Posts Tagged ‘what is fashion-style’
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.
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
Plus Size Fashion Tips: What?s Hot this Summer
The sun is sizzling, and so will you this season! A lot of trendy, fun and colourful styles are in fashion at the moment: follow our guide which highlights what’s hot in the plus size fashion scene for summer 2005.
This summer it’s all about the subtle touches that give an outfit that extra something. Try and put in a touch of glitter into your style to give yourself some allure and shine.
Halters are back in girls. Do not feel shy to expose those shoulders! Just make sure you are protected with a good sun-protection lotion, this is very important ladies. Spin around in trendy summer styles by mixing and matching up different items with halter-neck tops. You can see a good example of a perfect colored halter top at Torrid.com: in stock at the moment they have a brown halter-neck, which can be easily matched up with a pair of jeans, trousers, skirt or capris pants!
Green is a particularly popular colour this season, so go for chocolate, gold and forestry colors which can easily be matched with green.
Accessories should be an important part of your wardrobe this season also: be ready to stock up on some fun, exotic and feathery earrings, necklaces and bracelets. What’s very popular are peacock feather earrings.
And don’t forget those trendy pair of metal sunglasses! Besides protecting your eyes from the blazing sun, I think sunglasses are a vital part of a summer outfit, as they complete a look and style. Retro and metal styled sunglasses are sizzling hot this season.
Maya Matthew 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 at at http://www.pasazz.net to read more articles.
The Pearl Necklace — A Timeless Beauty
It has been said that of all the pieces of jewelry in the world, a pearl necklace is the only thing that a woman should not be without. And that’s no wonder, for a pearl necklace is the embodiment of classic sophistication and timeless elegance. It goes with a variety of outfits, from casual day wear to formal evening attire. And depending on the type of pearl and color, there are various pearl necklace styles suitable for the very young, those enjoying their golden years, and almost everyone else in the middle.
The price of a pearl necklace depends on the quality of its pearls. Saltwater pearls are generally more expensive than freshwater ones, which are cultured. The sheen and the thickness of the pearls’ nacre also affect the price, as well as the size and roundness of the pearls themselves. Pearl necklaces of various colors are available on the market. Smaller pearls in light hues of blue or pink are usually more suitable for young children, while the creamier, ivory-toned pearls are preferred by older women. Jewelry pieces made from black pearls are very, very expensive, since these pearls are so rare.
According to Chinese folklore, pearls are the tears of a dragon. In Roman mythology, they are the tears of Venus. Jewelry designers, in their tireless efforts to do justice to the legendary beauty of these gems, have been adding their own twists to the pearl necklace. Aside from the classic strand, the pearls used in necklaces are sometimes set in gold, silver or platinum. Some designers also mix pearls with other gems to create a unique effect. Extra ornaments, such as charms or a brooch, can also be attached to a pearl necklace to give it a personalized flair.
Caring for a pearl necklace does not involve a lot of fuss. The most advisable thing to do is to wear it often, because if it’s stored away for long periods of time, it will dry up and lose its sheen. The body’s natural oils will keep the pearls looking lustrous and fresh. It’s also important to avoid having the pearls come in contact with substances such as hair spray or body lotion, since these can also adversely affect the pearls’ condition.
The popularity of the pearl necklace has never waned both among ordinary people and society’s elite. The quintessential fashion plate, Jackie Kennedy, had a passion for pearls; so does actress Maria Berenson. Other celebrities often photographed wearing pearl necklaces are Michelle Pfeiffer, Sophia Loren, Jennifer Lopez and Paris Hilton. The versatility of pearls is such that fashion experts are even predicting an increase in the number of men who will start wearing pearl-accented dress accessories. For now, however, there is very little to surpass the elegance of the sight of a pearl necklace gracing the neckline of a woman, whether she’s a celebrity or not.
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
How to Look Slimmer
No matter what their size, most women want to look slimmer. By wearing clothes that are appropriate for your body shape you can look as much as 10 pounds slimmer. For those who are tired of dieting or just can’t seem to lose those last few pounds choosing clothes that are right for you and suit your body type will make you look slimmer ? instantly. This is how it works; we are all built with our weight distributed in different places, which makes us unique. Manufacturers are not concerned about how clothes look on the average female but how it looks on models. They create fashion looks for the ideal body type. If you do not have the ideal shape and wear whatever is in style or looks great on someone else you may be hiding your assets and dressing to make yourself look bigger, out-of-proportion, or unattractive. The last thing we want to do is create a look that makes us appear larger or out-of?proportion; however, that’s what we do when we are not aware of the impact of line, design, proportion and color. Line and design is much more that wearing horizontal stripes, it is how the lines in the garment are formed, the shape and proportion of garments and how they are used to create the best look and how the lines of the body interact with the lines in clothes. Also, with color, it is not simply what color looks best on you (which is very important) but how color works with the lines of a garment to determine the final look. Here are some general guidelines that will create a slimming look but is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to dressing to your full potential and looking slimmer.
Tips to Look Slimmer:
1. Don’t wear frills or extra material that adds bulk. Don’t wear bulky sweaters, or sweatshirts.
2. Avoid shiny fabrics such as velour and satin.
3. To make your legs appear smaller wear dark hose. Don’t wear patterned tights.
4. Don’t wear oversized, shapeless clothing to hide bulges? they will make you appear larger instead.
5. Wear undergarments that have good support.
6. Dress in monochromatic colors without patterns. Darker colors will make you appear smaller ? navy, dark green, gray or black.
7. Avoid horizontal stripes. Thin vertical lines will give a slimming look.
©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”.
Discover These Fashion Secrets for Your Professional Success!
Do you want to be taken seriously at work? A good way to do this is dressing well. I will try and help you by sharing these secrets that are proven winners.
The aim of dressing for work is to come across as competent, secure, professional and polished. A basic fashion instruction is, if the piece of clothing is distracting then its usually inappropriate for work.
Jewelry that jangles is distracting. It should be avoided. Some people can pull it off, but it is usually a no-no. Some handbags look too relaxed. Always go for a handbag that sends the message, “I’m effective and organized”.
Remember the golden rule for fashion. The DETAILS. A nicely kept image is what you are looking for. Choose manicured nails, scuff-free, polished shoes, neat and stylish hair that’s not too artsy for the workplace. Spend more for a tailored suit. People are impressed when they see a well-formed suit that projects a fabulous image. Designer labels are appropriate for work, but don’t broadcast them. They will look very cluttered and it screams out that you’re desperate for attention when you wear too many logos.
Try to get fashion ideas from your boss. Dress like them. If you’re boss dresses fairly conservatively, go for a similar look, with your own type of style. If they dress liberally with an artsy edge, hop in for a similar look. Always dress so you have your own personal touch, but don’t veer to far from what they have accepted in the office.
Never dress to sexy, too casual, or too lazy, this includes denim, see-through clothing, shorts, wrinkled clothing. Have fun with your look at work, you can experiment with these kinds of clothes elsewhere very often, so get some clothes that are comfortable and make you look like a million dollars.
Do you want to learn how to develop your own style? Visit Fashion Annual and go through our archives of fashion tips.
