Looking Good Magazine

LOOKING GOOD Your Guide to Beauty, Health & Fitness

December/January 2014–15

Beautiful BOLD IS

Haute Couture Gowns Yoga Mom Breaks the Mold Holiday Eating Tips Racing for Autism Best Dressed Man December/January 2014–15 Cover1

Open Your Eyes to the Possibilities

Cover2LOOKING GOOD

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December/January 2014–15 7

In This Issue 11

Joyful Waterside Vows

Cover Trend

Bare back wedding dresses

12

Allure

22

Mr. Groom

28

Six Tips for Healthy Eating during the Holidays

30

Power Moves

34

Processed Foods: Walk Away or Run?

38

Feel More Confident about Your Smile

46

Vixen

48

Pour terminer

8

40

Wedding Day

Something Blue: Sapphire engagement rings Hand-picked for a stylish wedding day Managing your holiday lifestyle

Set free by motherhood, a yogi revolutionizes her practice Getting to know what goes into your food

Part two on how cosmetic dentistry can help you love your smile Glamorous essentials for the bride-to-be The best man

LOOKING GOOD

On the Cover Haute couture gown Adriana from The Lourdes Collection designed by Galia Lahav. Design is inspired by the forces of nature and birds of paradise. Silhouettes recall birds’ wings and lush botanical gardens.Â

24

Racing for Autism Driving cars and raising awareness

Contents Runway Gorgeous wedding dresses designed by Galia Lahav

14

LOOKING GOOD

Your Guide to Beauty, Health & Fitness

Publishers Kymberly B. Taylor Robert E. Haywood Creative Director Ryan Gladhill Senior Designer Samantha Gladhill Contributing Photographers Christine Fillat Jay Moore Contributing Writer Christine Fillat Tom Levine Carlton Ryab Copy Editor Katie Pierce

Vice Presidents, Marketing & Business Development Taryn Chase Mia Cranford Advertising in LOOKING GOOD

Through its advertisements LOOKING GOOD strives to showcase businesses that possess a strong commitment to high standards of professional integrity and customer service.

We seek advertisers who share our business philosophy.

During the production of this issue of Looking Good, we were struck by the sheer amount of energy and creativity driving the fields of fashion, nutrition, health, and fitness. Even as we write this, you can be sure that someone somewhere is discovering something radically new about a carrot, testing a time-honored truth about dieting, refreshing a fact about fitness, destroying a myth or two, inventing a new “normal.”

In these pages you’ll find out about advances in cosmetic dentistry in the digital age, an assessment of ingredients in processed foods, and news of a yoga mom who re-invents her fitness practice constantly. In these pages you’ll also find out how wedding gown designer Galia Lahav re-interprets

For advertising inquiries, please contact Robert Haywood at robert@annapolishomemag.com or please call 443.942.3927

the traditional wedding gown, turning to the Amalfi Coast, the forces of

LOOKING GOOD: Your Guide to Beauty, Health & Fitness P.O. Box 6560, Annapolis, MD 21401

nature, and the beauty of the natural world for inspiration.

The articles in this magazine are for information only and are in no way intended to replace your physician’s advice. Consult and follow your physician’s directions before beginning any type of exercise, medical or cosmetic procedure, or diet LOOKING GOOD is published bimonthly by T/H Media, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without express written consent of the publishers. Publishers disclaim any and all responsibility for omissions and errors.

Publishers disclaim any and all responsibility for an advertiser’s products, services, or claims. The views expressed in this magazine are solely those of the writer.

We hope you enjoy this edition. In this and each issue of Looking Good, we strive to bring you inspiring articles, ideas in-flux, fashions in mid-creation, articles that reveal that our world and our very selves are continuously evolving.

All rights reserved.

In health,

If you would like to be removed from the mailing list, please put your request in writing via an e-mail to robert@annapolishomemag.com.

Kymberly Taylor & Robert Haywood, Publishers,

© 2014 by T/H Media, LLC.

and all of us at LOOKING GOOD

10 LOOKING GOOD

COVER TREND As our cover photograph and featured wedding reveal, some of the most beautiful brides this season are going bold: dresses are adventurous and glamorous, revealing the contours of the body: curves should be seen, adored, and admired.

