Finding Something to Wear!
Now that it is finally summer, I decided to get all of my summer clothes out of storage. I’ve got quite a lot of clothes and I normally have to put my summer clothes in the attic at wintertime and my winter clothes in the attic in summer! To be honest I don’t think I am any different from any of my friends in this respect – we are all just mad on clothes! This year when I got all of my summer clothes out I spent the afternoon really going through them, and I was so depressed! After a couple of hours I felt like I had found hardly anything that I still liked! There were three or four dresses that I had worn last year which looked great, but so much of the other stuff just seemed really old fashioned. Things had changed this year and I really needed to get something a bit more up to date!
I decided to have a look online at a few of my favourite clothes sites, and I came across some really nice Miss Sixty stuff which seemed really nice and pretty good value too. I had found the clothes at a site called Very which I have to say has served my internet clothes shopping needs very well for a few years now. They are great if you are looking for a bargain or if you are trying to find something really up to date fashion wise.
Eventually after much enjoyable browsing I decided upon a couple of really nice dresses and some new shoes. There’s nothing like a bit of retail therapy to cheer a girl up, and when my new clothes arrived I felt like a new woman!
Caring and Cleaning for Handbags- How to Keep your Handbags Looking their Best
Perhaps the most functional fashion accessory today is the handbag. Most women use their handbags everyday and count on them to hold their precious possessions. Today women’s handbags come in a wide array of styles, materials and price ranges. Whether clutch or tote, suede or leather, a steal of a deal or an expensive designer bag it is important to take proper care of your handbag. Doing so will improve the longevity of the handbag, keeping it looking its best.
There are many materials used in the construction of handbags these days. Knowing what yours is constructed of will help you find out how to properly care for it. Some examples are:
Leather- A leather handbag can be cared for by using special leather treatment equipment. A soft brush and leather conditioning cream can do wonders for a tired leather handbag. Follow the directions on the label of the product you are using for the best results.
Snakeskin- If your snakeskin handbag needs cleaning beyond a simple dusting it might be taken to a professional.
Patent Leather- If you have scuff marks or if the shine has faded on your patent leather handbag, simple vegetable oil can do wonders. Simply add a small amount of vegetable oil to a soft cotton cloth, buff out, mark and wipe thoroughly with a clean dry cloth to remove the mark and bring back shine to the purse. Petroleum jelly also works to bring back the shine but not to remove marks.
Suede- Use a soft velvet brush to loosen dirt and lift dust from your suede handbag. Never use a leather treatment on suede as it can damage the suede permanently.
Cloth or Fabric- Most cloth or fabric handbags are constructed of canvas, denim or cotton. Dry cleaning is recommended but you can also clean the handbag yourself. A damp cotton cloth dipped in a solution of very mild detergent can be used to gently wipe away the dirt or spill. Before trying this be sure to test a in a hidden area so as not to damage your handbag. Then use a small velvet brush to gently brush along with the grain of the fabric. Allow your handbag to air dry completely before use.
When you first acquire your bag it is a good idea to treat the surface with a protective treatment such as Scotch guard. This will provide a protective coating that will makethe handbag resistant to liquids, spills and stains. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions and all warnings prior to use to be sure that your handbag is made from a material that is safe for the product to be applied to. It’s probably a good idea to test a small part of the bag that may not be as visible to ensure a good outcome.
A soft cloth is a good choice to dust a handbag. For a smudge or spot a slightly damp towel can be used only if you spot check in a hidden area first to be sure that no discoloration or damage is caused when the area dries. Always allow your handbag to air dry if you have cleaned it or have been caught in the rain. Using a blow dryer or clothes dryer will cause heat damage. Takingthe handbag to a professional for cleaning is a good idea for tough stains.
The old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure holds true when caring for your handbags. Using some common sense strategies, you can keep your handbag from being damaged.
Always use clean hands when handling your handbag. Avoid handling just after applying beauty products or hand cream. If you have to go out in bad weather consider switching from your very expensive leather handbag to one made of a fabric that is more durable such as canvas or nylon.
