The Real Cost of Fast Fashion

Thursday, 3 December 2009
Fast fashion is a term that is regularly used and connected with the negative environmental and ethical aspects of the fashion industry. Recently, there has been an increased interest on the environmental impacts of our consumer behaviour. What is fast fashion and what are it's environmental impacts?

Fast Fashion is term used to describe the cheap high fashion clothing, usually sold by high street retailers. Traditionally retailers would tend to stock new trends or lines each season, with fast fashion, they stock new trends each or even week. This change is consumer buying behaviour is driven by both the reduction in the price of clothing and increased marketing of new trends and fashions. Fast fashion clothes are generally only worn a few times before being replaced by the latest trend.

The environmental impacts of fast fashion are well reported with the green house gas emissions, chemical pollution and landfill waste all being key issues. The growth of cotton, the most widely used natural fibre uses huge amounts of chemicals that are damaging to the health of the workers, the surrounding environment. Synthetic fibres like polyester which are regularly used for making 'fast fashion' clothes, require the use of vast amounts of petro chemicals and releasing all sorts of polluting chemicals that also present health risks for workers in the industry and those living in the vicinity. The manufacture of most textiles is an energy intensive process, this combined with the transport of textiles of products around the world produces even more green house gas emissions.

As if that wasn't enough, there is also the problem of disposing of unwanted clothing. Landfill in the UK is a huge problem with textiles accounting for an estimated 30% of UK landfill waste each year. Synthetic textiles simply stay in the system and do not break down naturally. Even natural textiles pollute water systems with chemicals and dyes that are washed out by rain water. They also produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas as they breakdown.

Recycling of clothing is a great idea but the quality of many fast fashion items makes them less desireable second hand. In March last year Allan Wheeler of the textile recycling association reported in the House of Lords on how "the quality of the clothing that is coming through to our members is on the decline, which makes it harder to reuse".

Whilst there are a variety of eco textiles and brands with excellent environmental credentials now available, it is consumer behaviour that will need to change in order to reduce the impact of fashion and clothing on the environment. Fashion retailers are primarily led by customer demand and will change their products and marketing strategies in response to a change in consumer behaviour. We are starting to see a move in the right direction with key retailers such as Marks and Spencer's and Next all stocking organic and eco lines.

How to change from fast fashion to sustainable style

- Choose clothes in classic styles that will last more than one season
- Store clothes carefully to make them last, where possible, mend and repair instead of replacing them.
- Swap your second hand clothing at a swishing party or on a clothes swapping website
- Develop your own style, instead of following the latest trends.
- Buy vintage or second hand clothes
- Read fashion and style blogs for inspiration on timeless style
- Update last years look by adding a few accessories to your existing wardrobe rather than replacing everything.


by: Ceri Heathcote

Maternity Wedding Dresses - Getting Married Pregnant is in Fashion

There was a time when having a baby before getting married was a little taboo!

Not any more however and the number of brides that walk up the aisle while pregnant has grown to 1 in 5. That's 20% of brides today carrying a little one up to the altar.

Todays views on getting married while pregnant have changed and it's no longer as taboo as it used to be. It's true that our more liberal society has now embrased the fact that people don't even get married at all but there is a traditionalist in the back of everyones mind that says "I'm pregnant and I want to be married before baby arrives".

This new outlook on things has led to a cottage industry of small companies offering maternity wedding dresses to expectant brides to be. The traditional style of wedding dresses do not normally cater for a growing bump and there are key problems with tying to buy a normal wedding dress when you are expecting.

1. You normally have to order 3-6 months in advance. You have no idea what size you will be when you want to wear the dress!

2. Many dresses have corsets and they just are not comfortable to wear while pregnant. They also constrict your tummy and that's not good for baby either.

3. You may not even know your pregnant when shopping for your dress so where do you go from there?

This is where the maternity wedding dress shops like Mama Bridal http://www.mamabridal.com come into their own offering a unique service for this small but needy group of brides.

Maternity wedding dresses are generally empire line dresses so they are fitted around your bust and under the bust which means you have plenty of room to grow. It doesn't matter whether you are 12 or 40 weeks pregnant as the dress itself will just expand as your tummy requires more room.

The dresses tend to be more "off the shelf" than fitted but there are some beautiful grecian and more contemporary "A line" styles out there and with 4 or 5 specialist designers now in the market there is plenty of choice for everyones taste.

