The Simpsons Go to Fashion Week

Every once in a while, Fashionista emerges from weekend rehab to share something amazing.

This weekend is one of those times.

The August issue of Harper's Bazaar has finally arrived, and with it comes something so deftly funny, so seemingly bizarre, and so unbelievably cool that we have to wonder if Glenda Bailey hasn't become some sort of mad genius.

She's commissioned Julius Preite to illustrate The Simpsons at various fall Fashion Week shows, and to create a cartoon Linda Evangelista to accompany them.

Among the highlights:

Lisa trading in her pearl necklace for something from Alber Elbaz.

Homer dressed as Karl Lagerfeld.

Bart in the front row of Louis Vuitton.

Enjoy, and huge thanks to Jazzi for tipping us off. source

Teenage Fashion, Summer Sale

Best of Summer Sale save up to 25% on teenage fashion! Shine on at Delia's in the season's best dresses, tops, shorts, swim, sandals and more! And if your after a new swim suit, all swimwear is on sale with big savings on the latest shapes, hottest colors and prints, new D-cup and long torso.

Free shipping on orders over $25. Use code DTFW25

Delia's is a retailer of fashion-forward clothing, shoes and accessories. Its everday lines are aimed mainly towards teenage girls and young women. As well as the regular sales, I often browse through Delia's clearance section where you can save up to 75% off in their continuing end of season clearance of teenage fashion and even though quantities are sometimes limited, you can usually find something really cute and of great value there.
source

A kilt is more than just a skirt for men!

The Kilt has been the target of many a joke and ribald comment for more years than it can probably remember! But is it fair for it to be the butt of so many jokes?

After all, not only is the Kilt a recognised fashion item in it's own right, it's also more importantly a world recognized symbol of a country and the fierce national pride contained within!

Many a soldier has shuddered and shaken in fear in centuries gone when faced with a Scottish Warrior, kilt swirling in steadfast defiance of normality, broadsword or other razor sharp lethal weapon cutting huge scythes in the air as he charged.

Indeed, many fields of war were won purely by the arrival of Scotsmen dressed in their traditional tartan kilts. To many, the knowledge that the wearer wore nothing underneath was cause enough to panic! Add to this the ferocity of such a warrior and not many would stand up in front of them.

But ever since those heady days of hand to hand combat and battles fought face to face, some of the mystery and folklore of the Kilt remains. Ideas that you can only wear a Tartan Kilt if you are a member of that clan still abide today, wrongly in many cases.

Maybe this stops some people wearing a kilt? Or does the fear of society's view of a man effectively wearing what many still describe as a skirt also play a strong part?

But then what of those men among us who are recognised as being the manliest of men? Does wearing a kilt reduce their appearance and reputation at all? Famous celebrities such as Sean Connery, Billy Connely, Ewan McGregor or Mel Gibson?

How many women did - and still would - swoon clean away to see Mel Gibson walking towards them, kilt swaying in time to his steps? I strongly suspect - most! It would not be a swoon induced by dislike or scorn neither, more of one where they're opinion has been enhanced as to the character and strength of the man involved.

I had the great pleasure of wearing a kilt many, many years ago when I was 6. The occasion was as a Page Boy for my Uncle and Aunts wedding. White ruffled shirt, red and blue tartan kilt with sporran and shoes. the only thing missing was the Dirk. For some reason never suitably explained by my parents, they seemed very nervous of letting their 6 year old offspring walk around with a small dagger shoved into the top of his sock! Spoilsports!

Even now, looking back at the old black and white photos - yes, it WAS that long ago - I get a thrill of seeing myself dressed like that.

Why?

Because it was different, unique and - dare I say it - I looked damn good! (I seem to remember it made a huge impression on my fellow official for the occasion, the bridesmaid called Candy, a curly blonde haired girl a year older than me. I have a misty memory of her asking her mom why i was wearing a skirt!)

A kilt nowadays plays a much larger part. Beyond the more well known kilts of Scotland with their heritage of history behind each unique Tartan design, comes the Kilts of Ireland and Wales in family crests or solid colors.

With society relaxing it's own strict and nonsensical ideas of what is right and what is wrong, more men are coming to wear kilts, enjoying the uniqueness and freedom such a garment gives.

It is now more common to attend company dinners, awards and opening nights and spot one or two men dressed in kilted splendour.

Indeed, a whole new industry is beginning to grow - assisted by the internet with it's ease of ordering and choosing - where new styles, designs and ideas of the traditional kilt are being tested and reworked.

For example, you can now buy kilts in camo pattern or kilts with pockets either side as opposed to the standard requirement for a sporran.

As for me and the kilt - as I get older and less worried about what other people think of me, the thoughts do stray to when I was 6 years old and how proud I felt dressed in such regal splendour. With the hot weather getting hotter each day a cooling breeze would certainly be more welcome as well!

Now then, where did I put that sporran and dirk?

Concepts Of Skin Care

The concept of beauty itself has undergone such a transformation, that it is little wonder that the change has been felt in the field of cosmetology as well. The emphasis has gradually shifted from camouflage of defects, to a more comprehensive art, which involves both preventive and corrective care of the skin.

It is founded on the idea that many skin problems can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions; believing in other words, in the maxim that 'prevention is better than cure.' Attention is also being paid to the ingredients in cosmetics, to achieve the best results.