Avoid setting your purse on the floor in public places such as restaurants, theaters and restrooms. Besides dirt and spills there are germs, microbes and bacteria that could be carried home and transferred to your bed or counter top.
If you will be storing your handbag in a drawer, on a shelf or in a file cabinet while at work be sure that there are no sharp edges that would scratch or otherwise damage it. You might consider slipping it into a pillowcase or handbag storage bag for protection. You could also pad the area by lining it with a towel or soft cloth.
Storing your handbag properly is another way to keep it in tip top shape. When not in use it is important to stuff the bag to help it keep its proper shape. Paper or material can be used but bubble wrap is the best option as it does not attract moths or moisture. Manyhandbags come with their own protective storage bag. If not, handbag storage bags can be found in retail stores both online and in your community. A simple and cost effective alternative are cotton pillowcases. Keeping your handbag covered when not in use will keep dust from sticking to it and damaging the finish.
For long term storage it is a good idea to remove the straps or loosen the buckles in order to keep them from developing permanent indentations. These indentations would be unsightly if you decide to change the length of the strap or the handle in the future. If your purse has a chain handle be sure to store it with the handle tucked insidethe handbag to prevent scratches.
Taking good care of your handbag will keep it looking like new and in turn keep you looking your best. By properly caring for yourhandbags you will be able to enjoy them more as it will improve their look and longevity. Always remember that professionals can be a good and inexpensive resource for helping you maintain your handbags.
Hot New Beauty Trends – Celebrity Beauty Trends
With the many changes people are experiencing in the world, there has been a change in the beauty arena since people are always trying to look different and impressive. There has therefore been a change in beauty styles. These include changes in the hair styles, dressing styles, perfumes, shoes, make up and ornaments. Celebrities are taken to be role models of their relevant fields and since most people who admire a certain celebrity would like to emulate their beauty styles, celebrities are very conscious of their beauty styles and more often than not, they change their styles constantly to keep up with fashion.
Celebrities are known to have bought expensive clothing while they are staging a public appearance. This gives them an image that shows that they are rich. Most clothes that celebrities wear are designer clothing, which are expensive as exhibited in various magazines and reviews that offer information about clothing prices. In the past, celebrities did not have personal designers and they used to buy the clothes that were popular then. Recently, there has been a development in the clothes industry. Due to the many varying designs that have come up, celebrities are forced to get personal designers who advise them on the kind of clothing to wear, for particular occasions.
Some celebrities have come up with their own clotheslines, which are clothes designed with a logo that belongs to the celebrity. Some of these celebrities, especially men, have suits and shirts featuring the bulk of their clothes. Female celebrities are known to produce shoe designs and perfumes under their names since these are things that are related with the women. Some of the clothes designed by celebrities include inner garments like boxer shorts, under wears, bikinis and other lingerie for the women. The celebrities who have managed to produce their own clotheslines are known to have gained great sums of money from the sale of the garments. This is because most of their fans buy these clothes and this makes the celebrities more famous while at the same time the garments sell their image to their fans. Since most of these celebrities are music artists, they are known to have sold many records to people who have clothes with their names and logos since the fans feel a sense of belonging to the celebrity.
There has been news of how some celebrities have bought expensive clothing and shoes because they are role models and they always want to impress their fans. Another reason why they buy the expensive clothing is to look rich and wealthy to their fans. Most fans will look at them differently if they have an impression of wealth and success. The quality of the designs that the celebrity wears is also high and this is the biggest reason why these clothes are expensive. Clothing like linen suits are known to be expensive and they have a striking effect when they are worn hence the celebrities wear them to look striking. They need to make impressions that will last in order to maintain their fan base.
Major designers who are known to produce jewelry, clothing and shoes that have their logo set most new trends. This makes the attires and accessories more expensive. These designers are famous names like Chanel, Gucci, Christian Dior and others like Raybun. These designers have been in the design industry for long and they know and produce the best designs according to various celebrities. The celebrities hence prefer getting their designer outfits from these companies. They also advise the celebrities on what to wear to various functions. Celebrities are hence the standard setters of the beauty market.
