Caftan Dresses

What To Expect When Getting a Home Appraisal

What To Expect When Getting a Home Appraisal

The number one reason why homes do not sell as fast as they are needed is because the price is too high.  Most home owners try to get as much as they can from the house they're selling, but the without a professional appraisal, people often overestimate the value of their home.  Whether you're buying or selling a home, you want the best buy. One of the most important things you can do if you are selling or buying a home is get a home appraisal.

The first thing most buyers tend to do is look for house they like and see whether or not they can afford the house.  They often don't even think about getting the house appraised.  If you are out to buy a house, you need to know the value of a home before you buy it.  Don't rush into making an offer, you don't want to pay too much for it.

If you are selling a house, you need to find the accurate value of your house before you set a price.  Determining the price of your house is very important when trying to sell one in this economy.  If you price a house too much over the actual worth, your house won't get any traffic.  Most buyers will need to get an appraisal before they can get loans for the house, so you wouldn't want them finding the true value of your house before you do.

Home appraisals can be conducted by a professional appraiser, a real estate agent, or even get your home appraised online.  With a real estate agent and an online home appraisal, you won't have to expect much.  Real estate agents will most likely know what the true value and they will price your home at that price.  Most realtors know the market quiet well, so their appraisal will have a small margin of error.

If you choose to have a professional appraisal come in, then you can expect them to come over for about two hours or so, depending on your house.  The appraiser will come to your home and take pictures of the interior and exterior of your house.  They will measure your house both inside and outside to get the land size of your property.  They will also view each room and look for any upgrades and problems that your home may have.  Afterwards, the appraiser will pack up and go back to their office where they will look for houses similar to yours that have been sold in the last few weeks.  With that information is where they will calculate your home value and create a report for you.

Whether you choose a professional appraisal, a realtor, or an online appraisal, it is important you get one before you make an offer on a house or set a price for your home.  The process is painless and won't be much work for you.  The price for an appraisal ranges from 0 to 0.  So before you sell or buy a house, you need to get an appraisal to get the best buy.

For more information please visit <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);" href='http:// www.jacksonvillemarkethomes.com/. > www.jacksonvillemarkethomes.com/. </a>

Salem Hassan is a business marketing director for BreezeGoSEO.com, an Internet Marketing Agency. Salem writes on a wide spectrum of topics related to family, business, consumer best interests, marketing, and other related topics.

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Posted by admin - September 10, 2010 at 2:03 pm

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Halston – American Designers

Halston - American Designers

Halston, born Roy Halston Frowick, was one of the icons of the fashion industry in the 1970s. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he graduated from high school in Indiana, and entered the Art Institute of Chicago.

He began his career (like some other designers who rose to fame) as a milliner, designing and making women’s hats. In 1958 Halston went to New York City and worked to design hats for Lilly Dache. Afterwards, he worked for the Bergdorf Goodman department store, designing clothing in addition to millinery. In fact, it was Halston who designed the famous pillbox hat that Jacqueline Kennedy wore to her husband’s inauguration as President in 1961, among many of the other unique styles that he created.

In 1968 he opened his own salon, and quickly became one of the most well-known and applauded fashion designers of the day. Dubbed as “the premier fashion designer of all America” by Newsweek, Halston’s fashion became the standard for celebrities and the elite of society. Such personalities as Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Anjelica Huston, Bianca Jagger, and Babe Paley patronized his work, and helped to popularize him even further. Also because of their patronage, Halston’s fashion grew to be associated with the era’s café society (or jet set).

His designs were distinguished by their simplicity and elegance. Some of the many influences that he had upon the world of fashion include the introduction of ultrasuede, a synthetic fabric with all the attractions of suede but with greater resistance to the elements. He was also instrumental in the popularization of halter dresses, caftans, spiral skirts, cashmere twinsets, shirtwaists, and knee-length pants. Eventually, he also added perfumes and luggage to his fashion line.

But Halston’s influence did not affect only the fashion industry. He was one of the first designers to go into a licensing agreement. Through his agreement with JC Penney, his designs became more widely accessible to women from varying income levels. This also helped Halston, his perfume, to be accessible and eventually go on to become the second biggest selling perfume of all time.

But his life ended in tragedy when he died of cancer of the lungs as a complication of AIDS. Towards the end, increasing drug abuse (and the accompanying inability to meet deadlines) resulted in him being fired from his own company. Still, he is recognized as one of history’s fashion superstars, and one of the great designers of all time.

Find Halston perfumes and colognes on sale at Perfume Center. Read more about Halston perfumes.

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Posted by admin - September 9, 2010 at 9:26 am

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Swimshorts 2009 B

Swimshorts 2009 B

Design innovation meets style and sex appeal with Perfect Tan Bikini’s new twist on tanning with its strapless and backless options. Made possible by patent-pending self-adhesive technology, the bikini top is secure, completely waterproof, and reusable. According to Founder and CEO Claudia Cardenas, “Our customers have a taste for edge…they’re sexy, adventurous, hip, and Web-savvy.” The potential in online marketing inspired an upcoming MySpace campaign that will generate more than 2.4 million impressions, as well as a slate of events and promotions designed to cross the digital divide from coast to coast.

Neoprene">http://www.himfr.com/buy-Neoprene_Caps/">Neoprene CapsCelebrity Jessica Simpson, with InGear Swimwear and the Camuto Group, Simpson’s licensing house, launched the latest edition to her lifestyle collection—Jessica Simpson Swim. InGear, backed by more than 17 years in the industry, worked closely with Simpson to design, produce, and distribute the line of contemporary one-pieces and separates in retro prints, girlie basics, and American-girl–inspired and pin-up–inspired silhouettes. Marketed for women ages 18–40, the line offers something for every body type and is available at major department stores and specialty boutiques at prices ranging from to for separates and 0 to 0 for sets.

Beach Rays is all about style, innovation, and value. What began with basic swim trunks and board shorts more than a decade ago has grown to include complete divisions for young men, men, juniors, missy, boys, girls, toddlers, cover-ups, and t-shirts. For 2009, Beach Rays has developed a new high-performance fabric, Micro Serge Twill, that gives its board shorts and swim trunks unprecedented durability with an ultra-luxurious texture.

Diva 2009 takes a trip to Africa with a fresh, colorful, exclusive new collection. Geometric prints, strong colors, bi-color combinations, and accessories reflect the continent’s ethnic influences. The glitz of gold and silver express the glamour typical of North African countries such as Morocco, while Swarovski stone embellishments pay tribute to the diamond mines of South Africa. The groups are based on Diva’s best-selling silhouettes which have a proven fit. The look is innovative, unique, and feminine, yet also practical and commercial.

