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A Fashionable & Worthwhile Shopping Experience: 5Cee Clothing

Mar 13th, 2010 by SouthernFemme

By: Savannah Pica (Southern Femme intern)

While interning in New York last summer I met an incredible and inspiring person, John Dingee.   John traveled abroad to Ghana in the fall of 2008 to study art and culture.  But what impacted him more than his program was the warm and friendly people in the village of Ampento.  For 3 weeks the people of Ampento treated him like family, striving to meet his every need…let’s be honest a completely selfless act for people that are lacking so much.  When he asked them how he could repay them for their tremendous hospitality they said the thing they longed for most was simply a school, something we Americans definitely take for granted.

John is on a quest to fulfill their need for a school and to do see he started a website called 5Cee Clothing.  The website collects and sells donated clothes and other items and even includes free shipping!  All proceeds go directly to the The Rural Ashanti Development Fund to raise the goal amount of $20,000 by April 1, 2010.  In a short amount of time, 5Cee has already raised over $4,000!

But more money needs to be raised, thus more clothes need to be sold… so go through your closet and I’m sure you can find a piece or two that you can part with and donate to such a worthy cause.  OR purchase something fabulous from  5Cee, either way you’ll be a part of helping the children of Ampento have the school they so rightly deserve.  By this summer John plans to fulfill his promise and travel back to Ghana and build the school for the African village.

Now admire some of the clothes from 5Cee at the 2009 Beauty Beyond Borders Fashion Show…

Posted in 'Green' Fashion Finds, Friend Spotlight, Shopping | No Comments »

A ‘Low Heel’ Blog Sale

Mar 10th, 2010 by SouthernFemme

Browsing through this month’s big juicy, spring fashion filled, absolutely glorious VOGUE I was shocked I have to say to see an entire article discussing the reemergence of low heeled shoes!  Up until now it has been ALL about the towering platform, the true statement heel…and while this type of ‘it’ high heel is not going away any time soon it is refreshing to see a small change, in heel size that is.

When my friend Bettina came to me with her vintage low heeled shoe collection it could not have been more perfect timing!  Now it is y’all’s turn to step up to the plate & indulge in this spring season’s hottest & most comfortable trend!  Buy away!

1. Colorful Splattered J. Renee Couture Collection Kitten Heel Pumps, size 7

$20 or Best Offer

To BUY NOW email Bettina: bettinabyrdgiles@gmail.com

2. Red Satin Wild Rose Kitten Heel Pumps with Crystal Buckle, size 7

$15 or Best Offer

To BUY NOW email Bettina: bettinabyrdgiles@gmail.com

3. Black Axiom Pump with Dainty Satin & Crystal Trimmed Bow, size 7 1/2

$20 or Best Offer

To BUY NOW email Bettina: bettinabyrdgiles@gmail.com

4. Red Satin Stuart Weitzman Kitten Heel Pumps with Crystal Detailed Strap, size 7

$85 or Best Offer (originially $300, only worn once & come on they’re vintage Stuart Weitzman!!)

To BUY NOW email Bettina: bettinabyrdgiles@gmail.com

5. AND now for a fun addition…an Express Blue & Silver Sequin Halter, size small

$10 or Best Offer (Originally worn to a Prince concert, come on you know you need it for a night out!)

To BUY NOW email Bettina: bettinabyrdgiles@gmail.com

Posted in Friend Spotlight, Shopping | 1 Comment »

The Best & Worst Dressed of the 2010 Academy Awards

Mar 8th, 2010 by SouthernFemme

THE OSCARS….the true fashion test for celebrities & stylists alike.  They’ve had the Golden Globes, the Grammy’s & even the SAG Awards to perfect their look, see what the latest red carpet fashions are & hopefully learn from the worst dressed lists!  And I think the celebs did quite well for the 2010 Academy Awards…I was pleasantly surprised to see improvements from the last award shows (aka Tina Fey, though she didn’t make my Best Dressed list she greatly improved from the disastrous Zac Posen at the Golden Globes).

Relish in the main trends of the season…feminine details like ruffles, lace & embellishments, bold statements like a pop of color & origami, delicate shades of neutral and the most popular style appeared to be the strapless gown, everyone from Miley Cyrus to Cameron Diaz was sporting this look!

