Posts Tagged ‘fashion-style’
Bareback Teddies – Show Off Your Style!
By definition a teddy is a one piece undergarment combining a camisole and panty. In reality a teddy can be one of the most dramatic fashion statements you can to accentuate your most fashion forward clothing. Because of the nature of the teddy’s design, it provided a great foundation for tight fitting pants since it flattens the stomach and provides virtually no visible lines.
Two of the latest fashion trends in teddies are the bareback teddy and the fashion top teddy.
The bareback teddy is designed to provide a camisole and panty combination that appears to have no back to it. This type of teddy is designed with multiple straps that provide support for your breasts, so no bra is needed, while giving you a bare back surface to show off your most revealing tops. You can imagine the looks and stares from everyone as they try to figure out how you look so dazzling with no visible means of support. The strap configurations on these teddies can accommodate the most revealing blouses and tops to give you the confidence and support you need.
The fashion top teddy is really three items of clothing built into one. It serves as a thong panty, a bra and a fashion top. The styles and adornment of these teddies comes in a wide range for various taste levels and needs. You can find a simple halter style in a plain, stretch fabric, all the way up to a heavily beaded top that shines with crystals and sequins. You decide what is appropriate for the occasion
. With so many choices it is easy to see why teddies have made a huge comeback in recent years. For fashion versatility it’s hard to think of another garment that would add as much flexibility and style.
Find a wide selection of teddies and any other sexy lingerie by visiting Love Fifi Lingerie. The site is filled with intimate apparel from size XS to 6X, so you can find something to fit EVERY body.
The Mindful Shopper: Learning From Fashion Trends
Are you a fashion trend watcher? Do you spend a lot of time flipping through magazines and analyzing the wardrobe choices of others? Do you buy trendy items only to despise them–and yourself–later?
Trend-watching–and, more precisely, observing our trend-watching–gives us tremendous opportunities to create awareness of the traits we hope we have but are not sure we do. In fact, being frustrated, embarrassed, or depressed that we have succumbed to a trend is a perfect chance to discover what we value most.
It usually comes down to this: creativity and confidence. If we find ourselves buying that trendy little bag or those must-have shoes, that little voice inside us shouts “Sell-out!” and we start to feel that perhaps we’re not all we’d hoped to be. After all, a truly creative person would buy–or even make–something unique, and a confident person wouldn’t hesitate to go against the current trend and head in a completely different direction, or choose to buy nothing at all.
And thus begins a soak in the self-loathing tub, followed inevitably by an abandoned item at the bottom of the closet.
To avoid this, you must pay attention to it.
What trendy items are buried in your closet at this moment? Why did you buy them? Who were you with when you made the purchase? How were you feeling about the world in general and yourself in particular?
A little mindful shopping will help alleviate the Trendoid syndrome. And while you’re at it, check in with yourself on that monologue going through your head when you see others sporting the latest fashion fetish. You’ll learn a whole lot about YOURSELF if you listen carefully and–this is the hard part–non-judgmentally.
If you do melt at that crucial cash register moment, don’t berate yourself. Simply take note of the way you feel now, and pay attention to how you feel later. Can you see that downward slide? Ah. That’s better. Things are getting clearer now.
Buying into a trend helps us feel connected when what we really long for is a sense of confidence. Take a look at how you can create greater confidence WITHOUT buying that blouse-of-the-moment, and find ways to tweak the latest trend in a way that makes you feel more creative.
Fashion can be fun and absolutely harmless, and you can use your mindful mall meanders to tap into your own sense of who you are–and what you REALLY need.
Now, that’s what I call a perfect shopping day.
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and powerful eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com
Dolphin Jewelry Promotes Environmental Awareness
“And when the day comes that we can communicate intelligently with dolphins, they may introduce us to the concept of survival without aggression, and the true joy of living, which at present eludes us. In that circumstance what they have to teach us would be infinitely more valuable than anything we could offer them in exchange.” — Horace Dobbs
First of all, let’s take a look at the rationale behind dolphin jewelry. What makes dolphins so attractive as jewelry motifs? Moreover, what would make them so important as to deserve a second look by jewelry-lovers, especially the socially conscientious?
Well, for one thing — if there is any ocean-dwelling creature that is said to be the smartest and most compassionate ? it is the dolphin. Dolphins have been known to guide stranded seafarers to dry land, and converse intelligently in a language that’s all their own. Scientists have been attempting to study the way dolphins communicate, and there is increasing evidence that dolphins have their own complex language. Dolphins are also the only ocean mammals that mate for recreation, and are closest to humans in this respect.
