Posted by admin on January 5th, 2009 — Posted in Accouterment
Tight clothing is stuck somewhere between the rock era of the 60s and 70s to today’s trends that many young females choose to follow. It is interesting to see the shift in the people who have worn or wear tight clothing. It was common for a man to wear tight jeans and shirts during the 70s, where in today’s society they wouldn’t be caught dead in tight clothing. Today, females find tight clothing sexy and attractive, especially when it comes to their jeans.
The styles of jeans have evolved throughout the years, ranging from bellbottoms, to boot-cut jeans, to hip huggers. With the trends as they are, it seems that many young girls desire a pair of low riding, tight jeans. However, unless, you weigh around 105 pounds, the look may not be the most flattering. Who wants to squeeze into tight clothing that makes you feel like you are cutting off your circulation throughout your legs and other body parts? The numbers are still high despite the fit or lack thereof.
Men stay away from wearing tight clothing because of its lack of sex appeal. Women embrace tight clothing as something that will enhance the curves of their body and make them appear more attractive to the opposite sex. The tight clothing that women are purchasing today consist of tight jeans with quite a low waist, accompanied by a tight top that shows off their breasts. Sometimes you will even see a tight bustier or bra matched with a pair of tight jeans. During the warmer months, tight mini skirts, as well as tight shorts replace tight-fitting jeans. Just think about Jessica Simpson in those daisy dukes; when is that trend going to end? It is also hard to resist this fashion trend of tight clothing when you see all of the hottest celebrities displaying the very same look.
However, there is another negative factor besides the frowns you may receive from your parents. There is actually a nerve condition that can develop from wearing tight clothing - especially seen in tight jean wearers. This nerve condition is comparable to that of a carpal tunnel syndrome for the legs, called paresthesia. Those who experience this condition will feel a tingling, burning sensation that develops under the hipbone area. The Canadian Medical Association Journal has published studies of this condition.
Not only can a female develop paresthesia, but tight clothing can also cause a highly annoying yeast infection. Wearing tight clothing leads to increased retention of heat, as well as an increased level of moisture in the vagina area, which leads to a yeast infection - which is more prevalent in women who wear tight jeans, as well as tight pantyhose or stockings.
A word to the wise for men still wearing tight clothing, tight pants can cause infertility, as well as damage the testicles. Men should be aware that this damage could also affect their ability to father a child.
For more womens fashion articles, and a FREE Fashion Magazine featuring the latest fashion trends for women, please visit our web site: http://www.net-planet.org
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Posted by admin on January 4th, 2009 — Posted in Accouterment
A hat is a piece of clothing that is worn on top of the head. They are made of various materials such as cotton, wool, leather or straw. Hats were used primarily as protection from the sun or weather but they also serve a symbolic role in many cultures and religions. The material of a hat is shaped to fit snugly around the head or can be attached to the head using a hair pin to secure it.
Most hats are named by how they are shaped. The material is usually steamed and then shaped appropriately. Then it is dried to hold the shape. Hats can usually be rolled or crushed for travel purposes and they will still maintain their integrity, however hats should never be folded because that may leave a crease in the material. The best way to store or protect a hat is with a hat box. The box is round with a removable lid and is usually made of a thick cardboard, balsa wood or leather. Hat boxes were originally designed for wealthy women’s hats. They are usually decorated with pastel colors or prints.
Hats have up to five basic parts in general. Most hats have a crown that is the top portion of a hat that fits over the crown of the wearers head. The brim of a hat is the stiff material that extends outward from the bottom portion of the crown. Brims surround the whole crown to provide protection form the elements. Some hats include a sweat band that is on the inside of the hat located where the hat touches the wearer’s head. The hatband of a hat is a ribbon or band that encompasses a hat where the brim and the crown meet. Hatbands are decorative and the also help a hat maintain its round shape and size. Finally, some hats have a visor that is a stiff material that extends outward from the crown like a brim but it is only located on the front portion.
