THE BROWSER
Spring cleaning — the feng shui way
There’s a home cleanse that all the Windex and Lysol in the world can’t deliver — a balance of energy and promotion for good health and fortune that a 4,000-year-old Chinese tradition claims to accomplish. Sound more appealing than sweeping away that trail of crumbs going from the couch to the kitchen? Thought it might.
World of Feng Shui in Las Vegas has been open for about 12 years. Peter Lung, owner and feng shui consultant, is familiar with client requests for spring-cleaning tips and has a few pointers to add to your typical spring clean regime.
“Your house needs to be de-cluttered,” Lung says. “If you have a lot of things, how can the good chi (energy) get inside your home? And if you don’t open a window or door, how can the bad chi leave?” Tidy up the house and crack a window — what else?
Feng shui uses color and natural elements to promote a specific energy in every sector of the home. World of Feng Shui sells a wide variety of products to stimulate these energies. For example, the Three Emperor Kings statue represents guidance, health, wealth and luck. The Horse on Sparrow brings wealth exclusively when placed in the south side of a home, the Flower Hon Fish when placed in the southeast side.
Although Feng Shui is believed to improve your life, it is not going to drastically change it. “Feng Shui cannot be 100 percent because your life is based on destiny,” Lung says. “For example, I will never be a billionaire because my life chart (destiny) is not set to be a billionaire, but I will be better for the level I’m on. By using feng shui, we get rid of some of the obstacles on our path.”
If feng shui’s crystals, colors and mirrors are too complex, World of Feng Shui offers home and business consultations. Daring do-it-yourselfers can learn the art and science behind the design form with the help of World of Feng Shui’s how-to books. (World of Feng Shui, 4011 Spring Mountain Road. 386-1888) — Marina Rankow
Over the rainbow
If it weren’t for runways flooding with spring’s bold styles, begging us to bravely go where only Rainbow Bright has gone before, many would skip over this season’s biggest trends on their next trip to the mall. But for those daring enough to venture into the new, designers did not disappoint this spring, including looks that embrace everything from bead-trimmed and floor-length to thigh-high and flashy.
Block colors and strong prints are arguably the biggest “it thing” right now — think disco circa 2012. The mannequins at DKNY inside Forum Shops (650-9670) practically grab shoppers’ hands and boogie down. At DKNY, floral is made funky in a playful two-piece suit; sharp angles give an otherwise dainty dress a little more edge. On the same wave, Escada at Forum Shops (791-2300) highlights this look, but in a more conservative way. At Escada, the color on each piece takes center stage, while the cut stands back and simply complements its powerful counterpart.
Femininity is also in this season, and designers have showcased the most delicate material to prove it: lace — and lots of it. Valentino at Forum Shops (737-7603) makes the details in each piece shine (pictured left), and the most stunning dresses can be worn for a night on the town or a black-tie affair. At BCBGMAXAZRIA in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile shops (735-2947), lace adorns whimsical dresses and button-up blouses. They can be worn any day, but, as lace does, will make hearts swoon every day. — M.R.
TREND ALERT
Last call for the jean jive
April showers might bring May flowers, but the warm month doesn’t deliver much flexibility to wear the thick denim jeans hanging inside Las Vegas closets. Thin is in, and retailers are now shelving baby blues, dressy darks and pretty pastels.
Skinny jeans (and the get-in-the-pants dance that comes with them) are out and a more comfortable slim fit is in. Lucky Brand’s Sienna and Charlie straight leg styles are available in a variety of colors and rises. Choose the top that pairs with your new straight-leg jeans after tossing those suffocating skinnies. For ladies who want to brighten up their bottoms, 7 For All Mankind sells denim in pastel colors pink, blue and yellow. These cropped pants fit tight and the soft hues scream springtime.
(Lucky Brand has stores in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Fashion Show Mall and Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. 7 For All Mankind has stores at the Forum Shops and The Shops at The Palazzo.) — M.R.