If you have a little one on the way and are heading up the aisle soon then you're now catered for. Some of the larger stockists sell online which means you can order and try the dress you like on at home as there are not too many shops around to choose from.

Prices for the dresses start at as little as £100 and go up to around £1000 with materials ranging from Silks and Satins to floaty chiffons. Most of the dresses have lovely floating skirts that "waft as you walk" and give an elegant glide. Although you may not feel like walking too much with a baby on board!

If you are going to take the plunge and get a maternity wedding dress make sure you go somewhere that has a number of dresses to try on. You'll more than likely walk away with somehting completely different to what you wanted! Nothing has changed from the normal wedding dress shopper there!

Don't hide your bump - flaunt it!


by: Mama Bridal

Designer Fashion, Recent Trends: Shopper Bags

Keeping on trend this summer is the first thing on every girls mind, after a carefully planned tanning regime of course! Getting the right look for this summer is easy, with prints, metallics and bright colours all being in vogue, ensuring no-one is left out in the style stakes.

Any outfit is instantly lifted by accessories whether they are bracelets, bangles or bags. Any style conscious girl-about town will be keeping up to date with the latest styles on US TV shows such as Gossip Girl and trying to replicate key looks from stylish festival goers. So the right accessories are a great place to start when wishing to replicate the look on a budget.

The hit bag this season is the shopper bag, or tote to those in the know. Large enough to be practical but highly stylish these bags are taking over recent designer fashion, the high street and fashion boutiques. With high profile fans such as Kate Moss, Fearne Cotton, and Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld the shopper is in. What makes these bags such a hit is the summer friendly vibe they exude, big enough for any occasion you can think of, where it be the park, the beach or as their name suggests shopping.

Vintage inspired fashion brand Hooch, are suggesting to fashionistas to 'Expect the Unexpected' with accessories this summer and make daring statements, such as their bold Payton Shopper Handbag. Hooch is a brand to watch, recently featured in Glamour magazine and quoted as the must have brand of the season by model and style icon Daisy Lowe.

The other great thing about the tote bag, is the stylish storage, meaning you can also be eco-friendly fitting in your purchases when shopping rather than using plastic bags.


by: Guy Parker

Body Shape Fashion Tips

Every woman wants to feel and look great. Some women want to look good for their husbands or boyfriends, some for strangers they don't even know and some want it for themselves. The reasons might be different but they can't achieve it without some right body shape fashion tips.

I think I can speak for most women and say that one of the most difficult things in our lives is to accept our bodies the way they are, especially when they are not perfect. And usually they're not. But when you can achieve that and find inner peace between you and your body, you'll stop stressing out about your size and start to concentrate on more important things in your life.

The first step to achieve that is to find out what body shape you are and then use mine great body shape fashion tips to disguise your flaws and show the best assets of your body.

There are four common body shapes – pear, apple, hourglass and rectangle. Probably the most common type is pear. Pears have their upper body smaller than lower and when they gain weight it usually goes to their hips and thighs. Because the lower body is larger than the upper one, it's important for pears to find a balance between the two. So if your body shape is pear you should wear fitted tops in bright and light colours with different prints and to make your hips and legs look slimmer you should wear A – line or flared skirts. If you prefer jeans you should wear wide – leg or straight legged jeans in darker colours. Another great fashion tip from mine body shape fashion tips is that if you want to bring attention to your neck and face rather then to your hips, you should wear necklaces and earrings.

Apples have their upper body larger than lower and if they gain weight it usually goes to their waistline. So it's important to draw attention from your waist to your legs. So wear jeans that have a flat front and have back pockets that can give a little bit of curve to your flatter rear. You should stay away from jeans that are too tight as they will make you look even bigger on the top. If you prefer skirts, wear A – line skirts or short skirts that are 1 to 5 inches above the knee. The tops you shouldn't wear with those jeans and skirts are dark tops with too many patterns. And because apples have larger breast don't forget that very important is the right bra.

If you're lucky enough to have an hourglass figure, you've found a balance that most of us, especially pears, are looking for. Because your shoulders and curvy hips are equal in size, you don't have to be afraid of patterns and you should go for tops with V – neck and wear some stretch denim jeans with larger hips and smaller waist. As for skirts you should wear ¾ length or full length skirts. Probably the most valuable of all body shape fashion tips for women with an hourglass figure is – don't hide your body by wearing some baggy clothes.

If you have a rectangle figure you definitely have great legs and you should show them by wearing jeans with a low – rise and with back pockets that will make your bottom look fuller. Or you can wear pencil, A – lined or flared skirts. Because your figure is straight up and down you shouldn't wear vertical patterns as they will make you look even thinner, but rather wear scoop neck or V – neck tops that will make you look curvier.