Skin care concept #1. Growing old, Staying young

One factor that has influenced the modern approach to beauty is the human desire to delay all signs of ageing for as long as possible. And no other organ of the body reveals age as much as the skin does. For complete detail on dry skin , for oily skin, for sensitive skin . Modern skin has changed all this. Today, a person whose good looks have proved durable, need not depend on heredity or a substantial bank balance. Skin care is now within the reach of everyone. All one needs is an awareness of the methods and products that are available, and relate them to individual needs.

Skin care concept #2. Moisture is Life
As knowledge about the skin and its cosmetic needs have grown, it has been found that aged and prematurely aged skins have one thing in common - a lack of moisture. A youthful skin, on the other hand, is soft and moist, proving how important moisture is to the skin. The amount of moisture that the skin holds determines its texture to a great extent - weather it is soft and smooth, or dry, rough, creepy and covered with fine lines. The skin loses moisture to the environment, when humidity is low, or is lowered by artificial means. Make your own homemade moisturizers easily learn how

Skin care concept #3. Essential 4-step Skin care routine

Many people take their skin for granted. The skin has several basic needs. First, it needs to be kept as clean as possible. Second, the skin needs to be protected from sunlight and other environmental insults. The skin of the face needs even more attention than the rest of the body because the face has more oil glands, especially the central forehead, eye areas, nose and chin.

Essential 4- step routine for skin:

Cleansing: Proper cleansing is necessary to clean skin and pores and to remove dirt, dust, impurities, excess oil and waste comming from outside and inside body. Cleansing will remove old make-up and the grime and grease that have been accumulated during the day. The natural way to clean skin is to wash your face with luke-warm water. you can also use a gental, oil-free cleanser or purifying gel. Avoid bar soap because this strips the natural moisturizing factors from the skin, leaving it feeling very tight and dry. Do not rub the skin dry. Instead, blot it gently with a towel. For oily skin use cleanser that contains Benzoil Peroxide. Don't scrub.

Tonning: Toners remove all traces of dirt, make-up or cleanser that remain after cleansing. It improves blood circulation and help skin tissues to remain tight and firm. It should be utilized to revitalise the skin and to get a proper complextion. Avoid TONNERS unless your face is very oily, otherwise it might dry out the skin.
Be sure the moisturizer you choose is rich but absorbs well into the skin.

Good facial skin care includes noting which specific areas of your facial skin require more attention. You don't have to use the same products on the whole area. For example, you may wish to use an AHA lotion over all the face, but then apply a hydrating cream just on dry spots.

Nourishing: It helps to maintain the natural oil of the skin to make the skin lively. Different vitamin cream should be used. Without nourishing, the skin will not remain smooth and supple. A lot of nourishing cream could also be used.

Moisturizing: The face is exposed to the drying effect of the weather, so moisturisers -- which form a film over the skin -- contain and augment the natural moisture. Required to give your skin a real look and to regain it's lost gloss. You should use a lotion or cream to moisturize your skin. Be sure to use oil-free moisturizers.


It is better to use moisture just after bath. As someone gets older he / she requires more moisturizing.

Facial Care Tips:
Never go to bed with your make-up on. Make-up that is left on overnight clogs the pores and prevents the skin cells from shedding, which may cause pimples or blackheads. The skin needs to breathe over night.
The most important thing that you can do for your facial skin is to avoid sunlight or use liberal amounts of sunscreen. Sunlight causes the skin to age and causes skin cancer which is the most common malignancy in humans. The most common location for these tumors is the face. If you do not believe that the sun ages your skin, then look at the skin under your upper arm and compare it to the skin on your face and the back of the hands.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAS) are an important part of any facial skin care program for many people. They help get the skin smooth looking and combat blackheads and dehydrated skin and prevent acne out breaks if you have acne prone skin.

Skin care concept #4. Prevention is better than Cure

Between prevention and corrective care, the former is much simpler and less time-consuming. Corrective skin-care, of course, spells hope for people with specific problems that detract from beauty. With preventive care, the earlier you start, the better and longer lasting are the results. The texture of one skin is different form another and so are its other characteristics. Get all information on skin types here . Therefore, its needs are also different.

Garima Jain
For Cosmetic Diary

Diamonds Make a Wondeful Gift

Precious gems are beautiful and they last a long time and they are very valuable. Diamonds in particular shimmer in any kind of light, providing an exquisite treasure. Some people give a piece of diamond jewelry as the sole gem gift a loved one will ever receive. Others add a diamond gift to a long line of precious gems. Before bestowing diamonds as a gift to a loved one, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Diamonds are usually very expensive. If you come across a diamond that is being sold on the cheap, you have to wonder why this is the case. It may mean that the cut is not the best quality or it could have poor point value. Perhaps the gem is even stolen! You have to be careful about where and how you purchase precious jewelry to ensure that you get your money's worth in value. Check with several jewelry stores or diamond dealers. State up front how much money you have to spend and the type of gift you wish to make. The experts can help you make a good choice for what you have to work with.

Diamonds are for grown ups. Children or even teenagers rarely have a proper appreciation for diamonds. Perhaps diamond chip earrings would be an acceptable gift for older teen girls, but more lavish diamond jewelry should be saved for more mature wearers. A diamond necklace, brooch, ring, or bracelet conveys a sense of sophistication that younger women cannot often carry off. Save the gift of diamonds for a special occasion and an older girl.