In her new collection, La Dolce Vita, inspired by the Amalfi Coast, Israeli-born designer Galia Lahav alters the traditional gown with daring lines and lowcut backs. Often, iridescent beads lavishly decorate the body. Pictured here is Antonia. This gown has a dramatic train with multiple embroidered trims.

There is a gathering detail under the open back lace fabric. Materials are silk, satin, lace and beaded lace trims.

Blue

ALLURE

Something

1 12 LOOKING GOOD

2 The sapphire and its infinite palette of blue hues caused ancients to believe that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its reflection colored the sky.

Traditionally, a gift of a sapphire was a pledge of trust and loyalty, which has made it a popular choice for engagement rings from antiquity to the present day.

1. Calliope sapphire and diamond ring from the Kwiat Vintage Collection in 18K white gold. | kwiat.com 2. Robert Procop 63.27-ct. cushion blue sapphire ring. | robertprocop.com 3. Cartier platinum ring set with an oval-cut sapphire and pavĂŠ diamonds. | cartier.us

(Prices upon request) 3 December/January 2014–15 13

RUN

WAY

Distinction Gowns of

Galia Lahav was born in Russia into a family of seamstresses. From a young age, she had a strong passion for sewing and designing. Through many years of teaching art she developed the desire to turn her artwork into fashion and soon after created her brand. Her bridal gowns and evening wear are distinguished by their bold, dramatic, and captivating lines. Over three decades her fashion house has blossomed from what once was her local haute couture house in Tel Aviv, to locations world wide including stores in the USA, Australia, Canada, Italy, Germany, Russia. To see more of Galia’s gorgeous gowns go to galialahav.com.

14 LOOKING GOOD

Pricilla, La Dolce Vita

December/January 2014–15 15

Augusta, La Dolce Vita

16 LOOKING GOOD

Corso, La Dolce Vita

December/January 2014–15 17

Tullia, La Dolce Vita

18 LOOKING GOOD

December/January 2014–15 19

Florentino, La Dolce Vita 20 LOOKING GOOD

Navona, La Dolce Vita

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MR.

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Brooks Brothers Classic Knot Cufflinks

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These solid silver cufflinks are a smart accent.

Walk down the aisle in style with Dolce & Gabbana’s glossy leather brogues.

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$895 / dolcegabbana.com 22 LOOKING GOOD

A Tuxedo or a Suit

Rolls-Royce Ghost II

If you are a traditional kind of gent, go for this velvet tuxedo jacket by Alexander McQueen. If your wedding isn’t necessarily a black tie affair, check out this checked wool three-piece suit

by Lutwyche, a hand tailored clothier in England.

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Photo Š David Hartcorn Photography

Racing for Autism Driving Cars and Raising Awareness

By Tom Levine 24 LOOKING GOOD

Opposite: Matthew and Jason Cherry Jason Cherry is eighteen and he drives fast. Really fast. He recently came off a highly successful rookie season as a professional race car driver in the Pirelli World Challenge TC-A class, hurling around tracks at up to 130 miles per hour in his modified Mazda M-5. He finished the season fourth in the class. It was a fantastic showing, especially for a young man who has had his driver’s license for barely a year. It’s quite a story, but it’s not really THE story. While race car driving suggests a recklessness that is the provenance of youth, Cherry might be the most focused teenager you will ever meet. And although he’d love it, his goal is not to race in the Indianapolis 500 or on the Formula 1 circuit. Rather, it’s to use the platform of motor sports to support people with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families.

Autism is not a cause d’jour for Cherry. It is profoundly personal.

Cherry’s older brother, Matthew, is one of the more than 3.5 million

Americans who live with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorders cover a range of conditions including Down Syndrome and Asperger Syndrome. Some cause serious intellectual impairments. All pose significant social and learning challenges. And as Cherry well knows, they have a dramatic impact on more than 10 million immediate family members.