We are all different in the way we look but we have one thing in common, we always find something we don't like about our bodies. So make the first step to change and find out what your body shape is and use mine body shape fashion tips as they can help you to take the focus of your problem areas and emphasize what is positive on your body. They can even save your time when shopping, as quite often we buy clothes that are unflattering for our figure because they don't have the right cut, colour or print.

And there's another aspect where mine body shape fashion tips can be very useful. They can help you to become more confident, because the way you feel determines the way you look. So feel confident and it definitely will show.


by: Sue Clark

The 5 Best Cookies For Kids!

Both young and the old ones love and enjoy the sweet treats brought by cookies. Children most especially are hooked with these little bites of sweetness. Different terms and names are given to these delicious cookies. Spaniards name them as galletas while English people termed them as biscuits.

Germans name these small goodies as kels whereas people from Northern part of America name them cookies. Earliest forms of cookies actually were just tiny cakes known as koeje, a simple Dutch term for small cakes. This term koekje later developed and become cookie. Regardless of the label or name given to this delicious and aromatic flavor, they remain good treats for all children.

Usually, children love sweets or cookies which are bought commercially. In a report given by www.timeforkids.com, there were five in demand brands of cookies in the market.

1. Oreo which sells around $519 M (million) annually
2. Chips Ahoy sells around $347 M (million) annually.
3. Chips Deluxe earns $160 M (million) per year.
4. Newton gets $137 M (million) in one year.
5. Fudge Shoppe earns around $127 M (million) in one fiscal year.

Even if kids enjoy cookies which are bought from stores, children still love the ones made from their homes. Children enjoy baking while the parents find quality moments with their children in this activity.

When you want to give your children some freshly baked cookies at home, here is a list of the most popular and tasty cookies which children love.

1. Gingerbread Flavor Cookies: Gingerbread always brings delight to all children because these tasty treats usually are baked in numerous figures and designs. Plus, frosting is being used also to decorate these delicious cookies adding to their appeal. The ingredients are: flour, butter/margarine, sugar (granulated), soft butter, cinnamon powder, molasses, baking agent, ginger powder, crushed cloves, salt, grated nutmeg and leavening soda.

2.Double Choco-Chip Cookies: Double choco-chip flavored cookies are a favorite of most children. Ingredients are: sugar, salt, flour, butter, eggs, vanilla, leavening soda, cocoa (powder unsweetened), buttermilk and partially sweet choco-chips.

3.Peanut Butter cookie: Undoubtedly, this flavor is very much liked by children. You may enhance the flavor by using known brands such as: Jiffy, Skippy or Peter Pan peanut spread. When you want, you may combine it with choco-chips. You may also make your cookies healthier by using peanut spread that has no preservatives. The ingredients are: brown or unrefined sugar, eggs, peanut spread, butter/margarine, flour, shortening, leavening agent, salt, sugar (granulated) and baking agent.

4.Choco-Chip Cookies: Choco chip cookies are really famous to children. They feel soft, moist and chewy. You may consider the usual choco-chips, milk-choco chunks and gourmet choco-chips. Any of them would be a sure hit with your children. The usual ingredients are: eggs, melted unsalted margarine or butter, brown or unrefined sugar, flour (all-purpose), white or refined sugar, salt, vanilla, leavening agent and lastly partially sweet choco-chips/chunks.

5.Sugar-Flavored Cookies: This flavor of cookies is sweet and delicious. Plus, this cookie may be cut in various figures and designs. Ingredients are: margarine/ butter), sugar (granulated), flour (all-purpose), leavening soda, eggs, salt, vanilla and cream of tartar.

Children enjoy and love the sweet and delicious taste of cookies - that is why offering them these treats will surely give them much delight.



by: Mary Walsh

Make Delicious Cinnamon Raisin Bread With Your Bread Maker

Bread machines have become more & more popular lately. A lot of homes now are equipped with bread machines, especially with the growing popularity of bread as a healthier substitute for heavy meals.

Bread machines are easy to use and come equipped with manuals for omplete

instructions. The very first bread maker was marketed and released in Japan in 1986. It took a while before it became popular in U.S. and the U.K.

The most popular manufacturers of bread machines include Black & Decker,

Panasonic, Breville, Cuisinart, Moulinex, Toastmaster, Kenwood Limited and DeLonghi.