Although a rookie in the swimwear industry, Ed Hardy Swimwear has experienced a strong maiden year, including the introduction of its sultry sister Christian Audigier Swimwear. Both tattoo-inspired, contemporary collections are designed by Christian Audigier, make unique statements of their own, and are produced in the United States by Los Angeles–based swim manufacturer Sea and Sun. Bold colors, eye-catching designs, and signature logos turn heads. Sublimation, the unique and complex engineering process by which ink is inserted directly onto the swimsuit’s fabric, makes these swimsuits individual works of art. From concept to completion, each piece is designed and produced by hand.

This year, ViX Swimwear celebrates 10 years of fashion. ViX offers three fabulous collections of high-end designer swimwear: ViX, Sofia, and Hermanny. The contemporary ViX line began in 1998 with a small collection of Brazilian-cut bikinis and has grown into a vast collection of swim and resort wear including bikinis, tankinis, one-pieces, caftans, and beach dresses. The sophisticated and simple designs of Hermanny offer women more coverage and support with style, while Sofia is a whimsical and flirty line for the tween market.

Under the SHI Swimwear umbrella, brand labels Alicia Simone, Shore Shapes, and Tangerine are sold to specialty stores, department stores, and through mail order. The collections feature an extensive variety of missy, women’s, contemporary, and maternity swimwear at affordable prices. Exclusive prints and solids are crafted from the finest four-way stretch tricot/Lycra for comfort and fit. SHI has sales office locations in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Naples, Florida.

Los Angeles-–based A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz has signed a new license for the lifestyle category of swimwear, including swim and resort cover-ups, with BlueWaterDesignGroup, a division of Apparel Ventures Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of contemporary swimwear and swim-related apparel, also based in Los Angeles. The well-established A.B.S. brings its keen sensibility for interpreting the newest global fashion trends to the designer swim marketplace. A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz Swim officially launched its first collection at the Miami SwimShow and is slated to ship to the finest department and specialty store for Resort 2009.

Established more than a decade ago, Banana Split USA delivers a versatile wardrobe of beachwear and casual luxury clothing for the modern lifestyle. The 2008 collection, inspired by the theme of freedom, features tops, shirts, cargo shorts, board shorts, and elastic shorts for men, women, and kids that offer both comfort and the latest in fashion.

Trunkettes™ are swim trunks for women with mix-and-match tops. Sporty, flirty, and functional, Trunkettes come in many fun colors and patterns such as polka dots, peacock, snakeskin, stripes, graffiti, and skulls. Styles include Bermuda-length low risers, short hot pants, and modest high-waisted shapes, with conveniences such as Velcro pockets, bikini bottom linings, and drawstring waists. Media features include the New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Fox Business News, and CNBC’s “Big Idea with Donny Deutsch,” where they were called “lightning in a bottle” and a “huge idea.” Trunkettes allow women to be active with comfort and confidence.

Surf Expo convenes Sept. 12–14 in Orlando, Florida, where manufacturers and specialty retailers in the board, beach, and fashion industries converge in a business-first environment. The evolution of the trade show from its surf roots to a comprehensive boardsports and coastal-influenced fashion and accessories show is a perfect match for the growth and changing needs of these industries.

The captivating Bikini Flavors Cruise 2009 Collection consists of reversible string bikini separates that are fun, daring, and stylish. Styles include: a monokini; cover-ups; triangle, tankini, bandeau, and halter tops; and hipster, Brazilian, tanga, and boy short bottoms—all sold separately for an individualized look and fit. Sizing is scaled from XS–D for tops and XS–XL for bottoms and pricing for the American-made products is – per piece. The fashionista, the fit, the active, and the sexy will all appreciate the customization factor achieved with the reversible pieces and corresponding ties for a unique and flexible swimsuit.

The Hot Tuna Spring 09 Collection finds inspiration from the new wave era. The mad mash-up of hippie chic and rock ‘n’ roll come together in this print-savvy collection. Featuring electric tie-dye, graphic one-of-a-kind lipstick prints, neon baby gingham, and a Hot Tuna twist on polka dots, the collection is all about color and graphics. The Aztec Native American blanket print is the designer’s pick of the season. Silhouettes are flirty and sexy, yet easy and classic. There are string bikinis with some fun fashion asymmetrical pieces to choose from. Hot Tuna continues to push the envelope with innovative prints and unique twists of color.

Himfr is a scholar, focusing his research on Chinese cultures. If you are interested in purchasing China goods, please visit www.himfr.com

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Posted by admin - September 7, 2010 at 1:29 am

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News of the beach fashion 2009

News of the beach fashion 2009

We are already in the depth of spring, days are longer and warmer, and the sea and the beach are very close, even if for now they are just the ideal week end destination. In this period we also begin to see on the horizon boats, yachts, which begin to plough the sea, waiting for days of relaxation and a good glass of wine to accompany fresh fruit and vegetables.

As every year the race to find the most beautiful and trendy bikini has started. But not only swimsuits, to live beach in style also accessories, clothing and shoes are essential. Nothing is left to chance. The women clothing as always is the most detailed and refined. But not just the beachwear is important, very important is also how we go to the beach. For this reason fashion has invented or reinvented a lot of alternatives. As for example big shirts, or caftan, short or long shirts. And then, equipped with bikini or one-piece with strings and laces, we cover the body only with a T-shirt maybe embellished with prints and sequins, or a mini dress (preferably transparent), or a long or short shirt, anyhow the important thing is to show ones body, even before the exposure to the sun.

Obviously, the password is accessories! A very large bag is unfailing, where you can store vices and needs, but also you can cover your head with a big foulard and do not forget to wear very high heels sandals, so that, if needed, your legs will seem much more slender.

As for swimsuit and clothing for the beach, there are many new proposals this season. For example, this summer bikini will be very fashionable, but also triangle and underwire, shorts, one-piece with deep necklines whose colors recall the various gradation of the savannah.

But not only Africa, the trends for this summer will be also inspired by the great dive with very chic and refined models to bestow a charm and an allure of a diva of another era: the one-piece in jersey, the extremely elegant and dark model with deep neckline, this summer this fashion is a symbol of refined, modern and sensual elegance.

To complete this tres chic look, there are also the unfailing beachwear fashion accessories 2009: the wide brim hat as a true diva, the inevitable sunglasses, preferably very large, and the dark and sensual scarf.

Anything is allowed in order to highlight your body, whatever your physical, there is fitting accessories for each of us.

There are a lot of proposals for this summer, besides summer only lasts three months, it is important to fully enjoy it and always show off a fabulous look for making as more conquers as possible.

This article was written by Martina Meneghetti with support from women's swimsuit for any information, please visit halter swimsuit or for insurance visit hot thong bikini.

Webwriter of Prima Posizione Srl.

