly to department stores, boutiques, and affordable mass-market shops to scoop up similar styles. The New York Post found that one-piece swimsuit sales are up around 20 percent in local New York shops. We consulted industry experts to find out why.



    [Victoria's Secret has many new one-pieces available, including this halter with side ruching] Victoria's Secret has many new one-pieces available, including this halter with side ruchingKatherine Power, celebrity style expert and co-founder of the fashion website Who What Wear feels strongly that celebrities are leading the trend. "Over the summer, Beyonce was spotted in a classic one-piece with a small attached skirt, which is great for those who prefer more coverage," Power tells Yahoo! Shine. "If you are looking for a more alluring way to wear the one-piece, take notes from Rihanna who wore one in December with side cut-outs and a deep v-neck."

    Colleen Sherin, the senior fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue, agrees that celebrities are making younger, trendier girls take interest. "As you see celebrities and fashion icons embracing one-pieces certainly that has an influence on a younger demographic," Sherin tells Yahoo! Shine. That said, Sherin feels these bathing suits are appropriate for all body types and ages, "from kids to women in their '80s." Power concurs, adding that "just like any other accessory or piece of clothing, swimsuits are a way for women to express their personal style. One-pieces are versatile, flattering, and can sometimes be sexier than showing more skin in a bikini." A flattering style for one and all? That's what we like to hear.

    Sherin says fresh silhouettes and designs are also responsible for the market shift. "Designers are getting more innovative in one-piece design." says Sherin. "It doesn't have to be super sporty and active and covered up. Some one-pieces offer a more plunging neckline or halter neckline that can still be sexy." Skin-revealing cutouts, which have been a trendy fashion element in recent seasons, also translate well to swimsuits. Cutout details at the waist and back are a happy medium between bikinis and full coverage swimwear.

    [Taylor Swift went the retro route in playful polka dots] Taylor Swift went the retro route in playful polka dotsBoth experts feel the design's renewed popularity may be a progression from the retro, fuller-coverage swimwear that's been a hit in recent seasons. Fashion trends evolve over time, and right now the popularity of the one-piece swimsuit has "a vintage, 1950s-pinup appeal that makes woman feel sexy and modern," says Power. Sherin agrees that "the one-piece is taking that popular pin-up girl style one step further. It's a very chic modern look." The aesthetic of a one-piece is also right on trend. "We're experiencing a little bit of a return to minimalism," says Sherin. "Not across the board, but the eye is changing a bit and we're seeing more clean, streamlined, pared-down designs."

    Sherin says bikinis are still selling at Saks Fifth Avenue, but as one-pieces are embraced by fashion editorial, the store has updated its Spring Preview catalog, which mailed in early December. Usually, bikinis dominate, but "There are five bikinis and four one-pieces," says Sherin. "We have this amazing strapless bandeau one-piece in red, so it's this great color, and the bandeau is one of our most popular silhouettes. From Pucci we show both a sexy string bikini and a plunging one-piece. Everyone wants to have the option." She adds that "Michael Kors does a beautiful one-piece swimsuit, Calvin Klein, and Eres. We're seeing them on the runways as well; designers are showing them within the Spring/Summer collections." Power says you don't have to shell out for designer swimsuits. "Stores like T.J.Maxx and Marshalls carry great swimsuits for amazing prices. I'm a big fan of the bandeau one-piece, and bright colors are especially flattering when you have a tan."

    Lea Michele Bikini 'Glee' Star And Cory Monteith Hit The Beach In Hawaii

    Lea Michele and Cory Monteith kicked off the new year the right way -- by basking in the Hawaiian sun.

    The "Glee" co-stars were spotted on New Year's Day enjoying a day at the beach, while the 25-year-old actress made a splash in a tiny red-orange bikini.

    "In paradise and I've never been happier:) Time now to rest, relax, and enjoy some fun in the sun! Xo," she tweeted on Dec. 28.

    The couple have been dating since February 2012, but have been more open about their relationship only in recent months. And while the majority of us are back to work, the couple are still very much enjoying their beachside vacation.

    "Having the most amazing vaca:) Feeling so rested and relax and happy! Also rockin' some sweet tan lines right now.. lol," Michele tweeted on Jan. 3.

    Chip Kelly, Michael Lombardi to unite with Browns?

    NFL Network analyst Michael Lombardi is a known Chip Kelly fan. The University of Oregon coach is one of the most sought after NFL coaching candidates, but some wonder if his version of the spread-option will work in the NFL?