Cherry’s earliest memories of his brother were difficult and frightening. Recalling Matthew’s almost daily tantrums, he remembers thinking, “Why is this happening to me?” It became very clear to Cherry at an early age that while a family’s love might be boundless, more tangible resources like time, attention, and money were like water seeking its level. They flowed where they had to and Matthew’s needs consumed them. Matthew is now twenty-two, and Cherry proudly talks about how well he is doing. He has had a December/January 2014–15 25

girlfriend for two years, lives in a group home, and is well on his way to getting a job.

On and off the racetrack, Cherry is determined to help other individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their loved ones, specifically through his partnership with the Autism Society of America. The society provides programs, resources, and advocacy for people with Autism and their families across the country. Tonia Ferguson, vice president of external affairs of the Autism Society, speaks passionately about the importance of recognizing Autism early in life, supporting families, and fostering independence for people like Matthew as they navigate into adulthood. Cherry knows his family was fortunate to have the resources of the Autism Society available. “Respite was a deep breath in my life,” he recalls, and he’s already begun to pay it back, hosting young people with Autism at his races, giving their families a much-needed break. Cherry knows that the financial costs of a person with Autism can reach $1.4 to $2.4 million in a lifetime. He also knows that as a successful driver he can generate a level of corporate sponsorship that will allow him to make 26 LOOKING GOOD

a living and provide significant support to Autism causes. His dream is to have his rig “covered in puzzle pieces,” the international symbol of Autism awareness.

When Cherry discusses racing he is both enthusiastic and articulate about the thrill of the competition, the speed, the adrenaline rush, and the single-minded focus that it takes to succeed (and survive) on the track. But he is most passionate about strategy. He loves to talk about how to use his car’s cornering abilities to overcome its low horsepower or how to exploit the position of slower cars to maintain a lead against competitors. It’s a similar perspective that has him setting his sights on building the Jason Cherry Racing team, a strategy that will allow him a more centered life and the ability to be profitable sooner, ultimately donating 20 percent of his earnings to Autism causes. Will he get there? It’s hard to imagine he won’t. He clearly sees the road ahead and he’s moving fast. Really fast.

Tom Levine is a freelance writer living in Annapolis, MD.

For more information about Autism and to find ways for you to help support the work of the society, see autism-society.org.

For more information about Jason Cherry’s racing and his work on behalf of Autism awareness, visit jasoncherryracing.com.

To learn more about Purposeful Architecture, a sponsor of Jason Cherry’s race car, visit purposefularchitecture.com.

Six

Tips for Healthy Eating during the Holidays

By Carlton Ryab

Healthy holiday eating is possible. Remember, there’s a happy medium between pigging out on delicious foods and giving up holiday treats entirely. You can have your share of delicious food without going overboard. Forgetting about nutritious eating during the holidays is a tempting option—but don’t do it. Bad eating can be habit forming, so eating poorly during the holidays will only make it harder to be healthy during the rest of the year. Don’t promise yourself that you’ll start a diet in January to make up for indulging yourself. Instead, use the following six tips to eat healthily during the holiday season.

Don’t let the actions of others dictate your behavior.

During the holidays you will be surrounded by people who are indulging themselves excessively. It can be easy to go along with the crowd but never eat something you don’t really want. Self-restraint is a rare trait, so be prepared to be one of the few eating in moderation.

Focus on the positive side of moderation.

The foods of the holidays will present you with many delicious

28 LOOKING GOOD

temptations. Rather, the goal should be moderation. Instead of having two pieces of pie, limit yourself to one small one. Focus on the positive side of moderate eating: better health, lower weight, and the like.

Exercise anywhere.

The holidays present a special challenge to regular exercise, since they often disrupt normal routines. Workout wherever you find yourself.

While some (such as gym-goers) might find their normal routine impossible, exercise is always possible—even if it’s only for a short walk, get out and move.

Brace yourself.

Most of the holiday food you will encounter will be bad for you.

Still, there will be some nutritious options available. Be strong. Try to eat more of these and to reduce your intake of rich, fatty foods. If cooking, keep in mind that better nutrition could entail simply using a healthier version of a beloved recipe.

Eat fruits and veggies.

Vegetables and fruits can be delicious in their own right. Perhaps more important, they will make it easier to resist fatty options by helping to fill you up.