Diamonds deserve special care. You don’t want to just fling a diamond ring in the jewelry box or leave it lying unprotected on a`dresser top. Preserve the beauty and keep it clean while avoiding scratches by placing diamond jewelry into velvet-lined boxes or containers. Depending on the size and value of your investment, your diamonds may need to be kept in a safe deposit box or vault at your local bank. You don’t want nosy workers or desperate thieves to make off with your prized possession. You may want to have your diamond priced or valued by an experienced jeweler for home insurance purposes. It also is a good idea to have it cleaned periodically, if needed.

Diamonds are for special occasions. Although they are often given on any occasion like a birthday or holiday, a diamond jewelry item is especially suited to commemorative occasions, such as an engagement or anniversary. Smaller diamond gifts can serve just about any purpose, but the larger, more valuable kind should not be handed off lightly. Give some thought to the meaning of your gift and what your receiver will think (as well as what you want him or her to think) before offering this unique token of affection.

Claire Dibello is the owner of Any Diamonds which is a
premier source of information about Diamonds.

PARTY MAKEUP - How To

PARTY MAKE UP - IT COULD BE A BOLD MAKE UP
Start with a matching shade of foundation. Apply a darker shade on the broader parts of your face which you want to recede.

Apply powder and then blush on your cheeks, adding color gradually. Use some blusher on the sides of the forehead and chin also.
Use an eye shadow kit with a high lighter. Apply some high lighter on the space beneath the brows. Apply the medium color on upper eye lid only. Swap the darkest shade on the crease, between the two shades and blend well.
Put a little dark eye shadow also beneath the eyes, touching the lower lash line, with a thin brush. Start from the outer corner and extend it just a little, may be till the middle. See what suits you. This adds more color to your eyes.
Define your eyes with a kajal and an eye liner. Sweep two coats of mascara. Apply a final coat of colored mascara if you wish. Apply lipstick. Blot with tissue and then reapply for a glamorous look.

Tips for Party makeup and Night-Time makeup:
1. Prepare your face for by cleansing, toning and moisturizing.
2. Select a matching shade of foundation. Apply a darker shade on the broader parts of your face which you want to recede.
3. Apply powder and then blush your cheeks, adding color gradually. Use some blusher on the sides of the forehead and chin also.
4. Use an eye shadow kit with a highlighter. Apply some highlighter on the space beneath the brows. Apply the medium color on the upper eye lid only. Sweep the darkest shade on the crease, between the two shades and blend well.
5. Put a little dark eye shadow also beneath the eyes, touching the lower lash line, with a thin brush. Start from the outer corner and extend it just a little, may be till the middle. See what suits you. This adds more color to your eyes.
6. Define your eyes with eye liner. Sweep two coats of mascara. Apply a final coat of colored mascara if you wish.
7. Apply lipstick. Blot with tissue and then reapply for a glamorous look.

Also have a look on:
The right makeup care
Party makeup tips

THE ART OF MAKE UP!!

Like fashion, make-up trends keep changing. But, the basic human desire to apply colors to decorate the face has remained constant. Trends in makeup are actually indicative of the beauty ideals of the times. The 'Natural Look' of today, for instance, reflects the universal swing towards nature and all things natural.

Applying Make-up
Knowing what is just right for you is the key to applying make-up. You have to take so many aspects into consideration... your age, your skin tone, type and texture, your facial features, the clothes you will be wearing, your plus and minus points. The best thing about today is that you can play around with colors, and cosmetics to achieve the look that suits you best.

Step by Step Make-Up
Foundation: Choose your foundation according to your skin type.

Eye-Brows: Rightly shaped eyebrows are a must! Eyebrows shape the whole makeup.If you wish to define the eyebrows, use light feathery strokes of your eyebrow pencil.

Eyeshadow: This is the most important part of your eye-makeup, because it can help to recontour the eyes and emphasis to them.

Eyeliner: After applying eyeshadow your next step is to apply a eyeliner. For wide set eyes, emphasize the inner corners of the eyes. For close set eyes, emphasize the outer corners, keeping the inner corners highlighted.

About the author:
Garima Jain For http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com

Guide To Buy Jewelry Online

According to Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive, and Nielsen/NetRatings, Christmas online jewelry sales more than doubled, hitting a new record of $1.89 billion, up from $888 million last year. The jewelry sector becomes the highest riser in today’s booming online shipping. If you type “jewelry” or “diamond rings” on Google, a few hundred of jewelry retail websites comes out. To do research online before purchasing is very important.

Three things consumers look for are quality, price and customer service. Good websites always states everything clearly. Blue Nile clearly states out the color, clarity, numbers of diamonds, total diamond weight, setting type, metal, and width in their diamond ring pages. There are websites stating their diamond color is F/H and clarity is VVS/VS. F color, VVS1 clarity stones are very different and much more expensive than H color and VS2 stones. How can consumers be clear with the quality they are getting?

We can see that most websites have good returning policy, and the big ones offer up to 30 days returning policy. This is the most important service for online jewelry stores. Good returning policy shows the website confident with their quality and service. It covers a lot of potential risk of online jewelry shopping. Mondera, Ice and Diamond.com all provide very good customer service. Unless you are very confident and familiar with the jewelry website, purchasing from any one with poor returning policy is risky.