    Lombardi has no doubts.

    "He's a very smart coach. He's a very analytical coach," Lombardi said Saturday on NFL Network's "First on the Field." "He's going to take the success that he has, he studies the pro game, and he's going to apply it to the pro game. His ideas in terms of what he does at Oregon, will always come into the NFL, but they won't necessarily be the offense.

    "Anybody who says Chip Kelly's offense won't work in the NFL they really don't know Chip Kelly as a person. Chip Kelly's very smart, he's very analytical, and he'll adapt to the pro game and his talents as a leader will take over as a head coach. ... I like people that think outside the box. I like people that think differently."

    The Cleveland Browns reportedly are close to hiring Kelly. The Browns need a general manager, also, and could have interest in Lombardi.

    "I have not have conversations with the Cleveland Browns whatsoever," Lombardi said. "It's still a wait-and-see."

    The general manager won't be hired until a decision is made on the coach. Lombardi, obviously, would be interested in working with Kelly and has history with the organization. These dominoes could start to fall soon.

    Jay-Z & 'The Great Gatsby': Rapper Tapped To Score Upcoming Film Adaptation


    Jay Gatsby, meet Jay-Z.

    Hov is reportedly the latest star to attach his name to the upcoming film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby." According to Jeymes Samuel of The Bullitts, he and Jay-Z will be writing the score for "Gatsby."

    The first clue of Jay-Z's involvement with "The Great Gatsby" was shown in the film's trailer. The opulent lifestyle of Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) was set to the pumping beat of Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church In The Wild" -- take a look in the video above.

    Cast members also leaked in April that director Baz Luhrmann played Jay-Z music on the set of "The Great Gatsby." "On my first day he had Jay-Z pumped up full, and we did the entire scene with, you know, Jay-Z in our ear on full blast while acting, and it was just so liberating," Isla Fischer told MTV.

    Samuel announced the news on his Twitter account.
    "The Great Gatsby," which stars DiCaprio, Fisher, Carey Mulligan, and Tobey Maguire, hits theaters May 10, 2013.

    The Song Kanye Wrote About Being A Dad


    News that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are expecting their first child threatened to break the internet late Sunday and early Monday morning, throwing those who are easily distracted off the scent of America's impending fiscal doom and inspiring everyone with a smartphone to slap together some pithy joke for their Twitter followers and Facebook fans.

    But as the dust settled and jokes about why Blue Ivy will be better than the gestating fetus inside Kim Kardashian lost their luster, one started to wonder what it would be like to be raised by Kanye West. A casual examination of West's music reveals a 35-year-old given to thinking about fatherhood, a subject that pops up with some regularity across his cannon.

    His most direct treatment of the song comes, perhaps unsurprisingly, on a duet with Jay-Z. "New Day," off last year's "Watch the Throne," features the two rappers musing about the lessons they'd like to teach their children. Here's 'Ye's verse:

    And I’ll never let my son have an ego
    He’ll be nice to everyone, wherever we go
    I mean, I might even make 'em be Republican
    So everybody know he love white people
    And I’ll never let 'em leave his college girlfriend
    And get caught up with the groupies in the whirlwind
    And I’ll never let 'em ever hit the telethon
    I mean even if people dyin’ and the world ends
    See, I just want him to have an easy life, not like Yeezy life
    Just want him to be someone people like
    Don’t want ‘im to be hated, all the time judged
    Don’t be like your daddy that would never budge
    And I’ll never let ‘im ever hit a strip club
    I learned the hard way, that ain’t the place to get love
    And I’ll never let his mom move to L.A.
    Knowin' she couldn’t take the pressure, now we all pray
    The song is a fine example of West's relentless commitment to honesty. The last couplet refers to West's late mother, Donda West, who died from complications from plastic surgery (West founded DONDA, an interdisciplinary design firm, in her honor). There's a self-awareness ("I'll never let my son have an ego ... [like mine]") and the understanding that most people (especially those who populate the comments sections of the internet) will remember him most for his brashest moments ("hit the telethon"). There's even a bit of self-disgust -- it's hard to imagine Rick Ross or any other big name rapper admitting he wasted time in seedy places (though, then again, that's sort of what every Drake song is about).

    So in "New Day," the message is a simple one that's familiar to any parent: I want my child to be better than I am.

    Sexiest PETA Ads Of 2012 The Hottest Stars Who Supported Animal Rights This Year


    This year, a slew of hot stars posed (and stripped) for PETA in the name of animal rights.