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Posted by admin - September 5, 2010 at 8:12 pm

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Iconic Beach Girl #1 : Michelle Phillips

Iconic Beach Girl #1 : Michelle Phillips

With the face of an angel, this quintessential California dream-girl, a native of Long Beach, was the face of the sixties. Along with her bandmates, she was the beautiful mama, supported by crystal songbird Cass, band leader husband John and mournful tenor Denny. Today at age 65 she is the sole survivor of 60's folk band sensation The Mamas & the Papas. Michelle Phillips was the original BoHo babe, the first real flower-child.  Her long sun-kissed blonde hair made her look like she'd just left the beach or rolled out of bed; her green eyes so distinctive and piercing she shunned the heavy eyeliner of the times others like Dusty used to emphasize them. No matter if she might have been up all night, Michelle somehow always looked sunny, fresh and natural--her beauty so evanescent that she inspired then-estranged husband John to yearn for her in songs he wrote for her like 'Go Where you Wanna Go' and 'I Saw Her Again'

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She practially invented shabby chic and laid-back casual beachy style with loose stripey tees, knit ponchos, knee-high boots and gauzey tunics and caftans over jeans. Not much has changed in the way the beach girls dress today--Sienna and Lindsay take note.

Her street-style then was more jumble sale than Rodeo Drive, but today she remains as cool and crisp as pleated linen, and as glamorous and stunning as ever a grandmother could be. Penning some of the lyrics to California Dreamin' and other songs by The Mamas & the Papas has kept Michelle far from rags, but she still retains the softness and the girlishness so evocative of that swinging 60's era.

Kiki is the eternal beachgirl, and takes her inspiration from the awesome elegance and pristine simplicity of beaches and waves everywhere. She muses on islands, oceans, beaches, shells, flowers, tropical living, travel, design and style, swimming, surfing, her beloved Hawaii nei, the spirit of aloha, iconic symbols and of course the fleeting ‘endless summer'. Most importantly, she frets over what to wear at the beach!

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kikidoll at the beach

Posted by admin - September 4, 2010 at 5:58 pm

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Fashion Fusion From East to West and Back Again

Fashion Fusion From East to West and Back Again

Just like a painting, or a song, fashion also plays a main role in the fusion of different cultures and influences. Eastern and Western cultures engage in an important part in the Fashion trends of today. These two are fused in the fashion industry in many ways, the British borrowing from the Russians, India from the French, Japan and Germany, and the list continues.

Since 1890, fashion expresses tremendous influences from the Eastern culture in the western dress resulting from the artists and designers renowned interest in Art Nouveau. The 1905 war between Japan and Russia and the Chinese revolution in 1911 were fundamental for their inspiration at the moment, as well as today. Some of the most common characteristics are V-necklines, straight seams, hourglass silhouettes, full sleeves toward the end, sleeves sewn to bodice and contrasting wide waistband, to name some.

In any store or designer line, you can find eastern inspired clothing like embroidered tunics, beaded necklines on dresses and shirts, jeweled handbags in Sari fabrics, reminiscing different characteristics from the East. Pashminas, for example, are now an every day basic item for most women to wear either on a date to the movies or to a fancy formal gala.

Another essential item in women’s wardrobe today is the Kurta top, as simple as it can be it stands from the rest because of its beaded detail. The Nehru jacket, born in the 1940’s and remarketed in the 1960’s thanks to The Beatles, is still an acclaimed collar style in shirts, coats and jackets.

The element of women wearing pants, men wearing caftans have even translated to comfort while being considered chic forms of relax-at-home fashion. Attire wrapped around the body like kimonos and robes, rich color fabrics, even pagoda sleeves are eastern trends incorporated in western fashion.

Some of the most noted designers bidding on exotic eastern style in their creations are: Max Mara, exploring sexy necklines and strong fabrics, Cacharel with sweet flower prints, and Lacroix risking it with Japanese type sleeves. Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier, Gianfranco Ferré and Versace are only some of the top names reaching out to their masculine lines by including eastern elements to their lines, like pants made with kimono fabrics, mao necklines, printed belts and even oriental type sandals with the use of silk and heavy silk, these fabrics are the foundation for the exotic oriental look designers are striving for.

The Boho Chic look, on the other hand, can be represented as a western influence on eastern culture; it embraces a unique style where you can appreciate the fusion of both worlds with the modern and contemporary side of the western fashion and just a hint of eastern flair in the jewels and beading.

Season to season, we see fashion face some radical changes, but the east and west mixture is inescapable, resulting always in a beautiful, artistic and also commercial masterpiece representing a multicultural society of designers and consumers.

Buy apparels from a well-known, trusted online store where you can shop for more than 4000 unique fashion products for men, women & kids delivered to you free anywhere in the world. SalwarKameezIndia.com offers hassles-free online purchase of custom salwar kameez, ready to wear and more.

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Posted by admin - September 3, 2010 at 11:51 am

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Travel Tips For Women – Packing for the Tropics

Travel Tips For Women - Packing for the Tropics

When you go for any vacation, tranvel light. Here's what you need to bring for yourself if youare holidaying in a hot, humid climate.

Clothes wise, stick to a color scheme and you'll be fine. Bright colors look fabulous in the bright light you get in the tropics. Pick 3 neutral colors and 1 bright color, or 2 brights and 2 neutrals. For example, if you look great in blues in pinks, build your travel wardrobe around bright blue, a cheerful pink gray and white. If you look better in warm earthy colors, go for orange, yellow, brown and cream. Of you prefer something more classic, try red, navy, white and black.

Even though the climate is hot, air conditioning in the hotel and in the coach (if you are going in a tour group) can get very cold, so bring along a light sweater and jeans for times like these.

Whether you are going for a 4 day trip or a 4 week trip, you need just one suitcase. For longer trips, bring along an airtight container of soap powder to wash your clothes with. Hotel bathrooms have clothes lines on which you can hang your clothes to dry.

Bring along a swimsuit or bikini. Actually, a bikini is very handy as it can double up as a bra and panty set. In any case, even if you don't intend to go to the beach, the hotel probably has a wonderful swimming pool you might want to check out, so the swimsuit could well come in handy. You could get decent exercise swimming laps across the pool. Bring along slippers and a sarong or caftan as a cover up. A hat would help protect you from the heat when you go out in the hot sun. Sunglasses protect your eyes and make you look movie star glamorous.

Pack light. When you go to the tropics, the weather allows you to go out in camisoles and shorts which take up little space. Throw in a skirt for dinners and a pair of sleek black pants (or pants in the darkest neutral in your color scheme). 4 camisoles and 4 shorts, 1 in each of your chosen colors, 1 skirt that goes with all your chosen colors and an extra pretty top or two would go a long way in letting you dress up or down throughout your holidays. Mix an match the pieces as you please. For a longer vacation, throw in a pretty dress or two that has spandex in the fabric, as such fabrics don't crease so easily, yet look wonderful when you wear them. These go into your suitcase.