Find out all about hats and where to get the best deals at http://www.wearhats.info
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Posted by admin on January 4th, 2009 — Posted in Accouterment
There are several forms of body art. Body art can be temporary, for example, body painting, or permanent, such as shaping, dyeing, and scarification, tattooing, and piercing. This article will provide some insight into body art.
Body art painting and shaping
Body painting transforms a person into a spirit or work of art; this can include another gender or a sacred place. Emphasizing on the visual appeal of the subject, the protective body paint is what gives it the appeal.
Body shaping is a technique in which to sculpt the body. Culturally defined ideals of beauty have caused people to bind the soft bones of children’s skulls and feet, stretched necks with rings, and removed ribs to make their waist smaller. The most common method today of body sculpting is plastic surgery. Plastic surgery can sculpt and define almost any part of the body.
Skin Dyeing
Henna, is used as a temporary skin dye, in which different patterns and designs are applied to the body. The crushed leaves of the henna plant, when mixed with other natural ingredients, provides a thick, aromatic paste used for painting hands and feet. The olive green, dried out henna powder, mixed with such ingredients as black tea and coffee turns dark. When applied to the skin and left on overnight, it will harden and when pealed leaves a red tone to the skin.
Body art piercing, tattooing, and scarification
Piercing is ornamental as it allows the body to hold certain kinds of ornaments, which are inserted through the skin. The most common parts of the body that are pierced is the face although you will often find ear, nose and lip ornaments. Piercing is often part of a ceremony marking the coming of age. Ornaments might be limited to certain people or worn only on certain occasions
Tattoos are intended to be permanent and the patterns and techniques have varied over the years. The effects of tattooing depend on the country you live in. As an example, in the United States, tattooing is typically looked upon as being rebellious. Tattooing, in the last decade, has become a very popular form of body art throughout the world.
Scarification is much like tattooing, instead of placing a color into the skin with a tattoo needle, the color, or substance is placed into the wound or cut. Once the wound has healed, a permanent mark will remain on the skin
All of the forms of body art listed above can have adverse effects on individuals. There are health concerns with types of body art. If you are contemplating any of the above procedures, be sure to consider all the risks and facts before making any commitments.
For more information, visit http://www.BodyArtGuide.com
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Posted by admin on January 4th, 2009 — Posted in Accouterment
One-piece, or maillot, swimsuits are not plain or passé. One of the hippest trends last summer was the ‘peek-a-boo’ or cutout maillot, which breaks up the vertical line and accentuates the feminine curves with strategically placed cutouts. The bolder lot, mostly teenagers and girls in their twenties, are going in a string-tie halter suit. This chic tie-side one-piece has a very high leg cut and an adjustable slide string bottom, which gives the bikini effect without the exposure.
Varying asymmetrical slashes in a monochromatic one-piece leaves quite a bit of tanned skin exposed for a sexy, contemporary effect. The extreme examples may leave you as exposed as though you were wearing a teensy bikini, but there are plenty of moderate editions available as well. This flirty style looks good with contrasting vibrant hues like orange and fuchsia, purple and lime green, or blue and canary yellow.
For those who prefer something classy and yet contemporary, the one-piece maillot in an animal print is a classic piece. From tiger, dalmatian and zebra to leopard and snakeskin, these wild prints are all in vogue. Those who prefer subtlety can opt for a suit with ring details on the shoulder straps, bust or sides; they add a snazzy touch to the simplest suit and yet do not go overboard on the ‘bling’ effect.
A low v-neck solid-color halter maillot is a winner; with a plunging back, this one-piece is a powerful force to be reckoned with. However, the solid color must be vibrant. The summer of 2005 witnessed an explosion of bright, solid colors ranging from earthy red to hot pink, stark white, turquoise and rich chocolate.
Swimsuits provides detailed information about swimsuits, bikini swimsuits, kids’ swimsuits, maternity swimsuits and more. Swimsuits is the sister site of Women’s Bathing Suits.