    Elisabetta Canalis, Evelyn Lozada, Olivia Munn, Wendy Williams and others dared to bare it all for PETA's "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" campaign.

    SCROLL FOR PHOTOS (WARNING: SOME IMAGES ARE NSFW)

    "I decided to go nude because I think that nudity always creates a big reaction," Canalis, Italian superstar and ex-girlfriend of actor George Clooney, explained to PETA. "That is what is required to keep people's attention on such a brutal practice... These poor animals are electrocuted, skinned alive, drowned, and bludgeoned just for the sake of fashion."

    Talk show queen Wendy Williams stripped naked in support of her anti-fur stance. "PETA has proven that there is a sexy way to suggest to people to rethink the fur," she told PETA. "And I like it and I'm down." Adding, "We should all try to be comfortable in our own skin and let animals keep theirs."

    Model and actress Olivia Munn's naked PETA ad was so sexy that it had to be censored in California. Only a partial nude photo of Munn appeared on Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    "Basketball Wives" star and former fur-wearer Evelyn Lozada hopes her PETA ad makes a difference. "Hopefully, if I could change someone's mind by not wearing fur, then I've saved an animal," she said.

    Check out some of the hottest robed and disrobed stars who posed for PETA in 2012.

    I Wish you Very Happy New YEAR 2013

    ALL BLOGGER'S I WISH YOU VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

    6 Unspoken Marriage Rules You Must Follow

    Every married person knows to be faithful, stay truthful and be there for her partner through good times and bad--they're in the wedding vows, after all. But most seasoned couples would admit that some unspoken rules are vital for getting past rough patches and growing stronger as a couple. Here, experts share 10 of the less apparent (but just as important) marriage rules to live by. Photo by Getty Images.

    1. Don't criticize your partner's parents or friends. You know how it is-your family can tick you off but no one else had dare speak ill of them. That's why you should tread carefully with your in-laws and your husband's dearest friends. "Even when he's venting to you, your contributions can put him on the defensive," explains LeslieBeth Wish, EdD, a Florida-based psychologist and licensed clinical social worker. "When you take position A, you prompt your partner to take position B." Instead, says Dr. Wish, put yourself in his position so that you can empathize with him.

    2. Tell your spouse about any ex encounters. Whether you get a Facebook friend request or run into an old flame at your kid's soccer game, keeping the news to yourself could backfire, despite having zero feelings for the ex. "If there's nothing to hide, why hide it?" says Deb Castaldo, PhD, a couples and family therapist and professor at Rutgers University School of Social Work in New Brunswick, NJ. "That leads to an air of secrecy and dishonesty," she says. Just clue in your hubby matter-of-factly: Try, "I knew it was only a matter of time before old boyfriends came out of the woodwork on Facebook. I got a friend request from one and ignored it." Or, "I saw my ex in the mall today. His kids are cute. Glad to see his life turned out nicely."

    3. Keep unsolicited advice to yourself. Offer your support, lend your ear, but avoid speaking in an "I know what's best" tone. "We give advice because we're trying to be helpful, but it's seen as criticism when we offer too many corrections," says Harriet Lerner, PhD, clinical psychologist and author of Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married and the Coupled Up. This goes for everything from your husband's outfit choices to how he deals with a work issue. Give your spouse space to make decisions and gain confidence through trial and error-and ask that he do the same for you, says Dr. Lerner. "What matters in a relationship is not that things get done 'right,' but that two people are dedicated to contributing to each other's happiness."

    Related: Discover the 10 things men wish women knew about sex.


    4. Don't take charge all the time. Whether you fold all the laundry because you don't like how your husband does it or you manage the finances because you don't think he's as careful, you may feel more at ease doing all the work. But stop! "The spouse who does the rescuing can become tired of that role," says Dr. Wish--and resentful that everything is on her shoulders, even if she volunteered for that burden. Get in the habit of asking your partner, "What do you think works best here?" or telling him, "I could use a hand cleaning out the pantry." These requests will foster the idea that you're teammates.

    5. Don't bring up past arguments. Or at least put a statute of limitations on them. "People repeat ancient disagreements because they haven't resolved the problem," says Dr. Castaldo. Letting things fester often causes marriages to break down, she says. It's important to address issues as they happen and come to some sort of resolution--agreeing to disagree counts. "Leave it there, and respect each other's opinion," she says.