Watch your alcohol intake.

Alcohol is fattening and unhealthy, but also presents another danger: it lowers inhibitions and makes it more likely to indulge in extra portions. Alcohol can also make you hungrier even as it increases your calorie intake, which makes controlling your drinking all the more important.

“ Don’t promise yourself that you’ll start a diet in January to make up for indulging yourself during the holidays.”

December/January 2014–15 29

ower Move P S Set free by motherhood, a yogi revolutionizes her practice Story and Photography by Christine Fillat

30 LOOKING GOOD

Opposite: Emily and Phil Vendemmia and their son Ari warm up for yoga.

Below: Emily Vendemmia performs yoga moves that include Locust and Standing Bow.

Bikram is not for the faint of heart. So in a sense, it is perfect for Emily Vendemmia, whose petite physique masks a psyche made of gunmetal. In a 90-minute session of Bikram yoga, 26 postures are practiced two times each in an approximately 104-degree room.

Discipline is cultivated and silence is mandated. This ensures that the environment is free of the verbal clutter accompanying many yoga practices. The sequence of postures never changes, nor does the teaching dialogue. In fact, nothing much changes in Bikram but you, for within the stasis of the routine, the dialogue becomes a kind of mantra and you discover a freedom, both physical and mental, as your muscles respond.

Emily knew right away that Bikram would become her way of life, at least for a while. Just five months after she took her first class, Emily attended Bikram yoga teacher training in Los Angeles. She opened her own Bikram yoga studio in Severna Park in 2007 and married Phillip Vendemmia, a musician turned yogi, in 2008. The couple now owns studios in Annapolis, Severna Park, and Crofton. Emily competes regularly, as do many of her teachers. In the prestigious International Yoga Sports Federation Competition of 2011, Emily placed ninth. “That was the year I just went for it,” says Emily. “Then I was like, ok, let’s try to get pregnant now.”

Their son, Ari, was born in December of 2012. Staying at home with a newborn, Emily had to find another way to work out that didn’t require isolating herself in a 100+-degree room. She discovered Buti yoga on YouTube and practiced at home while Ari napped in his baby swing. When he was a year old, she went to her first Buti training session in New York City and began teaching Buti in Severna Park last year.

Buti and Bikram are polar opposites. In Bikram, there is silence. With Buti, the rhythmic music is hypnotic and non-stop. Buti incorporates African dance moves and plyometrics. You are wiggling parts of your body and your booty that may be difficult to wiggle, but you try.

Everyone around you is also gyrating, belly dancing, and twerking, and a bond is formed. “It’s fun. It’s very feminine,” states Emily. “I find that it’s hard to find that in traditional workouts. That positive feminine empowerment is lacking.”

Some people feel that Bikram yoga is too rigorous, that there is a lot more to yoga than the 26 postures, she explains. However, Emily embraces both Bikram and Buti. “I feel that if you have an injury, Bikram is the best thing you can do,” she says. “I don’t feel that one yoga is necessarily better than another. I think that they’re all good.

December/January 2014–15 31

Now that his warm-up is complete, Ari Vendemmia demonstrates Cobra yoga pose.

I think that they all have benefits. It’s just nice to be able to offer people more variety.”

She is planning to do just that. She and Phil plan a January 2015 opening for their new studio, Annapolis Power Yoga, located on the corner of Chinquapin Road and West Street. Buti will co-exist with other kinds of yoga, and all classes will last approximately 60 minutes.

The new space will have childcare. “I’m hoping that will help moms,” explains Emily. “With the new studio, students can come in late or early to class. They can stay for the next class. The important part is for the student to come to class.” As a working mother, entrepreneur, and athlete, Emily realizes what we all need most: to just get there.

Under Emily’s guidance, Annapolis Power Yoga will be a place to power up and also slow down. “If there could just be some way we could get everybody to slow down, they would automatically be healthier. They’d be more aware of what they’re eating, how much they’re eating. That’s why I love yoga so much. Because it makes you slow down. I think it gives you perspective too about what is important and what is really not important. Maybe that’s why I can just stay chilled out the majority of the time—I’ve done so much yoga, it’s kind of built up in my system. I feel like you kind of bank it, you know? So sometimes you may not be able to practice so much as you want, but if you practiced a lot before, it’s still there.”