Wear the chunkier items when you leave your home. Your jeans, a smart white shirt and track shoes and socks (don't forget to pack in a few extra pairs) would take you to your destination in style. You can mix and match these with the rest of your wardrobe when you get to your destination.

For your personal care items, sunblock tops the list. I like nivea sun lotion. That milky lotion is light enough to use on the face as a day cream and it does not clog the pores. At least my pimple prone, easily irritated skin actually liked that lotion enough for me to use it as a day cream as well as a sunblock lotion all over.

Remember to bring your toothpaste, tooth brush, dental floss, cleanser, toner, moisturizer, shower gel, shampoo and body lotion. Foam bath is a wonderful luxury you can use in the hotel bath tub. Try to get these in travel sizes as travel sets take up far less space than the regular sized version, plus, when you use up the contents, you can refill the handy bottles for your next holiday.

Finally, bring along minimal makeup. Lipstick, mascara and eye liner should be enough.

Posted by admin - September 2, 2010 at 7:50 am

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Top 3 Summer 2008 Silver JewelsThat Stand the Test of Time

Top 3 Summer 2008 Silver JewelsThat Stand the Test of Time

Don't you hate it when the latest accessories you buy this season look dated next season?

Summer brings with it plenty of gorgeous whimsical clothes and accessories. What can you get now that is hot right now and will still be in style next year?

Jewelry is your best bet. In particular, silver jewelry which always stays in vogue.

Yes, jewelry is something you'd want your guy to get for you. Engagement rings, jewelry gifts and all are stuff a girl gets from the guy of her dreams. But you can always buy jewelry for yourself and there's no need to spend a month's salary on a pair of earrings.

Forget about platinum and diamonds. For your stylish jewelry wardrobe which you can wear everyday, stick to silver. Let semi precious stones or cubic zirconia adorn your jewelry collection so you can look great without going broke.

These are the top 3 items to get this season.

1. Silver Chain Necklaces

You see them everywhere this summer. Whether or not you dare cover your entire top with silver chain necklaces, now is the time to get these versatile necklaces. This season, silver chains of all sizes and lengths are worn in a jumble around your neck. But that is not the only way to wear them. Since silver bracelets are hot this season, you could take one or two of your silver chains and wrap them around your wrist for a unique new silver bracelet. Next season, you can wear each necklace on its own to showcase Fall and Winter's new clothes. Depending on the look of each season, your silver necklace can breathe fresh life into your wardrobe by changing the way you wear that necklace.

2. Silver Hoop Earrings

These are classics. Oh so summery in the way to look fabulous with a bikini or a sarong wrap or a caftan on the beach. Yet these beauties look fabulous with your little black dress and your winter clothes. These are super versatile and make you look sexier no matter what you wear.

Did you know that way back during the times of ancient civilizations, people wore earrings and these were in the form of hoops. Silver hoop earrings have been around from the dawn of civilization. Yet we in modern society wear them? Why? Hoops are flattering.

For a summer vacation, bring along a pair of hoop earrings. You can wear them there, or keep them in your coin purse if you aren't wearing them.

3. Silver brooches

This is a classic you might not notice at first. Brooches are chameleons. Jewels you pin on wherever you'd want to draw attention. Or to spice up an otherwise plain outfit.

You see them on Guess ads with the model wearing a brooch high up her denim vest. Or you could pin them just below the lowest dip of the neckline on your summer dress.

You can cover an entire top with silver brooches. Or you can decorate your tote bag with them.
There are so many ways you can use that brooch.

Here are 18 ways to wear a brooch and that's the beginning. Get that to spice up your summer outfits and you can wear them for many years to come. More about Summer Silver Jewelry from www.buy-silver.com

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Posted by admin - September 1, 2010 at 2:37 am

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Attire For A Casual Resort Evening

Attire For A Casual Resort Evening

Invitation for a resort party and don’t know what to wear?  Resort clothing is a little different from casual clothing. Jeans, t- shirts, camisoles, short skirts are not a part of resort wear. Resort clothing is specialized clothing which was earlier worn only for special occasions but now it has become a year round trend. This style of clothing has become popular in almost every wardrobe.

For men, ideal casual resort clothing will be something like, polo shirts with slacks, button down shirts, nice shoes to accompany and also a sports coat or a dinner jacket can be worn with this. For women, nice pants, smart top with sandals or shoes. Even caftans, full length evening gowns with nice sandals are a good choice of resort clothing. These clothes are made up of cotton, linen, silk and poplin. The clothes should be nice and comfortable. As these clothes are meant for informal occasions so high maintenance clothes should not be a part of resort clothing. Casual resort style clothing is easy to wash and handle and does not need much of ironing. Resort style clothing has gained popularity because of its low maintenance requirement. These are trouble free clothing and come with breathable fabrics.

If your invitation card says casual resort white dress code then try wearing a white Capri with nice top and huge sunglasses and wear a nice metallic sandal to complete the look. Men can choose to wear nice khaki pants with a nice polo shirt.

Latest trend in casual resort style clothing are the beach sun dresses and batik Hawaiian sarongs. Resort wear is also popular for beach holidays and vacations, as these can be converted into a nice beach wear as well.  The colors used are also very soothing to the eyes thus adding to the holiday mood. Red, green, blue and cool colors are used for such type of clothing.

Brands like Banana Republic, J. Crew, Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang, Matthew Williamson, Mango hold regular fashion shows showcasing latest trends in causal resort style clothing range. Along with resort clothes, accessories to match up with the clothes are also being highlighted. Bags, jewelry, belts, sunglasses all are getting new dimension with resort style of clothing.

Resort wear are not only popular as holiday or vacation clothing but are also used for business meetings and conferences held in resorts.

At swimsuitcompany, we offer a huge selection of Ujena swimwear, beachwear, swimsuits, one piece bathingsuits, two piece bathingsuits,casual resort , hot bikinis and many other Ujena brand clothing items for women.

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Posted by admin - August 29, 2010 at 7:20 pm

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History Of Fashion: The Byzantine Empire

History Of Fashion: The Byzantine Empire

In the 3rd century the Roman Empire was dying. The emperor Constantine, however, would begin the transformation process from which an Eastern Christian Empire was to emerge when he created the second capital of the Roman Empire in Constantinople in the year 324. Located on the European side of the Bosporus, on the crossroad between the East and the West, Constantinople would become the most opulent city in the world. The finest luxury goods - most notably silk - were imported from Asia. In turn, Constantinople exported to Western Europe works of art, silk vestments, papyrus, porcelain, glass ware, incense, and perfumes.