Bread machines usually have different cycles for each type of dough.This includes whole grain dough, straight white bread and European-style dough. But the newer bread machines have automatic timers which allow it to operate even without someone operating the equipment.

Contrary to popular belief, you could actually use bread machines to create more than just your plain loaf of bread. You could use it to create delicious bread varieties such as Cinnamon Raised Bread.

Cinnamon Raised Bread would be great breakfast accompaniments as well as perfect partners with after-meal coffee. Use your own bread maker to create tasty and delicious Cinnamon Raised Bread that you and your family can enjoy every morning.Here's a recipe to create that delicious Cinnamon Raised Bread.

You will need the following ingredients:

400 grams whole flour
2 tsps yeast
150 grams bread flour
3/4 tsp cinnamon; ground
100 grams mixed fruits/raisins
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 c water
1.5 tbsps sugar (brown)
1.5 tbsps oil (sunflower)
1.5 tbsps whey (powdered)
2 tbsps gluten

Get a pan big enough for the mixture and put all your ingredients inside your pan. Choose the appropriate cycle in your bread maker. Refer to your manual for this.

Place pan inside your machine then let it run continuously for about ten minutes. Afterwards, check your dough's consistency. Dough must have that sticky consistency. If consistency is not there yet, add in a teaspoon of water and cook for several minutes. Do these steps until you get the exact texture for your dough.

Since machine is automatic, it will finish off kneading all by itself then will shift to its baking cycle. After bread maker has completed its cycle, let bread cool inside your pan (10 mins.). This will allow crust to soften some more.

After bread has cooled enough, cut it using a sharp knife. Place a bit of butter on top if preferred. This bread will be excellent for serving with coffee or tea. The Cinnamon Raisin Bread will stay good for quite a few days if stored properly.


by: Mary Walsh

Training Injury Free

Remaining injury free is of the utmost importance to all people who exercise but especially to those who are over thirty five years old. Can a person lose fat and gain muscle while sitting on the couch recovering from an injury they incurred while training? The answer is no. The reason my clients achieve superior results is because they continue to diet and workout uninterrupted by injury. In this article I will share some techniques I have used to successfully train clients at high intensity without injury. I do take pride in the fact that none of my clients have been seriously injured while training in over twenty years of practicing my art. Stretching is very important for injury prevention. I use basic stretches for both upper body and lower body to get my client's bodies prepared for the stress of intense exercise. Stretching increases muscular circulation and prepares the tendons, ligaments and joints for the work to be done.Warming up is also important for injury prevention. I always have my clients perform their initial sets for a body part with a light weight for high repetitions, this increases circulation in the area we are working and prepares the tendons, ligaments and joints for the more intense work to come.


When it comes to the nitty gritty of the actual high intensity work, one of the secrets of my success in keeping my clients uninjured is that I avoid fixed movements through pre-set ranges of motion. I favor using dumbbells over barbells and machines almost every time. Dumbbells allow a trainee to use more natural range of motion in all pressing movements such as Chest Presses and Shoulder Presses. For example, instead of doing shoulder presses with a fixed barbell or a machine, I prefer using dumbbells; they allow a trainee to make micro-adjustments in exercise form to avoid overly stressing injured tissue. A client with a micro-injury to a shoulder, for example, can most often comfortably do dumbbell press even at high intensity without a problem even when barbell or machine shoulder presses are impossible due to pain. The barbell or machine often forces the trainee to use an unnatural range of motion which can cause injury or aggravate injuries which already exist.


Many of my friends and associates have injured themselves doing heavy barbell bench presses for chest. I myself long ago have just about quit using barbells and machines altogether for upper body work as a strategy to avoid injury. I am forty one years old and am still able to train at a very high level without time off from injury. It is my desire that this article benefits all who read it,in their quest for greater health, vitality, and wellness.


by: Joe Kozma

Want to Burn Fat? Eat More Protein!

Muscles are made of protein. This statement is rather obvious to all of us. So to build muscle, equally obviously, you need to take proteins. This can be found in eggs, fish meat, cottage cheese or protein concentrates like protein powder.

To appreciate the importance of proteins in your body, you have to understand that your body cells are constantly being replaced by new ones. The tissue, made of protein, is in a state of flux, constantly being changed as old cells die and new cells replace them. Rheo Blair states "It is as if you lived in a building whose bricks were systematically taken out and replaced every year. If you keep the same blueprint then it will still look like the same building. But it won't be the same in actuality. The human body is in a constant state of flux, it loks the same from day to day, but through multiple biological processes, it is always rebuilding itself."