    6. Choose your battles, but don't stifle your feelings. "There's going to be toothpaste globs here and Post-it notes there; that's human nature," says Dr. Wish. "You have to be able to say, 'this isn't important.'" Or if it is, speak up. "Tell your partner why it bothers you and that you'd like to work on a solution," suggests Dr. Wish. You'd be surprised what you could learn about each other. For instance, your husband may not leave dirty dishes in the sink anymore if you explain that your childhood home was piled high with plates and you were stuck washing them. It's also important to understand that he's not plotting to upset you every time he's sloppy or forgetful. A simple request like: "Honey, it'd be great if you could pick up the dry cleaning while you're out" beats getting mad that he didn't offer to help with errands.

    Movies Of Books 11 Films That Are Better Than The Texts They Are Based On

    After months of anticipation, Ang Lee's film adaptation of "Life of Pi" opened this November. The critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Yann Martel left Lee with big shoes to fill -- many questioned whether the dreamy adventure novel could be properly adapted for film. Lucky for Lee, "Life of Pi" was released to both positive critical reception and strong box office numbers.

    Next May, after multiple delays, Leonardo DiCaprio will star in Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby." The film, which has already benefitted from some stunning trailers, hits theaters May 10, 2013.

    Adaptations of books have long been a box office staple. Some, such as 1939's "Gone with the Wind," live up to the celebrated original, while others, such as 1995's "The Scarlet Letter," fail to do the books justice.

    On the rare occasion however, the movie manages to outshine the book. Click through below to vote on your favorites and let us know your top film adaptations in the comments.

    15-year-old Living Doll is YouTube's Controversial New Star

    At 15, Venus Palermo has grown into her doll obsession rather than out of it. Under the screen name Venus Angelic, the London based teenager posts beauty tutorials on YouTube for fans who want to look like her. But that's not why she's the latest viral video star. It's because she looks like a living doll.

    According to Palermo, you too could be a ball-jointed doll (or BJD as she calls it) with the right over-sized pupil contacts, plastic-sheen-effect powder and pure white eye shadow. Based on her 5 million viewers and the legions of lookalike fans on her Facebook page, people are taking her advice.

    The modern ball-jointed doll is widely popular in Japan, a country both she and her mother are obsessed with. "Mommy cooks Japanese, thinks Japanese, goes to Japan with me," writes Palermo on her blog. "Because we like it. Liking something, is soooooo GREAT!" Palermo is actually Austrian, Swiss and Hungarian but she's been studying Japanese along with several other languages. Her multilingual background is how she explains her accent, which sounds close to the Midwestern Harajuku-obsessed college kids satirized on Saturday Night Live.

    Palermo's obsession, however, isn't taken as lightly. Her videos have been labeled "bizarre" and "disturbing" in the media. Her uncanny appearance is sounding off alarm bells for concerned critics. Modern Asian ball joint dolls have become increasingly more life-like, with a line of human-sized, physically mature dolls recently released for the kind of consumer you don't want anywhere near your teenager.

    The perverse comments on the 15-year-old's videos is proof she's attracting some unsavory fans. So is the occasional grown man dappling the list of Palermo's Facebook fans. But the teenager's mom doesn't appear to be intervening in her daughter's risky hobby. Mom serves as host of Q&A chats between teenager and fans. In one video posted last year, she sat by while the teenager had an uncomfortable conversation with a 24-year-old male caller who professed his love and then proceeded to belittle her.

    In text under that video, posted to VenusAngelic's channel, Palermo refers to her fans as "lovers." The title of the video is "Insane Guy in Love."

    "The case of Venus Angelic is uncomfortably exploitative, as there is clearly a sexual undertone to what she is doing," says Hilary Levey Friedman, PhD, a Harvard sociologist who has written extensively about child exploitation in media.

    "In general, young girls on YouTube is a disturbing, growing trend," she says noting the recent trend of pre-teen girls asking viewers if they're pretty.

    In many cases, parents are unaware of their child's webcam usage, until their uploads go viral. But in other instances, the parents are facilitators.

    "Remember, Justin Bieber got his start on YouTube with the help of his mother," says Levey Friedman.

    Levey Friedman wonders whether Palermo's mom has similar aspirations for her daughter. The YouTube stage parent is relatively new concept. Most kids have risen to viral fame for just being kids, and if a parent profits off of that they're immediately criticized. The rare performing prodigy, like Bieber, is an exception. But Palermo doesn't fall into either category. She may be bringing a Japanese trend to Western teenagers, but she's also attracting a largely unwanted fan-base.

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