During eleven centuries the Byzantine Empire experienced a period of extreme brilliance, under Justinian (ad 527-565),  followed by a temporary decline; then, from the ninth century to the thirteenth, an extraordinary development, followed by a gradual weakening marked by serious economic and political losses, which ended in the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453.

Byzantine costume reflected those diverse influences. It presented characteristics of ancient Classical costume, but it was mainly influenced by Near-Eastern  sumptuousness in its nature and colour. This fusion was prolongued until the end of the Empire by the empirial court.

Women

Women had a secluded and restricted existence dominated by their domestic obligations. The sole exception were women of the nobility, especially Theodora who held a  powerful role in the empire.

Costume

Byzantine style was influenced by both Greek and Roman attire, and was characterized by oriental opulence. Shape was simple, but bright colors, fringes, tassels, and jeweled embroidery, all of eastern origin, made clothing extravagantly luxurious. Clothing denoted stature and rank.

Byzantine wardrobe was rich and complex due to the diverse origin of many of byzantine garments. The trousers were borrowed from the Huns or the Persians. The tzitsakfoncame from the Khazares. The soft boots, the paragaudion, a gold-embroidered tunic with a purple-dyed leather belt, the kandys, the collar and the skaramangion, the ovoidal tiara were all Persians.   The cavvadior, the skaranicon and the granatzawere introduced by the Assyrians, and the Medes gave the necklace.

In spite its opulence and splendor, byzantine clothing reflected the new Christian values. Its purpose was to conceal the body. Physical shape and sex disappeared under the long billowing tunics. Garments literally made a statement of religious devotion for they were often embroidered with religious scenes. At first there was no distinction between the dress of clerics and the rest of the population, but then the former were forbidden to follow fashion trends.  Catholic and Orthodox vestments look today the same way they did once.

Imperial costume

Emperors, who acted both as head of the state and the church, had a lavish existence and their ceremonial attire contributed to the empire's reputation for sartorial excess.

From the 4th to the 6thcentury emperors wore a gown woven of gold thread and a chlamys fastened on the right shoulder with a rich fibula. Justinian also wore the Roman consuls toga, the trabea, a wide scarf crossed on the chest, and the paragaudion. Empresses wore a white tunic with a vertical band of embroidery, and a gown with elbow-length sleeves.

A wide collar embroidered with gold and set with beads and precious stones of Persian origin, known as the maniakis, covered the shoulders of the Emperor and Empress.

In the 10th century, Imperial costume was completed with the loros, a long scarf embroidered with gold thread and precious stones.

In the 12th century Byzantium transformed the caftan worn by Persian soldiers into an elegant garment. A new coat, buttoned down the front, was in fashion. The Imperial crown was then completely closed, in the shape of a small dome: the camelaukion.

During the last centuries of Byzantium, the Emperor wore the saccoz, a purple or black stiff gown, with fastened at the wrists sleeves.

Civilian costume

There is far less known about the civilian costume for it is not as well documented and what we do know, we have gathered from the description of writers from that epoch. Ordinary men wore clothes characteristic for the Steppe people, a blouse or tunic, trousers and footwear, taken from the Huns.  Breeches were tight, made from patterned or embroidered cloth, and were worn tucked into the boots, which reached mid-calf.

Women's clothing

Women's clothing was meant to conceal the body and hide the gender. It consisted of numerous layers starting by a tight-fitting chemise that fell to the ankle. The tunic worn on top could be either fitted or girded just above or at waist. It was shorter than the chemise underneath and so it revealed it.  Other staples in the women’s’ wardrobe were the stola, the palla, and a long veil, which fell behind the head, or was folded forward and draped over the arm.

Theodora’s rich silk dresses were enhanced with precious stones and lavish gold embroidery. She wore ropes of pearls, emeralds, and rubies, and for ceremonial purposes a heavy crown with pearls and emeralds that cascaded down to her chest.

Men’s clothing

In the early ages of the empire, byzantine clothing copied Roman. Men wore a tight-fitting white tunic  with long sleeves, which reached either the ankles or the knees. Over this undergarment they wore the dalmatika, a red and gold tunic with long wide sleeves. Men’s wardrobe included also the hosa, a woolen or fabric hose, the bracoor breeches, which later on were replaced by pants or drawers, the Greeks chlamys, that they wore with the tablion, a rectangular piece of cloth inset at waist height, and the Roman pallium, which shared only the name with its predecessor.

The toga was initially worn by most, but from the 6th century onward became the distinctive mark of consuls. It was replaced by the cloak, which could be found in three styles: a rectangle piece of fabric, which was worn wrapped around the shoulders; a semicircular cape, which was also fastened at the shoulder; and the circular cape, which was sewn up the front and had an opening for the head.

The author is the founder and owner of Adriana Allen LLC - a European fashion brand offering handmade and one-of-a-kind handbags and fashion accessories. You can learn more about world fashion, fashion's history, and how to buy fashion accessories at our official blog

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Posted by admin - August 28, 2010 at 2:24 pm

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Three Styles Of Fashion Shoes

Three Styles Of Fashion Shoes

Fashion shoes, if properly cared for, last a nice long time. Sandals, evening shoes and fun shoes can all be chosen for their immediate use. Think trendy and unique when looking for a pair of shoes.

Let's see why choose Sandals, evening shoes or fun shoes.

For Comfort
There most likely isn't a woman alive who hasn't suffered for beautiful shoes. Even if the fashion shoe you are considering purchasing is only for a special occasion, there are ways around pain.

Sandals
Sandals are another form of fashion shoe that can be chosen for the fun of it all. Shoes do not have to be all serious. Update your summer wardrobe simply be changing up your shoes. Neutral outfits look brand new when pairing them with bright ugg sandals.

If only neutral will do for you, a beige, khaki or nude sandal can be made more exciting by choosing neutral reptile. White is not a neutral color in shoes. A bright white sandal is a fashion shoe statement, for example, UGG Fluff Flip Flop 5304 White.

Evening shoes
Even if your dress is down to the floor, don't think you can get away with just any old shoe when wearing a gorgeous gown. Those old black pumps just won't do. Even if you do not get out much, a great pair of fashion shoes for evening are a necessary investment.

Putting on a great pair of fashion shoes is enough to signal the shift that is necessary when going out for the evening. Attitude is everything and evening fashion shoes can take you there. By the way, our store have many style of ugg boots on sale.

Low cut shoes and open strappy styles are more slimming than closed toed shoes. One of the best evening looks is a sling back style or any shoe with a angled strap.