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Posted by admin on January 1st, 2009 — Posted in Accouterment
Not every company is noteworthy or stands out among a crowd of business analysts and industry moguls. However, sometimes the exceptional will surface with new innovation and promises to change the standard by which all is presently compared. Most people can name a few if they think about it but in the case of Under Armour Apparel, they have been a silent success. Under Armour has put their mark on the Performance Apparel industry over the last ten years and they have not only increased the standards for their direct competitors but they are constantly raising the bar for its customers. Presently, SportsSCAN Info’s Schwartz has stated that Under Armour is close to the fourth largest retailer of sporting appeal in the United States just behind Nike, Adidas and Columbia.
The Here and Now
Headquartered Baltimore, Maryland; Under Armour is a growing force and fierce competitor in the performance apparel industry. They have offices all over the world including Denver, Toronto, Hong Kong and London England.
Under Armour develops its performance apparel for men, women and youth with product lines that impact all levels of activity from everyday to extreme sport activity covering all climates and conditions. This diversity has allowed them to impact virtually every market. Presently they have five lines.
- Coldgear
- Loosegear
- Turfgear
- Allseasonsgear
- Heatgear
In the Beginning there was Innovation
Under Armour was founded in 1996 by Kevin Plank, a football player for Maryland. The basic concept created by Plank started as a simple t-shirt made using high tech fabrics. The high tech fabric that he chose had qualities that could wick sweat and other moisture through the fabric to the surface instead of absorbing it. He believed that if athletes could be dry and the moisture wicking ability could help regulate temperature they would perform better. That was his concept. He started the company using $20,000 of his own money, $40,000 from credit and a $250,000 Small Business Loan.
Starting Small - Using your Consumers to Fuel your Success
On November 18, 1995 after Plank had created the first prototype he set up shop in his grandmother’s basement in Washington, DC. His first sale was to Georgia Tech University where interest continued to grow. Shortly after, he was supplying performance apparel to more division one football teams and over two dozen National Football Teams. His method for marketing and retaining clients was simple because he believed that if you create product for the people who will appreciate it most, then it will sell. Plank continued to market his products with this concept and further success came quickly.
By 1996, after its first year of success Under Armour developed five product lines that were all derived from the same Microfiber. The main advantages to this fabric were its ability to:
- Wick moisture away from the skin keeping people dry
- Reduce sweat and regulates body temperature due to breathability
- It was light weight and comfortable
Realizing that all of these benefits applied to a variety of consumers he created five product lines targeting a range of activity levels from everyday to the extreme. It proved to be a smart decision for Plank to broaden his marketing efforts because he was so successful that he had to move to a larger facility in South Baltimore and put Under Armour on the map for good.
Opportunities to Last a Lifetime
In 1998 Under Armour became the official supplier of performance apparel to the National Football League Europe and in 1999 Warner Bros. signed on as a client as well. Under Armour apparel supplied clothing for the movie “Any Given Sunday” and “The Replacements”. It was becoming apparent that Under Armour was no longer just associated with sports but all forms of activity.
2000 was the year that Under Armour became a permanent fixture worldwide. They had 8000 official retail locations all over the world and they were continuing to grow to impressive new heights including:
- Major league lacrosse
- Major league Soccer
- National Hockey League
- USA Baseball
- US Ski Team
Between 2000 and 2005 Under Armour was supplying over 100 division 1A football programs and thirty NFL football teams. Each year they were featured in the superbowl in one form or another. Numerous articles and case studies were written with the best being Time magazines feature that titled Under Armour as the one of the fastest growing private companies. Plank was also named businessperson of the year by the Baltimore Business Journal in 1993.
Current Events
Presently, 2005 is proving to be another exceptionally innovative year starting with 60 products for a new women’s line called UA Metal that was inspired by their ‘Duplicity Sportsbra”. And if that is not enough, they have introduced the UA Tech line, a more technical savvy and advanced version of their original line Loosegear. To reach further into the marketplace they are now targeting individual sports starting with running. They are introducing UA Streaker a line developed with technical advancements for runners.