Crystal Gifts
A piece of jewelry that sparkles and shines is a delight to every womans eyes. Jewelry come in many forms and materials. There are jewelry that made of pure gold and silver and there are also jewelry that made of glass, crystals, semi-precious stones and other natural materials.
I am always fascinated with fashion jewelry, trinkets and stuff made of crystals especially crystal necklaces, crystal earrings and swarovski crystal brooches. After I graduated from college, I used to make fashion jewelry made of crystals as a hobby. My favorite things to do are crystal brooches, crystal earrings and crystal pendants. I went into every bead supplies stores I know just to find the finest materials I can use for my jewelry-making hobby. After trying different kinds of beads and using different beading materials, I settled myself with crystals.
When buying jewelry made of crystals, you have to remember that there are different facets, cuts, shapes, colors and looks of crystals. There are also crystals that have AB (Aurora Borealis) coating. This coating is often applied to one side of a crystal bead to accentuate the light-scattering properties. The AB coating looks metallic and opaque from the side it is covering but on a transparent crystal bead, the color and brightness of the sparkle shows through strongly when the bead is seen from the other side.
Crystals also come in several qualities and their facets also vary. Also remember that some of the best crystal beads are hand-faceted. Based on my jewelry-making experience, I learned that crystals have different cuts and shapes. The ones I know are:
1.Triangle-Cut this cut is more angular and has fewer facets but it reflects light very strongly and looks very bright when worn.
2.Hexagon-Cut this is a common cut for the round variant of crystal beads. This type of crystal bead is sometimes opaque; it is reflective but not translucent.
3.Diamond-Cut I have several shapes of diamond-cut crystals like round and cushion shapes. Both have diamond facets but their shapes are different.
4.Bicone there are bicones that are translucent but there are also bicones that are AB coated. Among my beads, this is my most favorite because of its diamond shape.
Of course, aside from the ones I mentioned, there are also other cuts and shapes of crystals but what I know and are always using are triangle cut, hexagon cut, diamond cut and also bicones. If you are still new to beading, these types of crystals are very easy to match with other beads and beading materials. I love these types of crystal because I can make gorgeous and elegant beaded crystal jewelry without hurting my budget.
Trends For Designer Sunglasses For Summer 2010
It is spring already and summer is just around the corner. For those either fashion-conscious or practical, it is the time of year to purchase a pair of sunglasses. A pair – either generic or designer sunglasses – is designed to not only be in style but to also block out UV rays and, in some cases, reduce glare seen when the sun hits certain objects. While the practical side of purchasing sunglasses involves finding a pair of polarized lenses that blocks against UV rays, the fashionable side means keeping up with the latest trends. And, trends for designer sunglasses in 2010 are full of contradictions.
On one hand, the overall trend for men and women is color – the more, the better. This may be brightly colored frames, as seen on many wayfarer styles, or tinted lenses – a popular option for oversized and butterfly styles. But, beyond which colors are used, the two contrasting trends for the summer are basic and unconventional designs. Combine them in the same pair – and you’ve got a set of sunglasses that meets all trends for the year. Nevertheless, this basic but unconventional look combines both retro styles – basics, like aviator and wayfarer designs – with a futuristic look, such as bold colors and embellishments seldom seen on vintage shades.
Embellishments are another popular trend for this coming summer. Called the “diva look,” designer sunglasses with various embellishments give your look some character. This may be through rhinestones added to the lenses or cut out designs along the frame for a pair of oversized or angular shades.
As a contrast to this look, however, earth tones are in for men and women. Almost like departure or a refute to the brightly-colored, embellished shades with a futuristic look, these back-to-basics styles often rely on a brown, beige, and green color scheme for the lenses and frames. This may be as classic as a mock tortoise frame or as subtle as clear plastic tinted beige.