BEST DRESSED OF THE 2010 ACADEMY AWARDS:

My absolute favorite: Carey Mulligan in Prada.  I am dyyyyyyiiiing to see An Education, not only does her style look divine in the Oscar nominated film but also her Prada Oscar dress is impeccable.  From the oversize chandelier earrings to the sweetheart neckline to the gorgeous satin platform heels, Carey is picture perfect old Hollywood sophistication while still being on trend.


Penelope Cruz embodies womanly sensuality from the way she dresses to hug every fabulous curve to the characters she plays in films such as Nine (which is amazing by the way!).  I love her choice of red amidst a sea of neutrals; the color really reflects her siren of a character in the beautiful Oscar nominated film Nine.  Also, the origami folds are important this spring season.



Absolutely stunning.  Vera Farmiga took my breath away in this luxuriously engulfing dress in a vibrant shade of magenta.  The layered ruffles of her Marchesa gown were perfectly executed to accentuate her figure.  I can’t help but also mention how gorgeous her hair & makeup was too, props to her stylist team!


One of my favorite Hollywood couples, Maggie Gyllenhaal & Peter Sarsgaard.  She is always representative of the latest fashions & this dress was no exception.  Plus Dries Van Noten is by far one of my favorite designers…I only wish Peter hadn’t shaved his head, he looks much better with his shaggy hair.


Pure glamour.  Cameron Diaz looks ravishing in her Oscar de la Renta strapless embellished gown.  She accented her gown perfectly with subtle jewelry & a pop of color on her lips.


Amanda Seyfried realllllllllly stepped it up!  This Armani Prive gown turned her from Mean Girls teeny bopper to full blown Hollywood starlet.  Even her fabulous cuffs, earrings & sleek up-do scream glamour.


Sandra Bullock, the Best Actress Oscar winner for The Blind Side, spoke to the feminine detail trend that is so important right now.  She covered all of her bases from lace to a golden sheen in her Marchesa gown.  I especially love her vibrant red lipstick, très bon!


Let’s be honest Meryl Streep is not known for her excellent style.  But this white jersey goddess style dress is absolutely perfect… it is age appropriate, flattering & still reflects the latest trends.  And I think it is wonderful that she chose a gown by lesser known Project Runway designer, Chris March.


Tom Ford=Insanely Hot.  Enough Said.

The next 2 couture gowns created quite the controversy on the red carpet….

Zoe Saldana is wearing a Givenchy Couture straight off the Spring 2010 runway…and personally I LOVE IT.  I know it is voluminous & vibrant & may remind you of a pinata across her hemline but I think she carries it beautifully & her chic up-do & dainty earrings are the perfect pair to this couture gown.


Ok, ok I know this Chanel couture gown worn by top fashionista, Sarah Jessica Parker was hated by many…including my friends I was watching the award show with… but I like it or at least respect it.  I am not thrilled with the strap across her chest that wound its way down her back & underneath her arms but the rest of the couture gown I thought was gorgeous.  The color was luminous & the silver floral detailing paired wonderfully with her silver bangles & cuffs.  I do love her massive chignon but wish she had controlled those fly aways a bit more…All in all though SJP can do no wrong in my eyes.

WORST DRESSED OF THE 2010 ACADEMY AWARDS:

This is quite disappointing…I usually love Charlize Theron but come on what the hell where you & your stylist thinking??!!  Style.com put it tactfully, the rosettes across her bust were ‘distracting’.  This Dior Couture gown needed to stay on the runway & far, far away from the red carpet!


Really??  Robert Downey Jr. & his wife Susan look like they belong in the circus.  Ridiculous.

So my friend Mary Lyn has this theory that Hilary Swank is really Matt Damon (haha aka she looks like a man)…well she is definitely trying to prove otherwise with this getup!  Her extremely revealing Armani Prive gown honestly looked slutty & dated.  Even her heels & toenail polish looked trashy.  Hilary there are other ways to look sexy sweetie.

Ok this one realllllly broke my heart as I am in love with both Kate Winslet & Yves Saint Laurent.  But this was a big miss for me.  The color washed her out & the fact that the gown was 2 pieces cut her petite frame in half in a not very flattering way.