One of the major reasons consumers purchase jewelries online, especially high end diamond pieces, is because of the price. With sufficient amount of research, you truly can purchase some high quality jewelries at 30%-60% off the retail market price. We should first understand these jewelry websites’ business model. Many of the sites are run by previous retail jewelers. They have many years’ experience and connections in the industry. They memo jewelry pieces and diamonds from wholesale vendors in New York or Los Angeles, add a margin and resell them out. Some jewelry sites are run by students fresh out of college. They create great websites, and get their vendors drop shipping directly to their consumers. Because they don’t have to pay high rent in expensive location, they don’t have the same high mark up as local jewelry stores. They highly threaten traditional jewelry stores, and with financial experts’ prediction, 1/3 of the traditional jewelry stores will either disappear or go on line in the next 5 years. Recently, I have found few companies take it to a new step. Like Dell, they manufacture jewelries and sell them directly through their website. Their prices are surprisingly low. http://www.nicerings.com is one of them. For the same high quality diamond jewelry pieces, their prices are almost 1/3 of the retail market price and ½ of other jewelry website’s price. With 30 days return guarantee and Free FedEx overnight, their existence speeds up the existing competitive jewelry industry. It is not surprising if we are going to see more and more jewelry wholesalers and manufacturers coming online in the next few years.

Jewelry educational and price comparison sites are very helpful for online jewelry shoppers. Out of them, http://www.pricescope.com offers a very profound education about diamonds; and you can find very good answers to your jewelry questions in their forums.

About the author:
Written by Button Song

Wedding Dresses - How to Select the Best One for You

Every bride would agree that her wedding dress should be perfect - not only does she want to look her best, on her special day, but her wedding dress also is the center of everybody’s attention. But how would you select the best one for you? Here is advice about selecting the best dress for your wedding.

Your wedding dress style should much the wedding style
Do you plan a very formal wedding in a cathedral or is it going to be an informal beach ceremony? Before deciding on the dress, you should decide how formal your wedding is going to be. A long and puffy princess style wedding dress is no longer your only option - informal weddings and beach weddings are progressively becoming more popular. So now you can find all kinds of cheap wedding dresses - short or tea length dresses, colored wedding dresses and even white sarongs, for a Hawaiian wedding. See diferent wedding dresses styles at http://www.cheap-wedding-dresses.info/


One advantage to an informal wedding dress is that it is much cheaper and more comfortable. Also, while a formal wedding gown almost always needs serious alteration, an informal dress is much easier to fit. So if you don’t have that much time left before you wedding, an informal dress could be a good choice.

How to chose the right bridal salon.

If you want to find the best dress, you will need to spend a couple of days visiting different salons. However, before you visit a bridal shop it is a good idea to call them and ask a few questions - this will save you trips to places that would only waste your time. When ringing a bridal salon you should ask:

- Can you just come to the shop or is an appointment required?
- What dresses styles do they have and what is the price range?
- Are alterations free and, if not, how much do they cost?
- If they don’t have dresses in your size, can one be ordered?
- Do they also carry bridal accessories, like hair decorations, veils and shoes?
- Can they hold a dress you like for a couple of days?

When you get to the shop, try as many dresses as necessary, until you find the perfect one. Don’t listen to the sales person, when they say that the first dress you try on is great and you should take it. Remember they want to sell the dress and it is their job to say it looks great, even if in fact it is hideous.

When you finally find the dress that you always dreamed of, ask them to put it on hold; don’t let them convince you that you should buy it straightaway. Return to the shop the next day and look at your dress again - you would be amazed how often something that seemed perfect, after trying on 10 different dresses, won’t impress you when you see it with a fresh eye. However, if you look at your dress again and feel “yes this is the one”, than it is time to buy it.


About the author:
Tanya Turner is a fashion expert and a founder of www.Cheap-Wedding-Dresses.info where you can find unbiased information about wedding dress styles, what is in fashion and how to get your wedding dress at a reasonable price

Home made body scrub

Treat yourself to a heavenly home made lavender sea salt scrub the next time you shower. Let it ease the stress, smoothen and soften your skin and leave you with beautiful, fragrant skin.

It is really easy to make your own scrub. All you need is a good cold pressed vegetable oil. You could use cold pressed olive oil from the supermarket, sweet almond oil or any unscented carrier oil for aromatherapy.

Next, you need same sea salt. If you want something that really exfoliates rough skin, get coarse sea salt. If you want to pamper yourself with something that is not so rough, then go for fine sea salt.

Finally, you need some pure essential lavender oil.
Now take a clean dry jar.

Pour in half a cup of sea salt and half a cup your chosen oil into the jar. Then add 10 drops of pure lavender essential oil. Stir well.

That's it. That is your lavender sea salt scrub.

Use your scrub in the shower, right after showering and rinsing off all the soap, apply this home made scrub all over your wet body. Massage the scrub into your skin to exfoliate and smoothen your skin. Then rinse off the scrub in the shower and pat dry with a towel.

The oil in the scrub leaves your skin soft, smooth and moist.

About the author:
The writer is the webmaster of http://www.body-store.net/

Epic Treadmills – Good Value Or Not?