Dolphins are also among the most graceful of sea creatures, moving smoothly and effortlessly through the turbulent waves, turning backflips in the air with all the carefree air of a human child showing off a somersault. After all, who has never felt anything but goodwill and affection for Flipper, that most beloved of all celebrity dolphins?
But there is a sad twist to the dolphins’ story. Believe it or not, some species of dolphins are fast becoming an endangered species. Pierce Brosnan (James Bond 007), Dean Anderson (StarGate, McGyver) and Martin Sheen (West Wing) have been known to support causes that save dolphins from being killed for sport or commercial purposes. Pollution is driving many dolphins to flee their ocean sanctuaries, and there have been stories of dolphins being beached while fleeing desperately from nuclear testing grounds or oil spills.
Wearing dolphin jewelry may not directly save the lives of dolphins, but it will help other people become more aware of the situation surrounding these intelligent creatures. But most importantly, dolphin jewelry continues to be elegant and eye-catching through the years. It represents a serene, fun-loving beauty that perseveres despite harsh trials.
Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.
Mens Fashion – How To Create Lasting And Permanent Styles
Many men and women do not have much idea about Mens Fashion. Very often the advice I have been approached on are what men can wear to appear professional or what men should wear so that they do not look outdated but overtly trendy.
I would greatly suggest understanding the basics of men’s fashion and put this knowledge into a permanent mens fashion style. There would not be anymore worry about following trends but perpetually looking stylish.
The basics of men’s fashion boil down to knowing what each piece of apparel is made up of. The fabrics used determine a lot on the quality of the apparel. Good fabrics allow the apparel to withstand wear and tear.
If any men’s clothing or accessories that wear out fast would naturally make it look old and badly cared. This does not reflect well of the men wearing it and easily put most men out of style just by looking shaggy.
The next important point we need to note are the details found in every apparel and accessories. Details can be subtle but it creates a very big impact in the eventual outlook of the styling.
So before we start playing with details, the knowledge of each detail’s responsibility and how it helps in holding up the item or even gives significance to it in style can assist us in choosing the best men’s clothing.
Learning how to coordinate is another tough thing for many men. It does not need to be if they just understand about the various concepts of coordination. Starting from differentiating the type skin complexion they belong to would be the most basic knowledge to acquire.
Then they just need to put on the right color clothing against their complexion that perks up their facial skin tone and brings the attention to their face.
After that, coordinating colors between the various men’s clothing is another method. There are various ways to match different and similar or same hues as well as the shades of hues to achieve the nicest blend of colors.
If they are adventurous, then there are more that they can create that puts two very contrasting colors and yet a harmonious fusion of such colors without looking weird or clownish.
Putting patterns against each other is another challenging task in mens fashion. It is through the play of patterns that can make many men look very trendy and stylish.
If not properly done, those clashing patterns would be a very trying and poorly executed attempt. It boils down in knowing the types of patterns and their scale before choosing how to put them together.
Men can go for two to four similar or different patterns coordination without even looking overdoing the matching. It is fundamental to keep the flow of patterns as natural as possible and create a relaxing look from the combination.
It is good to have an idea of how to put all these mens clothing and accessories together. From there we can develop a permanent styling and never have to worry about the next trend or whether it is unprofessional. At least all aspects of men’s fashion have been touched on. Therefore, if you are daring enough it is always possible to transform it into fashionable styling.
Mens Fashion Tips | Mens Fashion Advice | Guide on Mens Clothing
Copyright 2005, http://www.mens-fashion-tips.com
Reprinting this article is allowed provided all references and acknowledgement to the author, the website, and the URL remain intact.
Shop Right, Look Great!
All through history one thing has never changed and that is in any given century, fashion has been of great importance to us. It changes over time and often comes back in style many times over. But why is fashion so important to us? We go to such great lengths to look just right. Lets face it; we are judged by how we look. That may sound shallow but it is true. Just go out anywhere and really start looking at people. Observe your own reaction and thoughts when you see how people dress and carry themselves.
Some people are born lucky with great genes. Others need a little help. In either case we can all enhance our look through clothing, makeup, jewelry and personal hygiene.
Before you shop lets take a look at what you can do to improve your overall look.
1) Look at your hairstyle. Does it really suit you? Is the color right? The right haircut and color can make more of a difference than you may realize. Shop for a good hairdresser.
2) Makeup can change your look from ordinary to amazing, but take note; you’ll want to buy products that are natural. Our environment is polluted enough and we don’t need to add to it by putting chemical products on our skin that can make us break out.