So take Emily’s advice, slow down, enjoy what you eat, and by all means, get to yoga.

To learn more and to sign up for classes, go to annapolispoweryoga.com.

As of this writing, Annapolis Power Yoga is scheduled to open January 3, 2015.

Bikram Yoga Annapolis, Severna Park, Crofton: bikramyogaannapolis.com Christine Fillat is a freelance writer who also practices Bikram Yoga.

32 LOOKING GOOD

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PROCESSED FOODS: WALK AWAY or RUN?

By Robert Haywood “By reducing the amount of the processed food you eat and fueling your body with natural whole foods, you’ll be amazed at the difference in your appearance, energy level, and overall feeling of wellness.”

34 LOOKING GOOD

December/January 2014–15 35

Health trends and wellness crazes abound in our culture, many supported or refuted by statistical evidence. Once butter was wonderful, then fattenning, and now, apparently, if you believe the data set forth in Michael Pollan’s New York Times bestseller In Defense of Food, a valuable nutritional source. What is one to believe? Is fat good or bad? Who has time to read the very latest findings? Are those findings reliable? One’s quest for wellness can become as futile as Don Quixote’s ill-fated mission to impose chivalry upon a modern world.

Fitness guru and award-winning yogi Emily Vendemmia, also featured in this issue of Looking Good, comes to the rescue.

She shares simple advice: don’t go crazy, just reduce as much as possible a reliance on foods that come from boxes, cartons, and packages. Avoid getting bogged down in statistics and focus instead on eating basic natural foods.

It is impossible to eliminate all processed foods from our diets and not all processed foods are dangerous. However, by reducing the amount of the processed food you eat and fueling your body with natural whole foods, you’ll be amazed at the difference in your appearance, energy level, and overall feeling of wellness.

Spotting Processed Offenders If you are unsure of what exactly defines food as processed, simply ask yourself if the food or its ingredients are found in nature. For example, homemade mashed potatoes contain potatoes, butter, and milk, all of which are naturally occurring.

Conversely, the box of instant mashed potatoes has a long list of hard-to-pronounce chemicals added to enhance color, flavor, or texture.

These chemical additives also serve to extend the product’s shelflife, thereby saving the manufacturer money at the expense of your health. These additives are much more difficult for your body to absorb, break down, and eliminate than food found in nature. As a result, your body works harder at digestion, leaving you lethargic and sluggish. Deprived of the nutrients it needs, your body absorbs the chemicals, leaving your skin prone to break-outs, nails brittle, and hair dull.

Purging Your Pantry Read labels diligently to spot hidden offenders. Among the worst ingredients in processed food are sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, sodium nitrates, the potentially cancer-causing preservative butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, and artificial anything. There are many more culprits, and many actually approved by the FDA, so educate yourself about the most toxic processed foods so that you know when to run.

The Detoxification Process While avoiding processed foods is a simple change, it is not always easy. As with anything else, your body has become accustomed to the chemicals you’ve conditioned it to expect. During the first few weeks, you may experience digestion discomfort, headaches, changes in 36 LOOKING GOOD

sleep patterns, and lethargy. These are transient and will abate as your body becomes more detoxified. There are a few things which will help to speed up the detoxification process and ease your physical distress in the first days and weeks.

Drinking lots of water will rapidly flush toxins from your body while keeping you hydrated. In fact, drinking adequate water is one of the simplest things you can incorporate into your daily routine for optimal health. Naturally occurring antioxidants are also found in green tea, fresh lemon, and apple cider vinegar. And while exercise is an essential part of any healthy lifestyle, it has the added benefit of speeding up detoxification while releasing endorphins to make you feel great.

The Pay-Off Shortly after reducing your reliance on processed food, you’ll begin to notice a big change in your physical condition. You may sleep more soundly, experience fewer headaches, have more energy, and even look better. The better you look and feel, the easier it will become to maintain your new lifestyle. In fact, you may find that eventually you’ve lost your taste for processed foods and notice their adverse physical effects much more acutely.