Science has proven that 99% of the atoms in your body are replaced within one year. Every cell in your body is always being recycled. Protein is what is used in the creation of new cells. It is the building blocks of your body. Skin, hair, bones, hormones, and antibodies are formed of protein. Save for water, protein is the most abundant substance in your body. Like other nutrients, proteins are made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. But unlike other nutrients, proteins are the only nutrients that bring nitrogen into the body. Thus by measuring the amount of nitrogen in ones excreta, compared to the amount taken in, one can estimate the amount of protein used for muscle growth. If the difference is positive, then muscle is being made. But if the difference is negative, there is a negative nitrogen balance, and the body literally begins feed on its own muscle to produce energy. Proteins are broken down by digestive acids like protease to smaller units called peptides. This occurs in the stomach where there are acidic conditions necessary for the digestion of proteins. The peptides are in turn are digested by peptidase, found in the duodenum, into amino acids. These are what the body actually absorbs and utilizes to form body tissue, including muscle.

There are 20 amino acids that are required for the normal growth of the body. Eleven of these are naturally made in the body and thus are called non-essential amino acids. The other nine have to be ingested into the body as it cannot synthesize them and are thus called essential amino acids. Foods containing both types of amino acids in the exact amounts as they are needed by the body are called complete proteins. Only when all the essential amino acids are available can the body grow muscles. Otherwise it starts breaking down body tissue to suffice the amount of essential amino acids for growth and repair purposes. Thus lack of these amino acids actually leads to muscle loss.


by: Joe Kozma

Fat Burning Cardiovascular Exercises

What is the best form of cardiovascular exercise for my personal training clients? The answer to that question differs depending on the physical goals of the individual client. A general answer to the question is that the ideal form of cardiovascular training is a form which has the most rewards while minimizing the risks.

The treadmill is probably the most popular form of cardio being done at gyms and fitness centers today. If one walks on the treadmill on a flat grade the risk to injury is minimal but in most cases the rewards are minimal. Under these conditions few calories are burned and it is too high impact for the extremely deconditioned or obese. Walking slow on the flat treadmill with no grade has minimal risks for everyone but also few rewards as it does not burn enough calories to signifigantly reduce bodyfat. There are two ways to increase the efficacy of working on a treadmill, one is by increasing the rate of speed of which the exercise is done at; you can start jogging or running at will. Jogging and running are very potent exercises when it comes to calorie burning but both of them put a great deal stress on the knees and lower back . The unconditioned, injured and seniors should not take up running because it is too hard on the joint, bones and connective tissue. Secondly, treadmill work can be increased in intensity by increasing the degree of grade that is walked at, this becomes the equivalent of walking hills or mountains outside. Incline treadmill walking is an effective calorie and fat burner but it can be problematic for trainees with lower back, knee or foot issues. As you can see the treadmill has its positives and negatives. Using this an your main type of cardio will depend on any limiting factors due to injuries and how much endurance you have.

Stationary cycling is another very common form of cardio being done at gyms today. Stationary cycling has the same pros and cons as riding the bike outside. I believe cycling is most definitely superior to jogging and running because you can burn a lot of calories without the extreme pounding to the knees and back that the body receives from jogging and running. To a lesser degree however a lot of stress to the knees and back can be generated by intense cycling also.

I favor the elliptical machine due it's non-impact nature and large range of motion. you can vary the ramp, resistance and speed to target the largest lower body muscles without straining the spine or joints. It is possible to really turn up the intensity level of your training with minimal risk of injury. In short there is a superior form of cardio and that form is elliptical training.


by: Joe Kozma

Why Colour is So Important in Fashion

Colour is the first thing other people notice about us, and its impact is immediate and long-lasting. Our fashion colour choices say a lot about the image we are trying to portray and how we feel about ourselves. So what does colour tell people?

Within seconds of meeting you, others will respond to the 'colour messages' flashed by your clothes. Different colours can make people feel a certain way. In fact, it has been determined by medical science that colour can influence the viewer's hormones, blood pressure and body temperature. Colour also has an impact on:

* Your apparent shape;
* Your apparent weight;
* Your apparent personality;
* Your emotions
* Others emotions

Other important considerations are how appropriate the colour is for the location, occasion, time of year, your age and of course, your natural colouring.