3) Before you go shopping for clothes, stand in front of a mirror and look at your body. Decide what you like about it and what you don’t. What you like about it you’ll want to enhance. Don’t be shy to promote your best body features. There are things you can do to put less attention on what you don’t like such as if your thighs are wider than your shoulders, don’t wear tight clothing. You’ll only draw attention there. Also don’t wear loose fitting tops because it will only give you an overall appearance of being big. It’s all about balancing your figure. You’ve probably observed young girls in the mall with low cut jeans. Some of them pull it off well but when you see belly hanging over it, it’s not a good look as that is all you really see. Also wear clothes that are age appropriate. I’ve seen very young girls and very old women dressed in sexy outfits. It does not come off right and generally meets with a thought of instant disapproval. Also, very important, wear colors that suit you. If you don’t know then get a friend to go with you and hold up colors to your face and see what looks best.
4) Shop for accessories such as a purse that compliments your shoes. You can also make quite a statement by doing something simple like pulling your hair back and putting long dangling earrings and no other jewelry.
In short, know before you go. Understand your body and shopping will easier. You will look better. Remember, people are unconsciously judging you by your appearance. It’s human nature.
Willie Jones
Willie is a freelance writer, researcher, floral designer, and artist. Thanks very much for reading this far. Please come and visit us at: http://www.artinspires.com/for an inspirational poster or two
“Make sure you enroll in the free motivational poster drawing. All winners receive a free framed print.”
Shopping Tips: How to Make The Right Choices
Spending a lot on clothes or wearing designer labels does not guarantee that you will look chic; nor does having a large wardrobe guarantee it either. How good you look depends largely on what you choose to wear and how well it suits you. It may be the latest fad and look great on the department store model but not do anything for you. This is why it is important to know your body shape, the styles that accentuate it and how to create a fabulous look without spending a fortune.
1. Start your clothes shopping like you would shop for groceries ? with a list. Take inventory of what you have in your closet and what new items will expand your wardrobe. Whatever you buy should match at least 3 other wardrobe pieces.
2. To get more for less, buy timeless basics and stay away from fads. For example, a skirt with layers of frills may be in style this season but be totally wrong for any season after. It will end up sitting in your closet and be on your “bad purchase” list.
3. If you are starting a working wardrobe and want to get a jump-start, try making black a basic color. It will be easy to coordinate with other items and always looks great.
4. Try on everything before you buy and make sure it feels comfortable. If it rides up, itches, is too tight or can only be worn on special occasions then it is not a good purchase.
5. Do not buy items that are 50 ? 70% off if it is not something that you would want to buy at regular price. It is not a great deal if it doesn’t’ fit with your existing wardrobe. It will end up at the back of your closet.
6. Shop for what you need keeping quality in mind. Before buying take into consideration washing instructions. If you have to spend a lot on dry cleaning then your bargain is no longer a bargain. If you are afraid to wash it maybe it’s best left in the store and if it has cheap workmanship don’t buy it. Look for high quality at a lower price at the end of the season.
7. To create a stunning image consideration must be paid to grooming such as hair, skin, teeth and makeup. The best outfit in the world will look horrible if the woman does not have good grooming habits.
© Copyright Sheila Dicks 2005
Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe consultant who helps women feel more confident by dressing to suit their body type. To get tips on how to dress slimmer and find your best styles get a copy of her ebook “Image Makeover” at http://www.how-to-dress.com or go to http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to get the Free Report ” 7 Things Your Girlfriends Won’t Tell You About Beauty and Fashion”.
Five Must-Knows When Getting a Kanji Tattoo
Japanese tattoos are cool. But if a personal translator is out of your league how can you avoid becoming a kanji fashion victim and get stuck with a tattoo you will really regret?
1. Know the difference ? hiragana, katakana and kanji
Before you talk to your tattoo artist, make sure you know what you are talking about. You say you want a Japanese tattoo, but what do you know about Japanese characters? You need a quick stint in 2-minute Japanese boot camp.
First off, let’s be clear that there is no Japanese “alphabet”. There are three sets of Japanese characters ? hiragana, katakana and kanji ? and each group has its own history, function and style. Get your head around these facts and you will already know more than 99% of the people walking around with Japanese tattoos right now:
Hiragana ? These simple, rounded characters represent sounds, but have no independent meaning. They were developed by women in the Heian period and are still considered feminine by Japanese people.
Katakana ? Developed by Buddhist monks around the same time as hiragana, these are simple, angular characters that also represent sounds and have no meaning of their own. You saw them cascading down the screen in Matrix (although they were backwards!)