By getting back to basics and fueling your body with wholesome food, plenty of water, and regular exercise you’ll reap the many rewards that come with good health and overall wellness. Find healthy substitutions for some of your favorite items and make, on

Ingredient Glossary your own, croutons, pita chips, or hummus. Using oil and vinegar on your salad can take the place of processed dressing and add even more nutrients to your fresh vegetables.

Beware of Hydrogenated Oils Keep an eye on fats and their composition. Regular fats such as corn, soybean, or palm oil, are fine when consumed in moderation in their purest form. However, when these oils appear as ingredients in processed foods, beware. When blasted with hydrogen and turned into a solid, they become trans fats and detrimental to your health.

According to the American Heart Association, trans fats are especially dangerous because they raise your “bad” cholesterol and, at the same time, decrease your “good” cholesterol.

Cholesterol can’t dissolve in the blood. It must be transported through your bloodstream by carriers called lipoproteins, which got their name because they’re made of fat (lipid) and proteins.

The two types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol to and from cells are low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, and high-density lipoprotein, or HDL. LDL cholesterol is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result.

HDL cholesterol is considered “good” cholesterol because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries. Experts believe HDL acts as a scavenger, carrying LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed from the body.

While making the switch to whole foods, remember that moderation is key and processed foods in very small amounts will not undo the positive steps you’ve taken. Don Quixote was far too ambitious, and took on the whole world. We can learn from this lovable though misguided hero: Read labels and then keep it simple. Decrease your dependence gradually, you will be more likely to continue making healthy choices.

Julie Greenstein, Center for Science in the Public Interest: cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy

Shortening: Shortening, or partially hydrogenated oil, is a trans fat. In addition to clogging your arteries and causing obesity, it also increases your risk of metabolic syndrome that may include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels.

“White” Processed Foods: When a whole grain is refined, both the bran and germ are removed, and therefore all the fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

The more refined food products a person eats, the more insulin must be produced to manage it. Insulin promotes the storage of fat, making way for rapid weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels, which can lead to heart disease.

Artificial Sweeteners: Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal), saccharin (Sweet’N Low, SugarTwin), and sucralose (Splenda). Studies suggest that artificial sweeteners trick the brain into forgetting that sweetness means extra calories, making people more likely to keep eating sweet treats without abandon.

Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Benzoate: These preservatives are sometimes added to soda to prevent mold from growing, but benzene is a known carcinogen that is also linked with serious thyroid damage. Dangerous levels of benzene can build up when plastic bottles of soda are exposed to heat or when the preservatives are combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA): BHA is another potentially cancer-causing preservative, but it has been deemed safe by the FDA. Its job is to help prevent spoilage and food poisoning, but it’s a major endocrine disruptor and can seriously disrupt your hormones.

Sodium Nitrates and Sodium Nitrites: These two different preservatives are found in processed meats like bacon, lunch meat, and hot dogs. They’re some of the worst offenders, and they’re believed to cause colon cancer and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is not a disease in itself. Instead, it’s a group of risk factors—high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and abdominal fat, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes.

American Heart Association: heart.org

Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow:

Harvard School of Public Health: hsph.harvard.edu

The artificial colors blue 1 and 2, green 3, red 3, and yellow 6 have been linked to thyroid, adrenal, bladder, kidney, and brain cancers.

American Society for Nutrition: nutrition.org Freelance writer Alison Fraley contributed to this article.

Robert Haywood, Ph.D., is working hard to learn about and eat healthier food.

MSG: Monosodium glutamate is a processed “flavor enhancer.” While glutamates are present in some natural foods, such as meat and cheese, the ones exploited by the processed food industry are separated from their host proteins through hydrolysis. There is controversy regarding its actual dangers but some believe it can lead to migraines, diabetes, ADHD, and autism.

December/January 2014–15 37

Confident Feel More

about Your Smile

Part two on how cosmetic dentistry can help you love your smile.