Two time offender on my Worst Dressed list, Rita Wilson how can you claim to be a fashion/style expert?!  I still can’t believe I watched her on Oprah give fashion advice…scary.


And to conclude my Worst Dressed list….Jennifer Lopez in Armani Prive.  Basically her dress is like Amanda Seyfried’s Armani Prive Oscar gown gone terribly, terribly wrong.  All of that fabric coming out of her hip looks like a tornado of shiny translucent fabric.  And I am dying to pull up her dress..it looks like it’s going to slip off of her any minute!  All in all a horribly unflattering dress.

Ok now it is y’all’s turn to agree, disagree & just share your opinion!

All pictures courtesy of WWD.com & Style.com

Posted in Style Icons | 7 Comments »

A Weekend in ‘Nashvegas’!

Mar 3rd, 2010 by SouthernFemme

My fabulous friends & I at Boundry Restaurant in Nashville

As we headed up I-65, my friend Sarah & I could feel ourselves unwinding from the crazy week that we had just escaped from…luckily our knowledge that Nashville was on the horizon put us at ease…And so the weekend began!!
A little food, a few honky tonks, some great friends and A LOT of shopping made our first trip to Nashville unbelievable!

Once we got in town we immediately headed for a delicious ‘global cuisine meets the south’ meal at the posh Boundry.  After sharing the BEST pizza I’ve ever had with my friends (the lobster BLT pizza is a must, trust me!), I indulged in the scallop special, tres magnifique!

Ok, ok on to my favorite part of the weekend…the shopping!! (Side note: click on pictures to make them bigger & more beautiful!)


I have to say my favorite shop & my most successful shopping experience was…Venus & Mars Vintage.  The precious house was full of wondrous treasures from vintage dresses to reworked vintage jewelry.  To make my experience there complete they were hosting a Alice in Wonderland tea party upstairs, OMG can I pleeeeeasssseeee move in?!  Thanks.

Next on our shopping adventure we hit up Savant Vintage Couture.  Inside was a fabulous mix of vintage light fixtures, furniture, shoes, colorful slips and even a luxurious fur selection!  I could have literally tried on everything in the store!

A gorgeous & colorful array of vintage slips…


My fabulous crafty friend Hallie lovin’ her a creamy leather vintage coat!  My guess is she’s still having dreams about this find!

Vintage Yves Saint Laurent mules.  Need I say more?!

Where to begin about this jewel of a boutique….basically Imogene & Willie is to.die.for.

The store located in an old gas station is owned by Matt & Carrie Eddmenson who have work experience with some of the best denim companies in the world..J Brand, Diesel, Levis and more!  Needless to say this is why they opened their very own concept boutique that also houses a custom made denim bar if you will.  It is one of the most homey & delightfully southern boutiques I have ever experienced.  And the customer service (that includes their adorable yellow lab!) is impeccable, making you want to lounge about the store with your new friends.

Sporting an Imogene and Willie ‘look’

The Jean Makin’ Area of Imogene and Willie

Sarah in her new & ‘oh so comfy’ Imogene and Willie sweatshirt

The eclectic display of buttons, grommets & other jean parts!

A travel blog post would not be complete without a little photo shoot of my favorite purchases…


Colorful vintage dress from Venus and Mars with a tulip skirt and embellished waistband.  Worn with my new Maison Martin Margiela nude sandals….love them both!!!

Add a lil’ vintage Etienne Aigner trench coat from Venus and Mars, a vintage oversize black patent leather clutch from Savant Vintage, some Chloe Saturnia heels, vintage charm bracelets & hoops…et volia!

Au revoir Nashvegas, hope to visit you again soon!!

Posted in Shopping, Southern Femme Pictures, Southern Spotlight | 5 Comments »

A Sustainable Collection for a Modern Day Jackie O.

Feb 26th, 2010 by SouthernFemme

Dress from the Isoude Spring 2010 Collection

So many words swirled through my mind upon seeing designer Katie Brierley and her modern day elegance collection, Isoude:  classic, chic, Grace Kelly, true luxury, rich and luminous colors and that is just the beginning of what she and her line exude.  I had the pleasure of chatting with the Isoude designer yesterday while reviewing her Spring 2010 Collection at the equally timeless and exquisite store, Plain Clothes, in Homewood, Alabama.