Flats or a low heel can give an evening trousers or suit, kicked back chic. Tall women can also wear flats with full, ankle length ballerina style skirts.
Elegant closed style shoes can be cut in a dressy fabric for an evening impact. Patent leather, silk, satin or beaded fabrics look better than matte leather in an evening fashion shoe. Evening shoes don't have to be black, in fact, silver or gold is just as classic.

Fun Shoes
Fun shoes like ballet flats, or wedges are nice options when getting ready for the day.Ballet Flats are great with cropped slim trousers and miniskirts.Wedges make chunky calves look slim, they even make the foot itself look smaller. Roman sandals and leather thongs with their free spirit look, go well with loose looks like caftans, summer linens and tunic dresses.

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Posted by admin - August 27, 2010 at 9:32 am

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Plus-Size Revelation: Bigger Women Have Cash, Too

Plus-Size Revelation: Bigger Women Have Cash, Too

Corseted into a size 18 white denim dress, wearing heels that made her about 6-foot-2, Gwen DeVoe, a former model and fashion-show producer, stepped onto a runway in Manhattan this week and made a pitch to retailers for the plus-size woman.

Those stores that don't carry bigger sizes? "Shame on you, baby, shame on you," Ms. DeVoe said. "Every curvy girl that has a dollar is willing to spend that dollar."

So retailers are realizing.

That same day, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 28 percent of the adult population was obese last year, the highest percentage yet. Almost two-thirds of American women are either overweight or obese, according to the most recent CDC figures.

As doctors and public health officials encourage Americans to slim down, the fashion industry is embracing Americans as they are. Both mass-market stores like Forever 21 and Target and expensive designers like Elie Tahari are deciding the fattening of America is a big business opportunity, and are reinvigorating a market that had faltered during the recession.

The standard clothing that most stores have focused on in recent years fits fewer and fewer people. And as retailers search for ways to invigorate sales, plus size is one of the few categories where there is growth. The plus-size market increased 1.4 percent while overall women's apparel declined 0.8 percent in the 12 months leading up to April 2010 versus the same period a year earlier, the most recent figures available, according to NPD Group, a market research firm.

"It just makes business sense," said Ms. DeVoe, who founded "Full-Figured Fashion Week" last year to press mainstream retailers to embrace bigger sizes. "I've been told several times that no one fantasizes about being a plus-size woman, and that's probably true, but the fact remains that you have to work with what you have."

That is not always so easy for retailers venturing into the world of larger shoppers. Some bigger women do not like to try on clothes in the same fitting rooms as smaller women. Plus-size stocks take up valuable storage space, and not everyone is big in the same way, meaning stores cannot count on, say, a size 16 dress fitting most 180-pound women — one might have a larger torso, another big thighs and another wider hips.

"There are variations not only in the frame, but if you're looking at larger women, you're also looking at the way fat deposits are arranged around the body," said Susan Ashdown, a professor at Cornell who studies body shape and clothing fit by creating a three-dimensional scan of a person's almost-nude body.

Plus-size clothes, which now generally begin at size 14, have been around for at least 90 years, since a Lithuanian immigrant, Lena Bryant (her name was later misspelled as "Lane" on a business form), turned a maternity-wear business into a line for stout women in the 1920s. There have been several efforts to make plus-size clothes more available, but, as the name of the 1980s-era plus-size chain The Forgotten Woman suggested, larger women have usually been relegated to stand-alone boutiques stocked with shapeless purple caftans.

"One of the things that happens with plus-size women is, as a rule, they're pretty under-served," said Bill Bass, president of Sonsi, a social networking and retail site for heavier women. "The big companies forget about them or ignore them, or make them go online to buy their clothes since they won't have them in stores."

Although Americans have grown steadily heavier in the last decade, women's plus-size clothing still makes up only 17 percent of the women's apparel market today, according to NPD. There just is not much supply or variation in plus-size clothes for women to buy, said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at NPD. And the big retailers have mostly stayed away.

Cost is one issue. Plus-size clothes are more difficult, and expensive, to make than more traditional sizes. Material can be the largest portion of a garment's cost — up to about 60 percent — and larger sizes require not only more of it, but sometimes different production processes.

"Its not just about how much fabric is required," said Deepa Neary, a retail consultant at A.T. Kearney, a consulting firm. "You're actually using wider bolts of fabric, and that sometimes requires special machinery to produce the garments. You often don't get to pass that on to the consumer, so your margins are not as high as the regular-size clothing."

And with limited floor space, retailers say it's hard to display, say, blouses from size 0 to 24. So the plus market "unfortunately gets treated like an exile," said Kathy Bradley-Riley, senior vice president for merchandising at the trend forecasting firm Doneger Group.

Given those difficulties, some companies have pulled back on plus-size offerings. Old Navy and Ann Taylor stopped selling plus sizes in stores in the last few years, and now sell them only online. Liz Claiborne, which still sells some plus-size clothing, shut down its plus-size line Elisabeth, along with Sigrid Olsen, which carried larger sizes. It sold Ellen Tracy, which also had a plus-size offering. But given the strong sales in the sector more recently, and women becoming ever more overweight, some companies are giving the plus-size market a second look.

The chain Forever 21, which is based in California, introduced Faith 21, its larger-size line, last year. Though sales were much stronger than the company expected, that did not mean it had mastered the category. "We have been working through the kinks even now," said Linda Chang, Forever 21's director of marketing. "It doesn't come as easily as maybe the smaller clothing would."

Last summer, Target began carrying a line called Pure Energy that translated young, trendy clothes to larger sizes, adding to its more mature plus-size offerings.

"We definitely view this category as a growth opportunity," said a Target spokeswoman, Katie Heinze. After testing Pure Energy in some stores, Target decided to carry it in all 1,740 outlets.

Elie Tahari, the high-end designer, began selling a plus-size line this year, and at Full-Figured Fashion Week, more than 25 other designers showed their plus-size clothes to an audience of retail buyers and plus-size women.

Backstage before a runway show on Wednesday night, it looked like a sorority house before a formal: shoes everywhere, makeup stacked on tables, the smell of hairspray and baby powder, and women lounging about in silk robes.

On stage, Ms. DeVoe emphasized that plus-size women were ready to buy clothes.

As the crowd whooped, Ms. DeVoe shouted, "My pockets are fat!"

 

From and see more at:http://shoes4woman.com/2010/06/22/plus-size-revelation-bigger-women-have-cash-too/

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Posted by admin - August 26, 2010 at 5:34 am

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Muslim Wear Down The Ages

Muslim Wear Down The Ages

Muslim wear has changed a lot through history. These changes reflect the society, culture and religious beliefs of the time they were witnessed. However, religion and the emergence of a nationalist identity have been the two most prevalent factors governing changes in Islamic or Muslim clothing.