By Kymberly Taylor

Today, there are more options than ever when it comes to getting a dazzling smile. Part 1 of this series, which appeared in the last issue of Looking Good, advocates that you begin your journey to a great smile by visiting your dentist for a thorough exam. The reason for this is that a good dentist does much more than whiten, straighten, and fix teeth. He or she will evaluate your teeth to assess not just the health of your mouth but also the condition of your entire body. The mouth may contain warning signs about undiagnosed health conditions associated with your bones, heart, blood sugar, and digestion.

Once assured of good health, procedures from simple whitening to the use of invisible braces, crowns, and dental veneers are all options.

Breakthroughs in technology in the digital age ensure treatments are more precise and faster, which benefits both you and your doctor.

Smiling More in the Digital Age Dr. Edward Vesely of Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely & Associates notes that advances in the digital age of cosmetic and restorative dentistry have radically changed a dentist’s ability to improve the look and health of your teeth. When creating veneers and crowns in particular, the computer, scanner, digital camera, and models generated by the scanner afford the patient, dentist, and laboratory the benefit of predictable esthetic results, he explains. Dr. Vesely, whose Annapolisbased firm specializes in cosmetic and implant dentistry, notes that digital photography ensures swift communication, almost in real time. “The laboratory who fabricates the teeth can see what we are seeing as quickly as sending an e-mail.”

What this means is that much of the guesswork can be eliminated before a procedure takes place. “We are able to very accurately duplicate what we see in the mouth with the use of a digital scanner. I can then design different smiles on the computer to have the patient experience position, size, shape, and color of their teeth to view possible smiles before any work is done. It really gets the patient involved in their planning and it relates a good blueprint before any treatment,” says Dr. Vesely.

What’s more, one is no longer limited geographically to resources.

“We are able to send pictures, models, and possible outcomes electronically to tap into some of the best dental minds right here or all over the country,” he says.

Dental Crowns Many years ago, dental patients had two options when a badly decayed or damaged tooth was involved. They could either have a metal crown placed onto the tooth, or they could have the tooth pulled out. While neither option was an ideal one, it was the best that dentistry had to offer. Today, cosmetic dentistry includes the creation of porcelain crowns and veneers. Crowns and veneers are both called for in different situations. Veneers are required for chipped teeth or cosmetically to change the shade, size, or position of the tooth. Crowns are required for broken teeth or for cosmetic reasons to cover large fillings. They may also help anchor a bridge.

After your dentist creates an imprint in the office, an identical tooth is fabricated in a laboratory. Then, the dentist must do the careful work of attaching the crown to ensure it fits properly. These are

fabricated to look just like a patient’s tooth, helping to maintain the natural appearance of a smile. Some offices may offer CAD/ CAM technology (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing technology), which can shorten the procedure to one day, in some cases. Often, this procedure is more expensive.

Invisible Braces To straighten and reposition your teeth, your orthodontist may suggest that you try invisible braces, which are very popular now.

However, they are not for every situation. “They are great for people who do not have severe problems but if your bite is off and your teeth are severely crooked, there are better choices for you that will yield superior results,” notes a study by the Consumer’s Research Council of America, a nonprofit D.C.-based research institution that publishes guides similar to Consumer Reports.

Invisible braces, unlike metal braces, are removable and difficult to detect. Most resemble transparent mouth guards and are made up of strong plastic trays that are custom-fabricated then attached to your teeth without metal bands or cement. They work much like metal braces and the cost is comparable. At each visit, your orthodontist will adjust your braces, gradually bringing your teeth closer together.

Irritation is minimal and invisible braces are for the most part stain free. However, you must remove them before any meal, and brush your teeth before repositioning them. For some, this is a hindrance, though others report they have lost weight because they did not feel like taking these necessary steps.

Before you embark on any whitening treatment or any additional procedure such as braces or veneers or crowns, suggests Dr. Brian Valle of Millersville, MD, ask your dentist for a realistic idea of the results you are likely to achieve and how long it should take to achieve them. “Ask to see before and after photos and study them carefully, says Valle, who specializes in functional and cosmetic dentistry. “Expectations play a major role in your ultimate satisfaction,” he cautions. Take your time; there are many options today and technologies are always improving. Do your research and select a dentist or orthodontist with care. You will be glad you took the extra time, for a truly stunning smile occurs when you have had a good experience.