An artist at heart, Katie’s clothing reflects exquisite craftsmanship, hand painted details, and hand dyed high quality fabrics.  She began her career studying at Rhode Island School of Design, followed by a degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.  From there she learned the craft hands on at the last true couturier in the United States, Chado Ralph Rucci.  Her business and her pieces definitely reflect her time spent working at Chado Ralph Rucci..from creating a true luxury experience for her clients (who she lovingly refers to as patrons) to using all natural dyes made from exotic plants…she passionately explained to me that using plants as dye gives clothing over 100 color sources as opposed to man made dyes which only allow 1-2!  No wonder her pieces are as luminous as a Renaissance painting!

More recently she was contacted by her alma mater, FIT, to exhibit a dress in their “Fashion and Politics” show at the FIT Museum.  She also creates custom made masterpieces for her ‘patrons’ for special occasions, such as white tie events (a classic art in itself).  All this goes to show Katie is quickly becoming like the designers she admires, Vionnet, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino and of course Chado Ralph Rucci…all true craftsmen and artists that represent the art of dressing, the art of fashion, the art of luxury.

‘

The Grand Opening Celebration of the Isoude store in Newport, Rhode Island.  Katie (center) and 2 models all wearing Spring 2010 Collection pieces.

Katie Brierley (right) with a guest, both in Isoude designs

Posted in 'Green' Fashion Finds, Designers | 2 Comments »

Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez!

Feb 22nd, 2010 by SouthernFemme

NOLA.      Nouvelle Orleans.      N’awlins.

Polaroids taken by my friend, Kendall Chew. From top: French Quarter, Cafe du Monde and Jackson Square.


And so the parades begin!! It’s all about some ‘Who Dat Nation’!!!

My favorite… Charlie Brown!


Mmmmmm..Mardi Gras would not be complete without drinks at the newly remodeled & very Mad Men-esque, Roosevelt Hotel.  We each drank 2 delicious & decadently chocolate ‘Gold & Black Who Dat’ martinis…Notice the precious little fleur-de-lis chocolate token floating atop the martini.


Kendall & I both love some House of Blues…so how better to spend Valentines Day?! A Gospel Brunch with Have Mercy & Say Yeah!

Can I pleeeeeassse have this?!?  Thanks.

So traveling to New Orleans is NOT complete without a day of shopping on Magazine Street & the French Quarter!  Hope y’all enjoy my new purchases…I know I am!

Purchase 1: A vintage red ‘Valentine’s Day’ dress…notice the adorable little cupids, hearts & antique fans scattered about the dress.  Bought at Funky Monkey on Magazine Street.  Im wearing black Steven by Steve Madden lace up oxfords, my mom’s old Gucci watch, a vintage bracelet, a NYC jewelry designer ‘found object’ necklace with my red Valentine’s Day dress.

Loving my new Dior Serum de Rouge lipstick….it is amazingly luxurious!

Notice my new Mardi Gras mask hanging on my vanity..I was immediately attracted to the peacock feathers!

Purchase #2 & 3: Jamaica ‘No Problem’ Vintage tee from Funky Monkey on Magazine Street.  Gold Vintage Lion ‘Door Knocker’ earrings from Branch Out Vintage & Sustainable Goods on Magazine Street.

I’m wearing my vintage tee & earrings with my new Theory high waisted black pants, my great-grandmother’s gold belt, Forever 21 peep toe booties, and vintage rings.

Purchase #4: Turquoise vintage Oscar by Oscar de la Renta blouse with a jewel pattern & black velvet trim from Funky Monkey on Magazine Street.  Worn with Forever 21 cut off sweats turned shorts, Topshop over the knee boots, jewelry from Etc. in Mountain Brook Village & a black Pashmina from Italy.

I love how the colors in my ensemble really pop against the bad ass “Holy Terror’ mural by Spencer Bishop in downtown Birmingham.

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL MARDI GRAS!  ’LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULEZ’ Y’ALL!