Epic treadmills are well known in the treadmill market for their budget range of treadmills. Epic treadmills are one of the lines of treadmills manufactured by Icon fitness, the largest of all the fitness equipment manufacturers and the company which manufactures, amongst others, Proform treadmills.

Icon has over $1 billion of sales of fitness equipment worldwide so is a substantial manufacturer. It manufactures reasonable quality machines for the lower end of the market but doesn’t compete with the much more expensive brands at the upper end.

Epic treadmills are sold by Costco, the discount gym equipment retailer (amongst others) so you should expect low prices. The most well known of all the epic treadmills is the epic t60 treadmill. In fact this treadmill is really the only model amongst the epic treadmill range that is well recognised.

One of the reasons for this is that the epic t 60 treadmill is well rated by some of the nets treadmills rating sites as a good value buy. And the epic t 60 is therefore a good seller.

The treadmill doctor rated the epic t60 a “best buy” in the price range $500 to $1000, however noted some deficiencies in the treadmill none the less. In particular they noted problems with the keypad and the rollers, but you’re not going to get the perfect treadmill for under $1000.

The epic t60 has a powerful motor. It has a good cushioned running platform and can accommodate runners up to 350 lbs. It has an impressive range of user features including iFit technology, an interactive feature that Icon put on their Proform treadmills as well.

With iFit your workout becomes more interesting. Hook up to the internet and track your fitness and progress. iFit will devise a personal workout program for you, so that each time you set foot on your treadmill, you will have a new goal to reach, and a personal best to beat. Competing with yourself is a great way to increase the challenge.

iFit technology also allows you listen to music as you workout, and
provides inspirational images that can be the backdrop to your run.

And the epic t60 allows you to fold it away after you have done your workout. This is a worthwhile feature as treadmills are very large pieces of equipment and take up a lot of space.

The epic t60 treadmill boasts a worthwhile warranty on the motor, but not necessarily on the rest of the treadmill. A 12 year warranty on the motor is good, but 90 days for the rest isn’t so good.

Epic treadmills aren’t known for long warranties.

But are epic treadmills the best value? There is no point in buying an epic treadmill merely for a great price if it isn’t the best value.

And good value isn’t just a case of a good price. Customer service and warranty come into it too. And on those the epic treadmills tend to fall down a little.

So if you are looking for an epic treadmill, or even an epic t 60, there’s something to think about. Don’t dismiss them out of hand, however, they are good treadmills for the price, just not as well supported as they could be. And if you can buy an extended warranty with the treadmill at a reasonable price then this would be worthwhile.

Where do you buy them? Well they are available at Costco, but the range is very limited. And at the time of writing the epic t60 treadmill is not listed for sale at Costco. That’s something else to think about. If you really want one then try and find out why they don’t seem to offer them at the moment. This may of course change though.


About the author:
Find out more about http://www.terrific-treadmills.com
Treadmills as well as Cheap
Treadmills used treadmills, and treadmill maintenance at Peters website, Terrific Treadmills © 2005 Peter Clark.

Bridal Hair Stylist Goes Above and Beyond the Call of Duty

What you should look for in selecting your wedding hair stylist ?
You are locked in your seat on the most famous roller coaster in the world, the Cyclone in Brooklyn, New York. Your fiancé is right next to you, both of you dressed in wedding attire. As you go up the steep climb the preacher, who is seated behind you, begins reading your vows. At the pinnacle of the climb, you are pronounced Mr. and Mrs., only to let out a loud scream as you plummet almost 60 miles per hour at a 60 degree incline. On the second time around, your hair stylist, who is seated next to the preacher, reaches over and fixes a few hairs that have fallen out of place in your fancy bridal updo…

Okay, so the hair stylist didn’t actually sit behind you next to the preacher, but other than a few other minor details this is a true story for Gretchen Maurer, an on-location wedding day hair and make-up specialist. She has been taken to many places throughout New England from Connecticut to Pennsylvania, Newport, Rhode Island, Manhattan and New York State with her bridal clients, including many different venues such as the Cyclone roller coaster, Bed & Breakfast Inns, small homes, even elaborate country clubs.

There are many important qualities that a top wedding hair stylist must have in order to have a thriving bridal beauty business which includes satisfied bridal clients. These include being flexible, being able to determine face shape and designing a hair style to suit, knowing the latest trends and fashions, continuous training and education in formal hair styling, being on-time and also having the ability to assess a women’s overall image

Maurer began doing bridal hair right in hairdressing school in the early 80’s. “I loved the sculpturing, balance and texture that bridal hair design challenges me with,” she says. “The key to being successful in the bridal business,” says Maurer “is the ability to read a woman’s style and face shape so that I can design a balanced look for the total image and balance the bride from head to toe.” Maurer first looks at pictures of the bride’s dress, considers the time of day of the wedding, then she moves on to face shape, ethnic heritage, personal image, hair type and length, headpiece and puts it all together in a fabulous bridal hair style designed specifically for each individual bride.

Face shape knowledge is very important for a hair stylist. Maurer says, “I have a new bride coming up who has a heart shape face. This means a broad forehead and temple area with a small chin. Plus she is very petite. So a low chignon in the back is a perfect balance for her.” Maurer adds, “Height will come from her tiara and veil.” Face shape is used in the hair style selection process since one style may look great on someone who has an oval face, but simply awful on someone with a square face. This is also an important factor for brides who bring in hair style photos they like from magazines. Some stylists will simply create the hair style for you, disregarding the fact that the photo, for example, may show a model with a heart face shape, and you may have a round face shape.