We are all influenced by colour every day, whether we realise it or not. If we're having a bad day and not feeling good about ourselves, we tend to automatically choose clothes in dull neutral colours like black, grey or brown because they match how we're feeling. Just as when we're happy and feeling great we will go for something a bit brighter.

Have a look in your wardrobe and see how many different colours you own. Do you have a veritable rainbow of outfits? Or are there just 1 or 2 colours that you wear a variation of all the time? You may find you are stuck in a colour rut. Knowing this, why not experiment with the colours you wear and surround yourself with.

Sometimes it is not just the colour itself, but a combination of colours that create the affect. Colours produce different reactions when used in different fabrics and when put together in different colour combinations. For example, a red jacket worn with a white shirt to a business meeting exhibits confidence and power, but a red jacket worn with a lacy red top may be interpreted as saying, "I'm sexy and exciting and I have other things on my mind besides this business meeting".

Red is actually not the best colour to wear to a job interview as it can set the scene for an uneasy interaction between females. So what colours are appropriate for what situation?

Here is a list of the colours that men respond well to, both socially and professionally.

* Yellow: Holds their attention and keeps them alert; indicates the start of something new

* Yellow-based reds: Energetic colour that keeps conversations going

* True reds: Exhibits confidence

* Burgundy: Reflects class and sophistication and attracts the same type of men

* Mid-range blues: Puts others at ease and allows interactions to go smoothly

* Sky blue: A calming colour

* Navy blue: Signals that you want to be taken seriously; it inspires others to listen to what you have to say and displays that you are trustworthy

* Blue-based reds: Suggests intelligence and femininity

* Red violet: Suggests strength and creativity

It is most important though, to choose colours that are a good fit for your natural colouring. There is no point choosing a colour that suggests creativity and confidence if it also makes you look washed out or sick.

Wearing your best range of colours can have a huge impact on your wardrobe and your confidence. The right colours can make your skin tone appear more even, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark circles and make you look brighter and healthier. While on the other hand wearing a colour which isn't so good for you, can make you look tired, dull and even ill. A colour analysis with a professional image consultant will show you exactly which range of colours are best for your clothing, makeup and accessories.

In short, our fashion colour choices tell the world a lot about us. Knowing how to use colour to your advantage can change the way you dress and boost your self-confidence.


by: Susan Lockhart

Car Accessories for Fashion and Security

Do you know the most cost-effective way of making a car flashy and comfy? It is the way of making some additions to it. Car accessories offer a gainful and easy option of doing up a set of wheels. So, don’t worry if your car looks like a box on wheels! You can revamp it with lots of small and cute kits and give it a give a complete new look. You can even make it comfortable from inside and more secured to drive even.

The automobile market has endless options on car accessories. Both for interior and exterior add-ons, there are endless options to choose from. From trifle things like tattoos to important accessories like security kits, leading manufacturers have everything on offer. While some accessories can be used as mere fashion, some others can be added to the car to get valuable service from them. Most of these accessories are easily affordable; though a few of them can be expensive.

Alarms, central locking, immobilisers are some of the kits that certainly beefs up the security of the car. On the other hand, dash kits, gear knob, car mats, roof boxes etc. serve the purpose of both glamorizing the car and increasing its beauty too. Tattoos and stickers are the accessories mostly used by young people and liked by kids. Seat covers, seat belts are for comfy feeling and security precautions.

Car mats are one of the commonest of car accessories. They are available in all variety. Regarding size, colour and style, floor mats offer endless options. Whether for the front or the rear side; or even for the trunk─ there is an exhaustive variety of mats available in the market. They save the floor from damage by preventing liquid penetrate inside. If kept in the trunk, car mats can save goods from damage by keeping tight hold on them.


by: Alexus Devon

Jeans and Their Evolution: From Factories to Fashion

Everyone has a pair of jeans. It could be that favorite pair you've had forever, or a brand new pair you just bought with Sunday newspaper coupons. But everyone has jeans they wear and love. They're comfortable, durable, and follow fashion trends as closely as women's shoes. Many offices now even allow jeans as part of their work wear, something that would have been unheard of when jeans began to be popular. In fact, during the 1950s, some restaurants and movie theaters refused to admit customers wearing jeans.

Jeans weren't always as fashionable as they are today. In fact, they were originally used as sturdy trousers worn by men and women in factories during World War II. In the 1950s, however, teenagers began wearing jeans as a form of rebellion against conformity, and by the 1970s, jeans were a staple of fashion wardrobes. They're available throughout the world, but typically, jeans are considered a part of American culture, like baseball and apple pie.