 

Muslim Wear: Through the Pages of History

Muslim wear has been mainly influenced by the cultures of other empires and kingdoms. Countries conquered by Muslim rulers also imparted to this exchange of influences on clothing. During the period of time preceding the Islamic era, clothing for both sexes was mostly similar. Some of these influences still persist in the dress in and around the Near Eastern region, including Iran and Iraq.

 

After Prophet Muhammad laid down guidelines for clothing, the universal principle of hijab, or ‘the veil' was added to the simple, functional apparel of the indigenous population, based on the climate, weather and environment of the region. In fact, clothing worn by rural dwellers and the Bedouin reflect this functionality. Urban dwellers, on the other hand, are more likely to exhibit western influences in dress. However, this influence too has been absorbed into Muslim wear's unique identity.

 

Blended fashions, such as men wearing a jillaba or kaffiya along with a formal western business suit and shoes, are a common sight in urban areas and towns and cities all over the Far East.

 

Muslim Wear: Main Elements

Islamic apparel enjoys a unique and distinct identity despite influences over time. Let us look at some of the common elements seen in this clothing:

 

Outer clothing: Almost all traditional Islamic cultures incorporate some form of wrap or mantle. Usually one long, single outer garment extending from the head or neck to the ankles that can be a long dress, gown or caftan, the aba or rida usually has two openings in the front for the hands. The fabric used in making this garment also denotes which region it belongs to. Similarly, the burnoose or thobe is a one-piece cloak with a hood that is worn throughout the Northern African and Arabian regions. The Egyptian version is referred to as the jillaba.

 

Headwear: The imama or turban is the most common form of head attire prevalent. Turbans come in a large variety of styles and even sport a trailing end which serves the practical purpose of veiling the face in case of bad weather. During the Abbasid period, turbans were used by Muslim rulers to differentiate between various classes of their population. Besides turbans, the flat, cone-shaped Fez cap of Moroccan origin and the black velvet sidara, popular among Iraqis, the most common form of head gear is the kaffiya or head scarf worn with a ringed cord of rope on the head called the agal.

 

If you are looking for traditional Islamic clothing, visit www.eastessence.com for a comprehensive range of formal to contemporary styles. EastEssence.com has over a decade of experience in selling traditional Muslim apparel.

 

Hope you find this article informative. For more information on Muslim Wear please visit http://www.eastessence.com

 

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Posted by admin - August 25, 2010 at 12:31 am

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How to interior design in a retro style: Stylish 50′s or Swinging 60′s

How to interior design in a retro style: Stylish 50's or Swinging 60's

To design in a retro style is to remix aspects of a previous style.  Many styles of the past have successfully been reinvented time and time again. A popular retro style is the style created in the 1950's rock ‘n' rock era. The 1960's became known as the swinging 60's. Interior décor and clothing fashions can be intermingle to create bold trendy statements.

If you would like to create a 1950's look hot pink was the colour of the decade. Italian couture began to rival French couture. Pucci and Simonetta were influenced by the colours of the Renaissance. Fath used Honan silks in hot pink. Turquoise became a sensation after 1951. The Germany Company Bayer developed the first colour fast turquoise dye Alcian. Full skirts in bold colours were a hallmark of the rock ‘n' roll era.

Interior design

The technological advances of the age let to advances in fabrics and finishes. Orange, pistachio and kingfisher blue furnishing fabrics very much in vogue. The colours were used juxtaposition (side by side) and can appear gaudy to some people.

Scandinavian designers combined natural and synthetic materials. The colours used reflected the Nordic landscape. Linoleum tops in primary colours were used on Birchwood tables and chairs for children. Eero Saarinen's pedestal chair was created for Knoll in 1955. Alvar Aalto a Finish architect designed his famous cantilevered chair. The designer Eames created the Sofa Compact in 1954 and the Eames lounge chair and ottoman in 1956. The Ant chair was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1953. George Nelson also created his famous Marshmallow chair and a storage system.

The fabrics of the decade included a fabric called Circles by Alexander Girard, ‘Double Triangles' a fabric designed by Alexander and Girard Willaim Pahlmann designed ‘Still Trees'. Frank Lloyd Wright also designed ‘Imperial Triangle' which was reproduced by F. Schumacher in 1956.

The 1950's saw the development of new plastics, stream proof paints, wallpapers, and flooring. Velcro was also developed. The 1950's was a glorious time for design. A new optimism was emerging after the depression of the 1930's and the devastation of the World War in the 1940's. If you visit the Sample Board Online blog http://blog.sampleboardonline.com you can find some examples of 1950's style

 

What was hot in the stylish 50's Interior Design?

Bright pinks        Orange                 Gold                      Reds      Turquoise            Beige

Coloured enamel kitchenware

Linoleum top tables in primary colours

Designer furniture

Subdued fabric patterns

The Fashion Colours of 1950's

Primary colours                 Hot pink               Very hot pink     Turquoise            Kingfisher blue

Green                                   Lilac                  Pale maize          Amethyst            Geranium

Clothing styles

Matching colours

Billowing wraps

Semi fitted coats

Strapless boned bodice evening dresses

Fabrics

Taffeta                                 Satin

 

The swinging 60's

A new range of cheap brightly coloured cotton fabrics and an increase in synthetic fabrics produced an explosion of mass produced fashion items in the 1960's. Drip dried non iron clothing became the rage. As did coats and boots in brightly coloured plastic. Mary Quant was one of the leaders of the swinging London style, the mini skirt which conquered the world. Trouser suits became popular from New York, to Paris and Rome.

The Italian collections of the time were highly coloured, stripes and knits. It was at this time blue jeans became popular and were worn by both sexes and people of all ages and went on to become a fashion classic. The panty hose replaced nylon stockings. They worked well with the mini skirt and came in many different colours and patterns. Visit the Sample Board Online blog http://blog.sampleboardonline.com and find examples of the 1960's style.

Khaki military style jackets were worn with jeans or white (bell bottomed) sailor style trousers. The hippy look dominated the fashions of the late sixties. The styles were a mingling of native peasant costumes with beadwork and chamois leather. Mondrian paintings, films and ethic dress influenced fashion. Zandra Rhodes colourful psychedelic patterns in fabrics and wallpapers were contrasted by the two tone Laura Ashley designs in brown, pale blue, green and cream for clothing, curtains and covers.

Spanish architect Paco Rabanne invaded the fashion scene with a futuristic style influenced by the space race. He designed mini dresses made of geometric shapes riveted and clasped together with metal, leather or plastics. Verner Panton a Swiss architect designed the first plastic chair with no joints in 1960. This led to the development of synthetic moulded furniture in geometric shapes. Solid moulded foam cubes in bright colours were also produced. The main feature of the 1960's interior style; playful and casual.