The performance apparel industry is now a multi billion dollar business. This industry is consistently entering new markets including everyday wear and even business suit apparel. It is incorporating the performance materials to make the everyday more comfortable.
Creating Something Different
The question on many minds including that of direct competitors is how big will they grow? In the same understated way Kevin Plank began he still remains realistic yet optimistic. With 546 Under Armour employees and top competitors like Nike and Adidas, he has approximately 75% of the market share; they are definitely on the right track. The plan for the future is to target the women’s market with a more broad approach.
It is expected that Under Armour will gross an estimated $200 to $250 million this year, so many business analysts are speculating what the next big move will be. As a privately held company, many believe that Under Armour will be acquired by one of their larger competitors. On the other hand, a company only needs to gross $250 million to be eligible to go public and attract the appropriate investors and they are almost there.
Under Armour apparel has been a company that has flown under the radar to become the leading success story in the textile industry for performance apparel. Each milestone and creative achievement is a testament to the true meaning of designing what the consumer demands. It is impossible to predict what the future will hold for this extraordinary company but is safe to say that what they have achieved is a spot on the red carpet of industry beside the big players.
Stephanie Lyster is a successful freelance writer, and outdoor enthusiast. Her articles offer valuable information on choosing the appropriate performance apparel from Under Armour, Gore tex, and CoolMax so you can enjoy the great outdoors more comfortably.
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Posted by admin on January 1st, 2009 — Posted in Accouterment
Summer is with us. The sun is shining, the beaches are glistening and everyone is ready to it the golden sands; ready to relax and enjoy the hottest season of the year.
However, you find yourself stuck indoors with nothing to wear! No stylish swimsuit at hand to stroll down the beach in, thinking “it’s impossible, at my size, to find sexy, stylish and fun beach wear!” Well think again ladies!
Nowadays us large and lovely ladies have a vast selection of plus size swim wear available to spice up our wardrobe and make us look sizzling this summer. All that is needed is a PC, an Internet connection and a comfy chair. Sit back and shop away, choosing from the best selection of plus size swim wear online whilst sipping on that ice-cold cocktail. It’s that easy!
Girl, the Internet makes shopping fun, easy and so simple. No matter what size you are, you will definitely find something to flatter your figure. There is a handful of good quality plus size stores online which offer swim wear up to size 40! Here is a list of my favourite plus size swim wear stores, the ones which I usually recommend to friend, family and colleagues:
• Zaftique: mature, stylish and sophisticated styles in sizes 0Z to 6Z (12/14 to 36/38).
• Torrid: young and trendy designs in sizes 0 to 4 (12/14 to 26/28).
• Junonia: for women who are ready for action! Styles in sizes 0X to 6X (14/16 to 38/40).
• Big On Batik: accessories ahoy! Catering for sizes 1X to 8X.
• Alight: what else can you need? A multitude of designers available here, in sizes 14W to 28W.
More info can be found at http://www.pasazz.net/plus-size-swim-wear.html.
So this season, all big beautiful ladies have no excuse to stay in at home. Go strut your stuff on the beach! Show off those curves in your brand new swim wear!
About the author:
Maya Matthews is the resident writer at http://www.pasazz.net, the plus size clothing directory. A plus size women herself, Maya strives to provide plus size ladies with fashion and lifestyle tips and ideas. Please visit the plus size clothing directory to read more articles and find the top online plus size stores.
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Posted by admin on January 1st, 2009 — Posted in Accouterment
Wearing sunglasses has in the past been more of a fashion statement than a necessity. Obviously they were also worn to help block out the glaring sun. But in this day and age things have changed so much that even our children and yes our pets are wearing sunglasses.
Not only has the fashion industry surged forward with sunglasses as a major accessory to our clothes but the medical field has also pushed the wearing of sunglasses to an all time high. This has given manufacturers a major boost leading to an almost over population of these types of glasses. You will find them almost everywhere from low budget prices to exorbitant prices.