One of the major changes that has occurred in the jean industry is the change from standard trouser-style jeans worn by men and women prior to the 1950s. In the beginning, if you wanted to break in your jeans, you had to do it the old fashioned way, which either involved wearing them frequently for a long time, or dragging them on concrete and washing them frequently to make them look more worn.

The introduction of bell bottom jeans, for example, proved that jeans could be as much a fashion statement as a durable pair of pants. Now styles range from skin tight to large and baggy, available in every color imaginable. You can get jeans with embroidery, patches, rhinestones, or even brand new jeans that look as though they've been worn for twenty years. There are designers who specialize in jeans (besides Levi and Wranglers).

These changes have come thanks to the advances in clothing production. Jeans can be mass produced, and with the different machines and denim fabrics available, the only limit to jeans is the designers' imagination! In fact, the customer can become the designer, as well. You can take your favorite pair of jeans and customize them to your liking. Add embellishments, turn them into shorts, or grab some fabric pens and draw all over the fabric to turn them into a piece of art.

Because of the variety of jeans that are available, they can offer a professional looking alternative to dress pants in the office, particularly for women. There are even some dark washed jeans that can be mistaken for black dress pants! And since they are so popular, and can be more professional looking, offices are becoming more welcoming of jeans around the office, even if it isn't "casual Friday."

As far as jeans have come in almost seventy years, who knows what they'll look like seventy, fifty, or even twenty years from now? It could be that, as fashion develops, the jeans people wear years from now won't be recognized by the population as what we know as "jeans." For all we know, the evolution of jeans will continue, and they'll become the more formal wear, leaving "dress pants" hanging in boutiques and closets in favor of pants that started as simply sturdy work pants for factory workers.


by: Rebecca Stevenson

New Fashion Trend - Luxury Yet Affordable Freshwater Pearls

Jewelries are accents to any woman's dress. But among the jewelry these days, the classic and elegant beauty of pearls still does not fade. It started in the ancient times when pearl jewelry was used as luxury items available only to the ladies of wealthy and noble families because of its extravagant price. Today, it is still elegant and fashionable, but having freshwater pearl jewelry can be affordable now.

Freshwater pearl jewelry comes in different colors and shapes. Among the common colors are cream, orange, yellow, lavender, pink and white. Shapes would vary from round, tear drop, baroque and pear among others. On its own or combined together, these offers an incredible array of possibilities.

You can go for multiple strand pearl necklaces that combine different colors. For formal occasions, you can have a single string of white round pearls. Baroque cream bracelets can adorn your wrist partnered with a teardrop earring or ring.

When choosing freshwater pearls, always take into consideration the shape of your face and your skin color. For example, a woman with a fair complexion will look better in light colored pearls compared to gray or black. Here are some of the fashionable styles of pearl necklaces to adorn you:

1. Collar style - these are multiple rows of pearls that are worn close to your neck. This type complements a "V" shaped collar or a formal evening dress.

2. Short necklace - length is approximately 40mm. This is the most classical and popular choice for ladies. It can match any classical or cocktail dress.

3. Princess style - length is approximately 45-48mm. This style usually comes with a pendant and is especially suited to high-collar dresses.

4. Martini style - length is approximately 50-58mm. This can match any casual or business suite.

5. Opera style - length is approximately 70-80mm. It can also be matched with any high collar dress, and can be worn as double row necklace.

6. Cord style - length exceeds 110mm. It can be worn very long or clasped and tied to create numerous short lengths.

7. Florid style - composed of 8mm, 6-7mm and 5mm pearls. It can be worn around the neck in several rows to create a romantic style.

8. Dress necklace - composed of long and short multiple rows, usually with a clasp. It can match any formal dress for its elegant and graceful aura.

If the shape of your face is long, you can choose a short or double row to balance it. If you have a round face and thick neck, you can choose the martini or the princess style to have a good visual projection. For those with square-shaped faces, you can choose the cord style or opera style to soften your facial contour.

In purchasing good quality freshwater pearl necklaces, proper selection should be painstakingly done to avoid buying unsatisfactory ones. Remember to always examine the luster of the pearl and inspect for cracks, marks or blemishes. Luster means that the pearl should have an inner glow in any kind of light. It is the most important characteristic that any pearl should have.


by: Tina Ko

Stylish Mens Suits and Fashion

The preference on clothes and dressing up has been changing season after season. Fashion has earned an increasing influence in the modern society that clothing and dress up largely depends on what is trendy and stylish as dictated by designers. However, along with the changes in the modern fashion, men's suits have gone out of favor as an outfit of daily wear but rather, only reserved for special occasions. Yet, as dressing up becomes more experimental and creative, you can try out fashionable means of wearing suits. After all, suit coats are the most flexible in a man’s closet. Learn what are the suits that you can fashionably wear and find which are the most comfortable for you.