The Swinging 1960's

Colourful ethic fabrics

Oriental beads

Colourful jewellery

Muticoloured Afghan dresses

Indonesian batik prints

North African caftans

Nehru shirts

Arabic djellabas (a traditional long, loose-fitting outer robe)

Silver jewellery inset with amber and other semi precious stones

Kohl eye makeup

Red Henna hair colouring

New colour consciousness

Peasant skirts

Embroidered blouses

Boleros decorated with ribbons

High red boots

Patterned headscarves

Body painting

Mini skirt

Indian prints

Black and white geometric designs

 

1960's Interior Design

Floors, ceilings and walls painted in brilliant colours

Murals

Wall hangings

Multicoloured Indian prints

Sofa's, divans and floors covered with oriental carpets and rugs

Abundance of colours available

Plastic chairs

Moulded foam furniture

Cubed style furniture

You can create your retro style in a number of ways. Create a colourful 60's hippy pad using oriental carpets and rugs. Or a space age room with bold coloured moulded foam furniture. Psychedelic wall paper designs can be used to jazz up any room and add a touch of 1960's style. You can recreate a 1950's or 1960's room using a number of items and colours from the 50's or 60's. Or select one or two items from one of the eras and use the item as a starting point of the design for your retro room. The sky is the limit it is also an eco friendly way to decorate as many items from the 1950's and 1960's are available at second hand dealers, op shops and on ebay.

Rosena works as an interior design, retail and visual merchandising tutor for Australian College QED. She I has also worked for the Retail Traders Association of Victoria as a Retail Trainer. Rosena has a Diploma in Interior Design, Post Graduate Diploma in Public and Community Health and is a qualified trainer. She also works as an interior design consultant, creates designer art work and is the Australian partner of Sample Board Online a new cool free design presentation tool.

Posted by admin - August 23, 2010 at 8:20 pm

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Men’s Skirts

Men's Skirts

Men's skirts are skirts worn by men. The wearing of a skirt is conventionally, in North America and much of Europe, an expression of a female role. However, people have variously attempted to promote the wearing of skirts by men and to do away with this sex distinction, albeit with little general success and considerable cultural resistance.

From the early Victorian period there was a decline in the wearing of bright colours and luxurious fabrics by men, with a definite preference for sobriety of dress. By the mid 20th Century orthodox Western male dress, especially business and semi-formal dress, was dominated by sober suits, plain shirts and ties.

In the 1960s there was widespread reaction against the accepted (North American and European) conventions of male and female dress. This unisex fashion movement aimed to eliminate the sartorial differences between men and women. In practice, it usually meant that women would wear male dress, i.e. shirts and trousers. Men rarely went as far in the adoption of traditionally female dress modes. The furthest that most men went in the 1960s in this regard were velvet trousers, flowered or frilled shirts and ties, and long hair.

In the 1980s, a few male celebrities dressed in skirts, and fashion designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Giorgio Armani, John Galliano, Kenzo, Rei Kawakubo, and Yohji Yamamoto tried to promote the idea of men wearing skirts, but failed to popularize the idea. Male skirt wearing remained firmly linked with ideas of effeminacy.

In 2003, the Metropolitan Museum of Art displayed an exhibition, organized by Andrew Bolton and Harold Koda of the Museum's Costume Institute and sponsored by Gaultier, entitled Bravehearts: Men in Skirts. The idea of the exhibition was to explore how various groups and individuals (from hippies through pop stars to fashion designers) have promoted the idea of men wearing skirts as "the future of menswear". It displayed male skirts on mannequins, as if in the window of a department store, in several historical and cross-cultural contexts.

The exhibition display pointed out the lack of a "natural link" between an item of clothing and the masculinity or femininity of the wearer, mentioning the kilt as "one of the most potent, versatile, and enduring skirt forms often looked upon by fashion designers as a symbol of a natural, uninhibited, masculinity". It pointed out that fashion designers and male skirt-wearers employ the wearing of skirts for three purposes: to transgress conventional moral and social codes, to redefine the ideal of masculinity, and to inject novelty into male fashion. It linked the wearing of male skirts to youth movements and countercultural movements such as punk, grunge, and glam rock, and to pop music icons such as Boy George and Adrian Young.[6]

Ellsworth eavesdropped on several visitors to the exhibition, noting that because of the exhibition's placement in a self-contained space accessed by a staircase at the far end of the Museum's first floor, the visitors were primarily self-selected as those who would be intrigued enough by such an idea in the first place to actually seek it out. According to her report, the reactions were wide-ranging, from the number of women who teased their male companions about whether they would ever consider wearing skirts (to which several men responded that they would) to the man who said "A caftan after a shower or in the gym can you imagine? 'Excuse me! Coming through!'". An adolescent girl rejected in disgust the notion that skirts were similar to the wide pants worn by hip-hop artists. Two elderly women called the idea "utterly ridiculous". One man, reading the exhibition's presentation on the subject of male skirt-wearing in cultures other than those in the North America and Europe, observed that "God! Three quarters of the world's population [wear skirts]!".

The exhibition itself attempted to provoke visitors into considering how, historically, male dress codes have come to this point, and whether in fact a trend towards the wearing of skirts by men in the future actually exists. It attempted to raise challenging questions of how a simple item of dress connotes (in Ellsworth's words) "huge ramifications in meanings, behaviours, everyday life, senses of self and others, and configurations of insider and outsider".

rope">http://www.himfr.com/buy-rope_block/">rope blockThe wearing of skirts, kilts, or similar garments on an everyday basis by men in western cultures is, as of 2007, very much a minority movement.

Kilts, and derivatives of the garment remain popular. One manufacturer of contemporary kilt styles claims to sell over 12,000 such garments annually, resulting in over million annually worth of sales, and has appeared at a major fashion show.  According to a CNN correspondent: "At Seattle's Fremont Market, men are often seen sporting the Utilikilt"  US News said in 2003 that "... the Seattle-made utilikilt, a rugged, everyday riff on traditional Scottish garb, has leapt from idea to over 10,000 sold in just three years, via the Web and word of mouth alone." "They've become a common sight around Seattle, especially in funkier neighborhoods and at the city's many alternative cultural events. They often are worn with chunky black boots." writes AP reporter Anne Kim. "I actually see more people wearing kilts in Seattle than I did when I lived in Scotland," one purchaser remarked in 2003.

In addition, since the mid-1990s a number of clothing companies have been established to sell skirts specifically designed for men. These include Macabi Skirt in the 1990s, Menintime in 1999 and Midas Clothing in 2002.

 

 

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Posted by admin - August 22, 2010 at 5:17 pm

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