Posted in Shopping, Southern Femme Pictures | 7 Comments »

Thinking Green, Seeing Green, Shopping Green

Feb 18th, 2010 by SouthernFemme

Image courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36866967

Have you ever thought about what happens to the plastic bag you mindlessly toss into the waste can?  Well, I have and I think avid shoppers like ourselves should think twice before letting the cashier put our purchases in the antithesis of eco-friendly, the plastic bag.  Read on to hear what happens after your plastic bag is thrown away, it will definitely make you think twice about becoming a ‘green shopper’….

  • Plastic bags are hard to control with waste management since they are lightweight. Therefore, they end up floating around as litter and harming marine life. Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food.
  • Only 5% of plastic bags get recycled since they are difficult and costly to recycle.  Hence, they end up in our overcrowded landfills taking months to decades upon decades for it to breakdown since they are not biodegradable.  While in the decomposition stage, little toxic bits exude into soils, lakes, rivers, and the oceans contributing to pollution.

So until scientists invent biodegradable plastic bags, which is in the works, why not take a tiny step towards going green and help preserve our beautiful world we live and love to shop in with an eco-friendly yet fashionable shopping bag!

There are many stylish, eco-friendly totes out there to choose from.  Here are a few of my favorites:

To purchase: https://seabags.com

To purchase: http://www.angelaadams.com

To purchase: http://www.noelcianci.com/gypsystyle/images/store_sleepover.jpg

To purchase: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hongkongwillie?page=1

To purchase: http://www.feedprojects.com

I found this site, Reusable Bags, it has just about everything you need to go green: sandwich bags, coffee filters, food containers, and more!

BLOG POST BY SAVANNAH PICA, MY FABULOUS SOUTHERN FEMME INTERN!

Posted in 'Green' Fashion Finds, Shopping | 3 Comments »

Death of an Artistic Genius

Feb 11th, 2010 by SouthernFemme

When I woke up this morning I was shocked to see the plethora of text messages, missed calls & facebook wall posts…who died?!  Well sadly, Lee Alexander McQueen, the creator & designer of the Alexander McQueen design house committed suicide at only 40 years old.  What a tragedy in not only the fashion world but also the art world, as he was one of the most creative & innovative individuals of our time.

Lee McQueen was born & raised in London.  At the age of 16 he dropped out of school to become a tailor’s apprentice.  But his calling awaited him & he was convinced by the Head Master of Central Saint Martins Design & Art School to enroll as a fashion design student.  The rest is history…he was appointed head designer of Givenchy in 1996 after John Galliano stepped down & by 2001 he had launched his own design house, Alexander McQueen.

Known for his shockingly fabulous, costume-like collections, Lee dressed style icons such as of Lady GaGa, Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker and most recently Anna Paquin wore one of his metamorphic print dresses to the SAG Awards.

Here are some wonderful words spoken today by his good friends to Women’s Wear Daily:

MARC JACOBS…..“He was such a great guy and such an amazing talent that it is so devastating to know he is gone. We have a lot of mutual friends and some of them are working here, and everybody is walking around crying today.
“I will miss him, and I will certainly miss the beauty that he created, and his vision and his world. You just ask yourself ‘Why?’ and then really the answer to that question is so unnecessary in a way, since knowing ‘why’ doesn’t change anything. Death is always horrible.”

SIMON DOONAN, BARNEYS NEW YORK….“He is a uniquely British kind of phenomenon, a working class lad who bootstrapped it. He had enormous innate creative passion that ultimately gave him an incredibly broad frame of reference, from art to obscure movies to history, this spongelike passion and amazing imagination that in the end informed his design. He became within a very short period of time a very cultivated person that’s sort of a function of the English class system, which makes people so tenacious and aggressively curious.” Comparing him to John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood, Doonan characterized McQueen as “a provocateur, almost like a highwire act, an exercise in daring creativity. He raised the bar so high on what was even possible with clothing.”

Some of my favorite looks by the artistic genius, Lee Alexander McQueen:

I’m wearing my own pink & black Alexander McQueen skull scarf today in his honor…such a bad ass scarf!