100% Wool Charcoal Self Stripe Suit. This is a very fine charcoal self stripe suit which feature a stylish 2 button jacket. Being two-toned, this makes a very stylish lining and being made of wool, the suit is soft and durable. Another detail of this wool charcoal suit is having two side vents which helps one to move freely.

Summer suit. The best color for summer suits are delightful shades like creams and olive. Since they can get dirt fast, find the kind of suit that is fully washable. One characteristic that you may find with it is being lightweight. Most often it is made of a mixture of polyester, wool and linen. Interior pockets, side vents, and three button cuff are some of the added features that you may prefer.

Shawl Collar Single Breasted Dinner Suit. Almost all important occasion is celebrated over dinner. it is therefore important that you have a dinner suit in your closet. A one-button single breasted dinner jacket can be the classic option that you can have. A fashionable type can have shawl collar, satin lapels, four- satin covered button on cuffs.

Classic White Tuxedo. The savoy style tuxedo is another option that you may prefer over dinner jackets. This flexible wardrobe is not only for cruises but also for special occasions. When choosing a white tuxedo, look for the natural white for a classy look than the brilliant white. Most often, the tuxedo are wool and polyester in fabric and have Teflon Fabric Protector.

Avalino Suit. This suit is a two-button semi fitted jacket with side vents and slant pockets. This single breasted jacket has a sophisticated style being semi fitted. Being made of wool and polyester, this suit has the crease recovery feature.

There are other suits of stylish designs that you can choose from. Mens suits can also be used for casual dressing up other than formal use. Aside from its functionality, you should consider comfort and affordability in choosing the suit that you want.


by: Neil Smith

Men’s Fashion Style

Look smart and good is the demand of the time, studies has shown that on an average people spent a good amount of time and money on their look and style. Earlier fashion and style were the matter of females concern, but now the scenario has changed, metro men’s are quite fashion conscious, they are working hard on their style and look , be it the selection of formal custom suits for men’s or casuals or choosing a new hairstyle.

A man is judge by what he wears; clothing styles tells a lot about the person and his personality. Choose clothes that depict your personality and style, be it casual jeans and t-shirt or designer s.cohen suits, but make sure that your dressing sense goes well with your style.

Though the scenario of men’ fashion has changed a lot, unlike their predecessors, new generation men love to experiment with their look and style, now their wardrobe has a collection of formal and casuals, from Allan Edmonds shoes to Sanyo’s trench coat and jackets.

It is advised not to be extra brand conscious, wear what suits you and make you comfortable. Make your own style statement, try to follow a moderate way of fashion and style, the extreme trends of fashion and style is not suitable for day to day schedule.

It is your own style and dressing sense that distinguishes you from crowd. Attractive and pleasing personality is not all about good looks and great body, but it is combination of all, be it your dressing style, hair style, accessories, or your talking style. So be specific in selecting your style and brand


by: Joseph Simmons

The Fashion Trend Of Bang Hairstyles

Here we will discuss about some common and at the same time happening bang styles. The bang styles, which we will be discussed, are mainly variation of bob and long bob cut. Blunt haircut now becoming very popular and with addition of some special bangs student’s blunt cut of previous years evolved dramatically.

1. Blunt Bangs: Just remember the haircut of Cleopatra. It is the ancient form of blunt bangs. This kind of hairstyle is so much stylish and especially for those who can carry them off brilliantly. It is done in a way, which is just below the eyebrow and fringes are done coving the forehead maintaining the same length. Locks are cut precisely straight across from side to side. The length is up to the neck portion. Chinese hairstyle is like this kind of haircut. Plain, silky hair with medium density can have this cut.

2. Side swept Bangs: This is a haircut, which is gradually textured and generally extended shorter part to longer part. Hair of one side is brushed to sweep across the forehead. So this cut is called side swept.

3. Parted Bangs: This is a modified version of blunt haircut. Parted bangs are very much like the simple blunt haircut but the change is done introducing a partition which is gradually placed either in the middle or slightly to the side. Generally long blunt cut look very good if a partition is added in this haircut.

4. Ch



by: Louise Jones