Kanji ? Originally from China, these characters are like pictures, representing a meaning and also several different sounds depending on the situation.
Just reading this has probably given you an idea of which style you might like for your tattoo ? but don’t stop just yet! Now you know what kinds of Japanese characters there are, let’s move on to?
2. Writing styles
Come a bit closer. Lean forward towards the screen. That’s right. Now, look at the words in front of you. Take a good, close look at the shapes of these letters. OK? Now tell me honestly: Would you want a tattoo in Times New Roman? How about Tahoma? What’s that? You don’t want a tattoo by Canon or Epson? Sure you don’t. And in the same way, you don’t want to have your Japanese tattoo looking like a printout either!
So, now we move on to writing styles. Just like there are three kinds of Japanese characters, there are also three ways they can be written. Don’t worry. This is easy! I know, you are thinking that you can’t even read Japanese, so how on earth will you be able to recognize these different styles? Well, try this:
Kaisho ? Block letters. You learned to write your ABCs like this, and Japanese kids learn to write their characters in just the same way: Like a Volvo ? boxy but good.
Gyousho ? Cursive letters. You moved up to middle school and learned you could write faster by letting the parts of some letters flow into the next. Yes, you guessed it – the Japanese do the same thing, and they call it gyousho.
Sousho ? Super-cursive letters. Ever seen a prescription from a doctor? Then you know what sousho is like in Japanese: Sure, the writer or some other trained person can (probably) read it, but no one else has a clue what it says!
Are you getting the picture? If you want to look like a computer printout, then be my guest and go for the kaisho style. That’s your choice. But I think you probably want to use either gyousho or sousho for your tattoo. My personal preference would be gyousho: It’s stylish, but it won’t leave even native speakers baffled.
3. Real or fake?
Remember I mentioned Mel C at the beginning? Well guess what kanji she got tattooed on her arm? That’s right ? “Girl Power”: Great in English, but show this kanji combination to most Japanese people and you’ll get a blank look at best. Want a worse example? Try “big daddy”. Now, you know what it means in English, but put it into kanji and you end up with “large father”! It just doesn’t work.
I’m sure you remember that kanji are the only characters that have meaning as well as sound. And their beauty means that they are what most people want for their tattoos. But watch out: As well as being popular, they can also be the most dangerous!
Let’s see if we can find a pattern here: Look carefully at the examples above. What are they communicating – concrete concepts or abstract ideas? Can you see the difficulty the translators had? The kanji for “dragon”, “samurai”, “love” or any other concrete ideas are pretty easy to discover. But go for anything with an idiomatic meaning and whoever is trying to help you translate it is going to get a major headache!
Just an idea, but how about this suggestion: Rather than trying to force a round English peg into a square Japanese hole, why not find a real Japanese phrase that you like and get that instead? Bushidou (the Way of the Warrior) and Ninjutsu (The Art of Stealth) are two good examples of real Japanese terms that would make great tattoos.
4. Your name in Japanese
As I’m sure you remember from 2-minute Japanese boot camp, katakana are the characters usually used to write foreign words and names. So, if you want to get a tattoo of your name, technically these would be the characters you would choose. But I am guessing that, like most people, you want your name written in kanji.
Do a quick search on Google and you can find a number of sites that specialize in translating names into kanji. Basically there are two different methods that these sites use, so let’s look at them here.
Translating the meaning
This method involves finding out the original meaning of the English name, and then researching the kanji equivalent.
For example, my name has its origins in Greek and means “crowned one”. The one who is crowned is the king, so I could translate my name into the kanji for king and call myself ohsama. (Perhaps a little pretentious ? and disturbingly similar to Mr. Bin Laden’s first name!)
Translating the sound
This is a lot more difficult! Flick through a dictionary and you will find a bunch of kanji that can be combined to sound like your name. But sound isn’t everything: Remember that kanji have meaning as well. In fact, it is even more complex than this! Be sure to check each of the following factors with anyone who translates your name like using this method:
1. Sound ? Does it sound like your name or not? I have seen my name “translated” on certain websites to sound like Stefan. Shame my name (Stephen) is actually said the same as Steven!
2. On-yomi and kun-yomi ? Yes, more technical words! But don’t panic ? they are easy to understand: Basically, kanji have two kinds of reading. One kind, on-yomi, is their original Chinese sound. The other, kun-yomi, is their Japanese-only sound. What to watch is that (like oil and water) on-yomi and kun-yomi don’t mix. Use either all on-yomi reading or all kun-yomi readings to make the sound of your name.