Research has shown that the sun is getting hotter and UV rays are becoming quite dangerous to our skin and our eyes. It is very important to wear sunscreen for your skin and protective glasses for your eyes. Make sure that when you buy sunscreen you buy a high UV rating and that goes with your sunglasses. Always buy ones with the maximum protection level.
This doesn’t mean that you will have to pay ridiculously high prices for maximum protection because there are many companies that sell sunglasses with this protection for very affordable prices. You just need to look around. Depending on you budget you can go as low as $5.00 up to $100.s of dollars. It really is up to you and your affordability.
For some people having designer glasses is very important and to others it doesn’t matter as long as they do the job and still look good then that’s ok also. What I do know is that you will never run short of options and the best way to find what you want is by shopping online. Not only will you find every type of brand name, style and protection level, you will also be able to find great discounts.
So, the next time you are looking for a pair of sunglasses remember to not only look at what styles are in fashion but also make sure you look for a maximum protection level to look after those all-important eyes.
Susan Dean is the webmaster and publisher of
http://www.discounted-sunglasses-shop.com Visit her site for a large range of discounted sunglasses.
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Posted by admin on December 31st, 2008 — Posted in Accouterment
Easter is a special time of year for many, and when you want to find the best bunny costumes for your next event, such as church, school, or work parties, then we can help you with great online information to get access to your desired bunny costume!
Many of us looked forward to the Easter Bunny bringing us exciting treats, now that you can dress up as this bunny icon, just raises the level of excitement for the children. There are many options of Easter bunny costume ideas, and a wide selection of costumes ranging from the Easter bunny mascots to the basic bunny suit that will have you celebrating this Easter season with style.
Peter Cottontail has a lot on his paws these days, so the more people that decide to dress up as him, and help spread the cheer, plus all his delicious goodies would be of great help!
Whether you want to be an exciting rabbit mascot for a local town parade, or you want to search for the best Easter rabbits costumes, we’ll list what is available to you online with one the best online Costume Suppliers in the industry.
If You Were To Be A Bunny, Which Bunny Would You Be?
Bunny Suit: This classic one-piece outfit is made of acrylic pile plush, and includes two pink pompoms on the front, and one on the back for the cottontail. The hood is open faced with attached pink-lined floppy ears. With the included mitts and shoe covers you will be hopping to your favourite Easter party with pride that you look great and stayed within your budget.
Deluxe Easter Bunny Costume: Claimed as one of the best Easter Bunny costumes available! This deluxe bunny costume comes with faux fur one-piece jumpsuit with attached fuzzy tail, matching fur mitts, and shoe covers. The full over-the-head mask with bendable ears will have you looking the best bunny on the block. It doesn’t stop there, this outfit also includes a separate colourful vest, and a matching oversized bowtie.
Bunny Ultra Light Mascot: If you’re searching for a comfortable and fun looking bunny mascot, you’re in luck! There is a revolutionary, innovative, lightweight, and breathable Easter mascot costumes available exclusively through BuyCostumes.com. The bunny head is a soft sculpted foam piece that weighs only 2 pounds, and has great ventilation for air circulation, and great visibility for all your crazy stunts. The costume comes complete with a cutting edge technology jumpsuit, attached tail, belly padding, shoe covers, and gloves.
When it comes to finding bunny costumes online, you will have no problems getting the desired bunny outfit that will fit most, if not all budgets. It’s easy, fun, and most of all it’s convenient, and what a better way to spend the Easter season with you family, and friends entertaining them with a quality Easter costume that you can wear for many Easters after!
About the author: William is the owner and the author of “1st In Halloween Costumes” available at http://www.1st-in-halloween-costumes.com A great source for Bunny Costumes Online! Read information and tips on finding quality seasonal costumes for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and also many costume accessories, and cute season pet costumes to make your holidays a fun and special celebration.