Posted in Designers, Style Icons | 2 Comments »

FUTURE FASHION DESIGNERS PART DEUX

Feb 8th, 2010 by SouthernFemme

It’s been a few weeks & I am loooooving working with my fabulous intern, Savannah.  She is a tremendous help & I always say the best work comes when you can creatively bounce ideas off of another person.  And speaking of creativity…Savannah had the pleasure of interviewing one of her fellow Apparel & Textile Design students, Mary Catherine Moody about her recent collection, ‘Belle Pétille’.  I have to admit when I saw her collection I was BLOWN AWAY…I mean this girl is Bergdorf’s, Barneys & Saks bound for sure!

SP: What made you pick the major Apparel and Textile Design?

MCM: Growing up, art was really all I knew and wanted to know. Taking painting lessons, hand sewing and crafting continuously gave me a sense of thrill and extreme satisfaction.  I have always had a creative eye for fashion and found great pleasure in dressing myself in what I consider “stylish”.  I consider fashion an art, so I knew I would be doing what I love…all in all a perfect fit.

SP: What was your inspiration for your recent collection?

MCM: Since I was set to show my looks at ‘Fashion For Life’ on December 4th, I thought how lovely it would be to showcase a Holiday collection, right in time for Christmas. My goal for the four looks I created was for my target customer (the Upper East Side woman, ages 20 to 40) to wear them to her numerous holiday parties and events and of course to feel glamorous yet festive. Belle Pétille is filled with glitz, elegance and embellishment that sparkles and shines (hence the French term).  I am always drawn to ornate fabrics and beautiful embroidery, which I think I was able to achieve in this collection.

SP: Which garment is your favorite?

MCM: By far the cocktail dress. It is made of an imported corded lace overlay and I sewed jewels to the entire dress.  It is very heavy and feels ‘luxe’.

SP: Is this your first fashion show?

MCM: No, second.  I designed and hand-sewed thirteen dresses for Rock the Runway last year.  You can view them online at www.marycatherinemoody.com under “La Femme” collection.

SP: That’s impressive, I can’t imagine how long that must have taken you! Where did you find all the fabric you used?

MCM: New York mostly… I used fabric the designers from my summer internship gave me.  Believe it or not I actually resorted to Hancock’s for some as well, and the “Chanel” tweed skirt fabric was deconstructed from a vintage dress my friend gave me for the sole purpose to tear apart.

SP: Did you have any design dilemmas during the construction of the garments?

MCM: Of course- everyone does or they aren’t human! That embroidered neckline grey blouse was one heck of a dilemma! The fabric was not very forgiving and wouldn’t cooperate like I wanted it to.  I had to re-make it twice before I was perfectly happy with it. Also, the evening gown was extremely last minute.  I had planned on doing a completely different cocktail dress to go under the blazer, but when I began making it I wasn’t happy with it.  So, I grabbed that evening gown fabric, draped it on my dress form and whipped it up two nights before the show. Then I had to figure out something to go with the blazer, so that’s how the embroidered necklace top and tweed skirt came about.  Sometimes mistakes unveil a beautiful new idea.

SP: Love that.  So what do you see yourself doing in the future?

MCM: Hopefully owning a line of luxury clothing which one day will be sold at Bergdorf’s…I think I need a lot more experience (and a business partner) before I can make this happen, but here’s hoping!

Posted in Designers, Southern Spotlight | 1 Comment »

SOUTHERN FEMME OF THE WEEK

Feb 1st, 2010 by SouthernFemme

Photo by Spindle Photography


Who: Kiley Rocco, Theory Specialist at Saks Fifth Avenue

What: Here Kiley is looking fabulous & cool in a Forever21 purple jersey dress, United Colors of Benetton pinstripe boyfriend blazer, Theory tights, Steve Madden boots & Ray Ban sunglasses.

Why: Kiley is a good friend of mine & also one of those people that totally rocks her own style-a little classic, a little rock & roll, a little glam.  Working at Saks obviously has its perks…how I miss those double discount days!  But Kiley is phenomenal about mixing Theory & Marc by Marc Jacobs pieces with vintage & boutique finds; which I cannot say enough how crucial that factor is in not only being on trend today but also on how to truly show off your own unique style.

Where: Morris Avenue, downtown Birmingham

FOR MORE OF THE BEST DRESSED OF BIRMINGHAM CHECK OUT MY ARTICLE IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF ABOUT TOWN MAGAZINE

Posted in Southern Femme of the Week | No Comments »

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