3. Meaning ? Do the kanji have a good meaning together? Now, it can be very difficult to find kanji that sound right and have a good meaning, so you may need to compromise a little on one of these.
4. Masculine or feminine ? I guess this is more like a sub-category of meaning, but it is something you need to check out to avoid embarrassment. For example, while “Asian Beauty” may be a great combination for a woman, I get the feeling most men would not be too happy about having that permanently written into their skin!
5. If in doubt, check!
First, use your new-found knowledge of Japanese to ask a few difficult questions to your tattoo artist or kanji “specialist”. If you get the feeling they don’t know what they are talking about, you probably want to look elsewhere.
Next, before you get anything permanent done, use an online dictionary to check whether the Japanese really means what you want it to. You may not be able to input Japanese yourself, but you can copy and paste characters from an email or web page and see what they mean.
Finally, if you are lucky enough to know any, ask a Japanese person what they think. Their confused expression may tell you that you have come up with another “big daddy”!
Follow this advice and you will avoid the most dangerous pitfalls of Japanese tattoos and get a kanji tattoo you can be proud of.
Stephen Munday lives in Japan and is the creator of http://www.japanese-name-translation.com/, where you can download images of over 2,200 names in kanji or have a unique phrase translated into Japanese for a tattoo.
10 Online Shoe Shopping Tips
Tip #1 – Know Your Feet.
The best way to buy shoes that will fit your feet properly is to take their shape into consideration. Do you feet spill out of the sides of most shoe styles? Then try wide-width shoes.
Do you have a problem with gapping on the sides of your shoes? Perhaps a narrow-width shoes will help.
Are your toes short and stubby? Then pointy shoes might not be right for you. Considering the shape of your feet will help you buy great fitting shoes almost every time.
Tip #2 – Take a Hint From the Shoes You Already Own.
Take your favorite pair of shoes and study them. Ask yourself why they fit your foot so well. Is it because the toe is square instead of pointy? Is the material soft and has molded to the shape of your foot?
Once you know why your best fitting pair of shoes fit so well, find shoes that have a similar design or are made from similar materials, and you shouldn’t have too many problems ordering great fitting shoes online.
Tip #3 – Find a Designer Whose Shoes Work For Your.
Most shoe manufacturers and designers tend to cut their shoes consistently. Compile a list of shoe manufactures that make shoes that fit your feet well, and search their online stock for that next great pair of pumps.
Etienne Aigner is one of the shoe manufacturers on my “list”, and whenever I search online for a new pair of shoes, I see what they offer first. Nine times out of ten, their shoes fit my feet like a glove (or perhaps I should say they fit like a sock).
Tip #4 – Are Cheap Shoes Really a Bargain?
Everyone loves a bargain, but are you really saving money by buying those $39.95 pleather pumps that hurt your feet and looked trashed after only wearing them a few times. Instead of buying cheap shoes for little money, its better to buy quality shoes on sale. With proper care, quality shoes will feel and look good for years.
Tip #5 – Try On In a Store then Buy Online.
I love to scout out a great pair of shoes at the local mall and them buy them online for less. No tax, and free shipping will make almost any pair of shoes cheaper if you buy it online.
Tip #6 – Shop at Reputable Online Shoe Stores.
Make sure to buy from reputable online shoe merchants that have clearly marked return policies and secure web sites.
Tip #7 – Read Online Shoe Reviews.
Many web sites feature product reviews written by customers. Shoe Reviews will give you an idea of the fit and quality of the shoes reviewed.
Tip #8 – Keep Hosiery & Socks In Mind.
When you’re buying a new pair of shoes, keep the kind of hosiery or socks you intend to wear with your new shoes in mind. For example, if you are buying a pair of boots to wear in bad weather, you might want to wear a warm, thick pair of socks with them. So buy the boots a size larger to accommodate the socks.
Tip #9 – Can You Walk in Those Heels?
If you’ve never worn a pair of 4 inch stiletto heeled pumps before, its best to try a pair on at a brick and mortar store before you buy them on line.
Tip #10 – Don’t Spend More Then You Can Afford.
Just because those $325 dollar Bruno Magli Nazli Pumps are just a click and a credit card away, don’t spend more than you can afford. Believe me, I know how addictive online shoe shopping can be!
Follow these ten easy online shoe shopping tips, and you’ll be shoe shopping online like a pro. Best of all, you’ll rarely, if ever, have to return a pair of shoes you bought online again.
Eve loves shoes, and she particularly loves buying them online! She also has over 10 years in the footwear industry. Read more of her pearls of wisdom on how to make the most of online shoe shopping at Two New Shoes.com