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Posted by admin on December 31st, 2008 — Posted in Accouterment
Gwen Stefani, lead singer of the pop band No Doubt, has lead a Madonna-esque fashion revolt in both her recent videoclip for her single What You Waiting For and her solo album Love, Angel, Music, Baby. Her catchy 80’s inspired popish tunes, platinum blonde hair and Like A Virgin kit out on the album cover art only reinforce her homage to the material girl, even though it may be somewhat tongue in cheek.
But its her references to the Japanese Harajuku Girls peppered throughout the album and on one track in particular that has drawn interest from a diverse range of commentators.
So who are these Harajuku Girls anyway?
The Harajuku District of Tokyo and in particular Takeshita Street, a narrow street lined with shops is home to these funky fashionistas. Since the end of World War II, “consumerism” and “consumption” have become the national past-time for most Japanese and in particular teenage girls who often live at home with their parents well into their twenties. Their rent free existence provides them with the enough funds to flock to Harajuku every weekend, where they transform themselves into Lolita-esque baby doll caracitures.
It’s all a sort of a pop-art meets pop-culture meets Western decadence kinda street where often a t-shirt with a western image like Mickey Mouse can go for several hundred dollars a pop. This constant pursuit of rock n roll pop star hipness extends to teenage boys too. They in turn have opted for the western inspired hip-hop culture of disheveled jeans hanging half way to their knees, caps at all angles on their heads and of course lots and lots of bling.
Often the net result looks like something out of a Manga comic book as the fashionistas of Harajuku compete to look less human and more iconic. Not concerned about what we in the West may see as a conflict of style over substance, Harajuku Girls unlike the Goths, punks and bond girls that came before are not about rebellion from society. No, in fact these girls, like most Japanese, are often extremely polite and happy to pose for photographs with inquisitive tourists who gather every Sunday to take happy snaps of these super-model caricatures.
For the Girls of Harajuku, their most extreme vice may be a simple cigarette.
Peter Shuttlewood is the author of webzine freshread which contains articles on Popular Culture with an Australian slant. Freshread - the everyday in a fresh way.
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Posted by admin on December 29th, 2008 — Posted in Accouterment
Throw back jerseys are all the rage across the United States. They are big business, too. Go into the top throw back jerseys stores in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and the other cool urban centers in the United States, and you’ll find tourists, business men, and rap stars alike dropping $20,000 on what is essentially just clothing.
But that’s just the thing. These throw back jerseys are not just clothing. They are artifacts from the a long gone era, when all of our heroes were still in the game and good and bad was a black and white issue.
You didn’t have to worry back then if Michael Jack Schmidt was shooting up at the gym. You didn’t have to wonder if Wilt Chamberlain was going to pass his drug test. And you especially didn’t have to wonder whether Jim Brown would just up and quit the running back position for personal reasons. Wait, strike that. These jerseys are gems from this pure and innocent past in sports. They are heart warming and comforting.
Allen Iverson, Shaq, and OutKast might also suggest that throw back jerseys look darn good on them, too. The whole thing is one big fashion statement in the sports and pop scene.
Why have throw back jerseys become so popular?
People don the classic green North Stars hockey jersey not to relive the glory days of the NHL, but because the jersey looks slick. They throw on the blue and maroon Philadelphia Phillies jersey from the World Series year of 1983 not to celebrate that awesome team, but because they just don’t make jerseys like that now.
How can you get into this action? Either hit the streets of Philadelphia or some of the other hotbeds of the throw back jerseys scene. Or scour the online sites for auctions and sales of your favorite teams, players, and years.
Be forewarned: there are plenty of cheap knockoffs out there on the market, and believe me, you definitely get what you pay for. Genuine, top-quality authentic jerseys aren’t cheap.
That’s what happens when rappers and sports stars buy them up and drive up demand. But when you put on one of your authentic, throw back jerseys to wear at your favorite sporting event or on a date, you’ll feel like ten times what you spent.
Mike Long is the successful web publisher of Jersey-SuperGuide.com providing valuable tips, advice, and info about a multitude of relevant topics including throw back jerseys.
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