Maurer recommends that her clients bring in sample photos of hair styles that they like, along with any other photos such as photos of brides dresses, headpieces, tiaras, etc. so that she can get an overall sense of the brides likes and dislikes. From there she can design a hair style that suits the bride’s overall image. Staying in tune with fashion trends and styles that her clients like is very important in the overall bridal look.

The age of the bride is also very important in the design of the bridal style. A bridal hair style will be very different for women in their 30’s or 40’s compared to women in their 20’s. Maurer says, “I have a freelance team of hair stylists that I work with and I always try to give the younger bridesmaids to the younger hair stylists.”

Maurer has expanded her bridal business beyond the salon in her website, www.weddinghair.com by offering a broad spectrum of wedding hairstyles designs and hair lengths and textures that the bride can pick out and order a hair kit. The hair kit is simply the hairstyle photographed step by step with directions and many after shots. Some brides will try to do the hairstyle themselves, some will have a friend or family member do it and some will take the hair kit to the salon and have a professional stylist do the wedding hair style. Maurer says, “Brides, for the most part have never been a bride. They need help choosing a look and www.weddinghair.com is designed to do just that. The hairstyles represent a broad spectrum of designs and hair lengths and textures. My articles also provide useful information. It is a one of its kind website.”

In short, selecting your wedding hair stylist is an important part of creating your overall wedding look. Gretchen Maurer, and her website www.weddinghair.com , gives us insight into what a successful wedding hair stylist goes thru for each bridal client and what you should look for in selecting your stylist.

Gretchen Maurer is the author of The Business of Bridal Beauty, published by Milady Publishing. She is creator and owner of www.weddinghair.com Maurer’s articles and hairstyles have been published in numerous publications and web sites including The Knot, www.NewYorkMetroWeddings.com , Modern Bride, Modern Salon, Passion, American Salon, WeddingBells, Bridal Star Hairstyles and Teen Star Hairstyles. Brides Magazine has awarded www.weddinghair.com as the “Best Beauty Web Site”

Do leather bags last better than the others?

Seeking the best assistance concerning leather bags.
When you are in search of top information about leather bags, it will be hard separating superior advice from unprofessional leather bags suggestions and help so it's prudent to know how to moderate the information you are presented with.

Handbags, Purses & Wallets at Affordable Price
Buy desingers inspired handbags, purses, wallets, celebrity licensed bags, corset bags, leather wallets & bags online. Prompt delivery of high quality bags at discount.

Here are several guidelines that you should make use of when you're seeking information about leather bags. It is important to remember that the help we present is only pertinent to internet based information concerning leather bags. We don't offer any tips or guidance when you are also conducting research in books or magazines.

Soft Pouch
Soft Pouch has a wide variety of pouches for all your product display or presentation needs.Choose from many different colors and materials.

An excellent tip to follow when offered help or advice concerning a leather bags website would be to confirm the sites ownership. This may show you the people behind the site leather bags integrity The quickest way to work out who owns the leather bags site is to look for the 'about' page.

All reputable sites providing information about leather bags, will nearly always have an 'about' or 'contact' page that will list the owner's details. The fine points should tell a number of indications concerning the owner's requisite knowledge. You can then make a judgement about the site owner's knowledge and skill, to offer advice about leather bags.

Twelve Ways To Look Slimmer Instantly

Do you have at least one garment in your closet that you never wear because it makes you look fat? Maybe you take it out and try it on every now and then but it still doesn't flatter. It doesn't matter what you weigh you can easily make yourself look fat with the wrong clothes. Learn these basic camouflage rules and you'll never make the same mistake again.

1. Avoid anything stiff. A stiff garment forms a square box around you. It doesn't fall into flattering loose folds but stands out on its own making even skinny people look large. Having a shape is important whatever your size.

2. The same goes for the large tents that we try to camouflage ourselves in. It doesn't work we just look larger. Shape is needed.
3. Other than in your accessories don't wear anything shiny. Shiny is great for jewelry, bags, decorative motifs, scarves, but not for a whole garment. Shine reflects the light making you look bigger and showing every curve and bump.

4. You know about avoiding horizontal stripes but are you aware of hidden stripes? A belt in a contrasting shade, large top pockets, contrasting ribbing on the bottom of a jersey? These are all stripes and can make you look larger than you wish. Look carefully at a garment to check for these design traps and avoid them.

5. Conversely, subtle vertical stripes are (usually) your friend. Find them in a garment's style and stitching, a deeply cut V-necked jacket, a silk scarf hanging loosely, long beads, the drape of pants or skirt etc.

6. But vertical stripes on tightly clinging leggings or pants are not flattering. The stripes follow your curves, emphasizing them cruelly.

7. Avoid bulky fabrics such as quilted parkas- these often offend on two counts, one by horizontally machined quilting and another by too much padding. They look enormous and so does anyone who wears them. Thick mohair jumpers are another fattener. Thinner fabrics, such as polar fleece, can be equally warm so there is no need to bulk up.

8. On the other hand don't buy cheap thin fabrics. A fabric must have enough body to hang well rather than clinging. Even T-Shirts in cheap thin fabrics look dreadful and they don't last as long so are not really cheaper. Buy fewer and buy quality.