Dr. Brian Valle: drbrianvalle.com Dr. Edward Vesely: myannapolisdentist.com Consumers’ Research Council of America: consumersresearchcncl.org American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry: aacd.com Kymberly Taylor has a BA in journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University, NY.

December/January 2014–15 39

Joyful Waterside Vows

By Kymberly Taylor . Photography by Jay Moore

40 LOOKING GOOD

WEDDING

DAY

December/January 2014–15 41

42 LOOKING GOOD

P h o to by D e re k J one s

Photo by Pe te A lbe rt

Joyful Waterside Vows | June 6, 2014 In January 2011, a mutual friend introduced Joshua Burman and Christina Collins, and changed their destinies. Wasting no time, Josh invited Christina on a first date for the very next day, choosing a locale rarely associated with romance: a dog park. He made the right move. “Josh happened to have an adorable beagle and ever since then we became inseparable,” recalls Christina, who married Josh on June 6, 2014. The couple, now Josh and Christina Burman, wanted their ceremony to take place in a romantic yet relaxed setting, close to the water. They toured many venues but finally chose Historic Kent Manor Inn in Stevensville, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. With lush natural grasses and untamed groves of cattails, a lawn sweeping majestically to a sandy beach, it exuded the odd mix of gentility and raw beauty characterizing many historic homes on the Eastern Shore. They liked the old Inn’s wide porches, generous doorways, its feeling of seclusion. “Many of the other venues we saw held multiple weddings at a time so we really liked that we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves,” recalls Christina, who grew up in Annapolis.

She chose summery colors with a touch of whimsy: aqua blue and coral pink. She wore a lace strapless gown by Matthew Christopher and added a beautiful bead and rhinestone belt to accentuate the waistline and add sparkle. “The dress was very form fitting and kind of hard to move in but I loved the way it made me look,” recalls Christina. Hard to move? The only time you caught this bride sitting down was when she and Josh were raised on chairs during the “hora,” a traditional Jewish dance meant to increase the celebration’s festivity.

It is considered a mitzvah (a commandment) to bring joy to the bride and groom on their wedding day. The song is often accompanied by the song “Hava Nagila,” which in Hebrew means “Let us rejoice.” It is a very good thing that the Eastern Shore’s skies are so vast and clear, as the evening’s joy was clearly uncontainable.

December/January 2014–15 43

Vendors Venue:

Historic Kent Manor Inn: kentmanor.com

Photographer:

Jay Moore: jaymoorephotography.com

Wedding Coordinator:

Historic Events Planning & Design: annapolisweddingplanner.com

Florist:

Intrigue Design & Decor: intrigue-designs.com

Cake:

Piece O’ Cake: peaceofcake.info

DJ:

C&J Entertainment: candjentertainment.com

Videographer:

Black Tie Video: blacktievideo.net

Wedding Gown: Matthew Christopher Bridal House: matthewchristopher.com

44 LOOKING GOOD

December/January 2014–15 45

MARCHESA Lily Embroidered Stone Box Clutch $ 3,295

X

MANOLO BLAHNIK Embellished Satin Pump $ 1,295

V

I

HARRY WINSTON Sapphire & Diamond Necklace Price Upon Request

GLAMOROUS

ESSENTIALS SWAROVSKI Art Deco Bridal Headpiece $ 86

FLORA NIKROOZ ‘Showstopper’ Nightgown

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$ 135

“One is not born a woman, one becomes one.”

– Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) The Second Sex (1949-1950)

N

Pour terminer

Best Man The best man is relaxed yet refined in traditional white linen and dark suit. The pairing is striking, recalling the chivalry of a bygone era and the modernity of a limited color palette.

48 LOOKING GOOD

give:Love

Date Night. DoNe. Drop off the little ones at WFamily KidCare, and go have some grown-up fun.

westfielD.com WFamily KidCare is for ages 3 to 9. Up to two hours, $7 per child.

Additional $7 for third hour. Three hour maximum.

2002 Annapolis Mall, Annapolis, MD 21401 • 410.266.5432

130 Lubrano Drive | Annapolis, Maryland www.dasalonandspa.com | 410. 224. 0519