9. Monochrome dressing is slimming and elegant. Dress in one color from top to toe, preferably a dark neutral. For interest vary textures or add color in your accessories. A plain black outfit with a turquoise silk scarf or bright pink earrings for example.

10. Don't wear frills and ruffles if you have passed your 10th birthday. They add bulk and look tacky.

11. Beware of clothes that are too small, they are fattening. Not only are they unflattering but wearing them makes you feel fat all day. If a garment is tight chuck it out or pack it away until it fits again.

12. If you have put on a pound or two don't forget to check your bra. Does it still fit? Its so easy to forget and to keep wearing a bra that fitted once. Badly fitting bras create horrible bulges across your back, treat yourself to a new one.

If you bear these tips in mind when shopping for clothes you will have a much better chance of losing a pound or two and looking great.


About the author:
This article was written by Liz Beresford. Liz is a registered nurse and owns and operates http://www.trim-you.com where you can find news and up to date information about various weight loss diets and supplements.

The History of Ugg Boots

By : William Siebler

From Australia's Official Dictionary: The Macquarie Concise Dictionary - ugg boot / Australian 100% merino sheepskin lined boot. Also called ugh boot , ugg boot.

Did you know that Australian Sheepskin Ugg boots have always been called Ug, Ugh or Ugg boots and have been made in Australia for almost 200 years? "We always called them Uggs, Smith says, "long before it was a trademarked brand." Brian Smith, Founder UGG Holdings, Inc. Los Angeles Magazine October 1st, 2001

The Ugg Boot Story

The original Ugg Boot. "Ug," (also spelled "Ugg" and "Ugh" in Australian dictionaries) is not a brand name but an age old generic term for this style of Australian-made sheepskin boot. In Aussie slang, the Ug name is short for "ugly." In terms of comfort, however, the Ug Boot is a thing of beauty. The softness of the Australian Merino sheepskin produces a boot with a snug, cozy, form-fitting feel that’s more like a sock than a shoe, yet it’s rugged enough for outdoor wear. The fleece lining has the astonishing property of providing year-round comfort. In cold weather, the plush fleece provides an insulating layer of warmth by trapping your body heat, much like goose down does. But in the heat of summer, the natural fibers of the fleece actually cool your feet by wicking away perspiration.

Growing Up in Uggs

By the 1970s, in Perth, the largest city on Australia’s West Coast, Ug boots were being manufactured by several small companies in the area. Perth has much the same climate as Southern California and is also a haven for surfers, whom Aussies call "surfies." And it was the community of surfies at the great surfing beaches at Margaret River near Perth who first
adopted Ug Boots as their footwear of choice and made them a symbol of the Aussie surfing lifestyle.

Ugg Fever Spreads

From the beaches of Western Australia, Ugs were soon seen on the feet of East Coast surfers from Brisbane to Sydney. And it wasn’t long before some of these surfers -- the ones who traded their surfboards for skis in the winter -- found that their Ug Boots were just as at home in the ski resort areas of the Snowy Mountains as they were on the warm sands of Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

It was Aussie surfers, traveling the world in search of the perfect wave, who first introduced their mates in Southern California to the pleasures of the Ug Boot. Ugs soon became a cult fashion among those L.A. surfers who could depend on a buddy ‘down under" to send them a pair of boots.

Ugg Essentials

Today the Ug "secret" is out. You’ll find these versatile boots to be in fashion on beaches from San Diego to Santa Cruz and in ski resorts from Tahoe to Vail. And today, you don’t have to "know someone" in Australia who will send you a pair, since there are now a number of companies importing boots of this type. But, if you want the genuine article, you do have to know what you’re looking for because, no matter how they spell it -- Ug, Ugg or Ugh -- there are several importers with look-alike products that fall short of being the real thing.

If you want genuine Ugg Boots -- well-made boots with all the qualities that made the original so desirable -- you’ll want to make sure that.....

The boots are made from 100% Australian Merino Sheepskin. This will ensure your purchase is made of the finest Sheepskin hide avaliable.

Please Note:
Beware of very cheap imitations... quite a few boots on the market are made of cow suede with sawn on sheepskin inner fleece off cuts.... Don't take the chance and purchase these boots.... the external cow suede does not breath like 100% sheepskin does and will leave you with a smelly sweaty boot... But I must say these boots do look like the real thing but just don't
cut the mustard when compared to authentic ugg boots.

About the author:
Article submitted by: 30 Below - Authentic Australian Ugg Boots
Authentic Australian Ugg Boots

Sources for Free Tattoo Ideas and Tattoo Design Ideas

Have you been wanting to get a tattoo but don't have an exact idea or not sure what you want? Tattoos are so popular and there are so many ideas but many of us feel stuck at times on the exact tattoo we want to get. For me I often feel stuck when I think of how permanent a tattoo is. I see a lot of cool designs that I like at the time but when I start thinking about the having it permanently done I start to change my mind and look for something else.

Others have the idea or rough plan of what they want but they can't find any good source material or flash that matches what they want. Some of our customers state that they have spent months looking for a certain tattoo design. They look through all of the flash sites and etc. but still can not find what they are looking for. This is a huge problem, you end up wasting a lot of time and feeling frustrated. However there are some simple ways around this problem.

1. First you should always pull ideas for tattoos from things that you like or are into. Don't go and get a tattoo just because you saw someone with one and you thought he or she was cool. A tattoo will be with you forever and so it should be something from you not from outside. Along these lines don't do the stupid thing of going out to get a tattoo with a friend and be pressured into getting the same thing he or she gets just because you don't want to look stupid. Tattoos are permanent and therefore should state something about you and what you love. Therefore if you spend time just thinking about the things you like and things that you identify yourself with you are likely to come up with some great ideas. For example for me I love being outdoor and nature and so I like star tattoos a lot and nature themes. I also like a lot of the native American and traditional Japanese designs. My wife is from Japan and she has this plan of getting a Cherry tree branch full of cherry blossoms across her back. These are very significant images for the Japanese. They symbolizes the new year and new life or even renewal of life. So as you can see your tattoo should be something you identify with.

2. Once you have some rough ideas it is typically time to go online and look for some images. Now lets take the Cherry blossom for example. Some place you could look for a tattoo would be clip art. You can search using Google's image search feature or go to Microsoft online clipart gallery. Either place you can find either a clip art drawn piece or actual source photos. Both will lead you to some good source materials that will help in the design stage.

3. Next you want to take you source materials (photos or clip art) and show them to a tattoo artists. You might also try some initial sketches if you are artistically inclined. Even something with simple line art or pigeon scratches can tell you tattoo artists a lot about what you are looking for. So take everything you got and show it to your tattoo artist and then let them design the tattoo for you. Remember the more accurate and detailed you can be with your description the more happy you are going to be with the results and the whole process will be much easier.

4. Most tattoo artists will then provide you with an actual design shaded in and with color and the line art of the design. If you are getting this done online then you can take that to your local tattoo parlor and find some one to do the actual tattoo for you. Often you can also ask for referrals from the original tattoo artists. Typically they can do the work themselves if you live within driving range.

If you take these steps into consideration and actually do a little bit of homework and find your source materials and provide lots of details about what you are looking for then you are sure to get the design of your dreams.

Chris has been running Design My Tattoos website for the last three months. He like helping people find the custom tattoo designs and where to get them done by professional tattoo artists.

Check out the site and post a job to get your own custom tattoo design. If you are a tattoo artist and would like to earn some extra income go ahead and sign up as an artists and make some money in your spare time. Check out this article on Free Tattoo Ideas on the site.

A Brief History of Tattooing

by : David Z
Because the historical and archaeological records of most forms of body art are incomplete, we still don't know where and where tattooing originated.

Tattooed mummies provide the earliest concrete evidence of tattoo, and these have been found in various parts of the world, from Nubia to Peru. Probably t he most ancient tattooed man is the "Iceman", a Bronze Age man uncovered after being frozen in a glacier on the Tyrolean Alps since 3000 B.C. A tattooed band of stripes was found on his lower back, a simple cross on the inside of his left knee and more stripes on his right ankle.

There are many examples of tattooing in ancient Egypt, the oldest found on the mummy of Egyptian priestess of the goddess Hathor at Thebes, Amunet, who lived approximately 4000 years ago, she was tattooed with parallel lines of dots. Because of her religious status, some archaeologists have speculated that her body art had spiritual or magical connotations. Others feel the designs were of sexual nature.

Some of the most diverse, ornate, and bizarre body art was found in the mysterious and complex world of Maya between 300 and 900 A.D. For Maya, body modification, whether temporary or permanent, were done for spiritual reasons as well as beautification. Full body tattoos or facial tattoos, were acquired by men and women.

When Captain James Cook set sail in his Endeavor in 1769, he visited many islands of Pacific Ocean, most of which included tattooing as part of their culture. It's Cook who gave us the "tattoo" word based on similar words in Polynesian cultures that were used to describe the practice.

On board the Endeavor was Sir Joseph Banks. Along with cataloging many types of animal and plant life, Banks documented the indigenous cultures at every stop along the way. Included in these notes are many references to tattooing. When Banks returned to England in 1771, he disembarked with a permanent memento of his voyage: the very fist tattoo on a modern Western man!

On December 8,1891, the first electric tattoo machine was registered by inventor Samuel O'Reilly, at the United States Patent Office. He began working out of a barber shop in New York City, calling his business a "tattoo parlor" - the first tattoo studio in the United States.

Soon tattoo parlors were springing up all over the country. During the First and Second World Wars, different branches of military adopted tattooing as a means of mystical protection, a souvenir or remembrance.

In the mid-1970s, tattooists began holding tattoo conventions. Tattoo artists from all over the countries gathered together as a group to talk shop and show off their work.

Due to the conventions, magazines, and other kinds of exposure, tattooing began to emerge as a form of fashion. People started to recognize its artistic merit and use it as a way to express personality and religious belief.

Charles Darwin, in The Descent of Man, observed that "Not one great country can be named, in which the aborigines do not tattoo themselves." Ancient and modern peoples have used tattoos as means to a seemingly infinite number of ends.

Today we are experiencing one of the biggest revivals ever. The combination of technology, historical awareness and artistic ability has taken tattoo to heights never before imaged.


About the author:
The starting place for exploring and learning all about tattoos, tattoo ideas, tattoo design concept, tattoo supplies and equipments. http://www.tattoo-symbol-design.com/