Monday, Jan 23, 2012

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Posted by Amie Zamora ()

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Celebrate your Irish history by wearing Celtic jewelry as a fashion accessory. One of my favorite pieces of Celtic jewelry is a claddagh ring. Traditionally it is a a ring that shows two hands holding a heart with a crown above. This symbol stands for love and loyalty.
Irish Claddagh Ring with Diamond
Add a diamond to the center of the heart and you’ve combined Celtic mysticism and Irish Culture with one of the most enduring Western symbols of love. A claddagh ring with diamond has become a popular alternative to a diamond engagement ring and wedding band – and just not for Irish Americans. Many women love the claddagh design, but want their diamond too. This is how they can do it.

A gold claddagh ring with diamond can be very expensive for those on a budget. If this is your situation, don’t worry. You can choose a sterling silver diamond claddagh ring with diamond. It will have the same beautiful sentiment and be a lot less expensive.

Don’t think that a diamond claddagh ring is just for women either. There are stunning masculine designs that incorporate a claddagh that many men would love!
Mens Claddagh Ring with Diamond

 Looking at the stunning man’s claddagh ring above, you can see why. I love the way that the onyx gemstone showcases the claddagh and diamond design!

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Monday, Jan 16, 2012

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Posted by Amie Zamora ()

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Camping, gardening, and festivals- what do these three have in common? Well I’ll tell you. They are all seriously fashionable ways to spend your free time, and they are all seriously muddy too.

Pink and black rain boots

But there’s no need to compromise your style when you pull on protective footwear. You can now buy designer rain boots for men, women and even kids.

Gucci, Ralph Lauren and Chanel are just a few of the big names getting in on the action.

But while they have styles to make your eyes pop, their price tags will probably make your eyes water. And how much do you really want to pay for some footwear that’s going to get covered in mud, even if it does make you look hot while tending the garden.

Thankfully, it is not just the top designers making their mark on the rain boots sector. There are cheaper alternatives, that still pack a punch, without damaging your bank account.

Here are my three favorite brands:

1. Wedge Welly – At 5 ‘ 3″, I’m a little on the short side, and rarely leave the house without my heels on. A rainy day doesn’t mean I have to wear flat footwear. Wedge Welly make rubber rain boots, with wedged heels, giving extra height, while spreading the load so the heels doesn’t sink into wet ground.

2. Bogs – They do pretty patterned boots, but what I really love is the soft, waterproof textile uppers, so much more comfortable than regular rain boots.

3. Sugar – The boot pictured up the top is a Sugar rain boot, and is fairly representative of their loud colors, and in-your-face footwear. I love them.

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Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012

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Posted by Bobby Hensley ()

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When I first graduated from college my grandmother gave me a pair of cufflinks for men. I didn’t really understand why she would give me this gift since I had went to school to become a teacher and didn’t really intend to wear a suit to work everyday. It was about a year after my graduation when my grandmother asked me why she had never seen me wear the cufflinks she had given me. I didn’t want to be rude, so I replied as nicely as I could. I simply told her that I loved the gift she and given me and that I would cherish it always, but I did not really have a use of cufflinks. What she said next shocked me.

She told me that if I did not have a use for cufflinks it was because I was still a boy and not a man. I was more than a little offended by this, and I am quite sure that she could see that in my face. She continued by saying that cufflinks for men were not merely a fashion accessory, but they were a sign of your status in life and your maturity level. I respectfully disagreed with her and walked away before the conversation could get any deeper.

I tried to forget what my grandmother had said, and chalk up her opinion to a difference in generational opinion. I however, couldn’t help but begin to notice what kind of men I saw wearing cufflinks. It seemed that my grandmother was right after all. The men that I would see wearing cufflinks were all men who seemed to hold status or importance in their community. They weren’t all highly paid executives, some were pastors and even the principal at the school were I was teaching. These men gave the impression that they took their jobs and their futures seriously without ever speaking a word. The way that they presented themselves spoke volumes about the kind of man that they were.

I began to wear the personalised cufflinks that my grandmother had given me to formal events and meetings. I saw the way that people approached me begin to change. They were no longer treating me like a boy, and began treating me like a true man. I still didn’t feel completely comfortable wearing the cufflinks that my grandmother had bought for me, so I began shopping around. Once I found out that their were cufflinks for men in all different styles, I was sold. I now own a different set of cufflinks for every suit I own.

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Monday, Jan 9, 2012

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Posted by Bobby Hensley ()

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Of all the accessories a woman has, none is more essential than the handbag. After all, it’s the one item likely contain every other valuable possession a woman has. It’s a personal thing that reflects the nature of any true modern woman. But it’s much more than just a showpiece because it serves a practical purpose as well. There are some essentials that are constant in any woman’s handbag, and no personal collection would be complete without them. Some of them are for emergency use while others help with maintenance, and all are important in their own special way. Here are 6 things every woman should keep in her handbag at all times.

Lipstick – this is such a common item that it’s almost a stereotype. But we all know the toll daily activities take on the lipstick you apply in the morning. Without regular touch-ups, it’s likely that your lips will be bare by the end of the day. This is why you should always have your favorite color (or two) readily handy so you can maintain those luscious lips.

A Mirror – rather than passing by a mall window and trying to discreetly look in a mirror, it’s far better to have one in your handbag. A small mirror helps to make sure you don’t have spinach caught in your teeth and every hair is still in place.

Cellphone – a cell phone serves so many purposes these days that it has truly become invaluable. How else are you going to e-mail your boss, twitter about that great dress you found, or check up on your friends Facebook status?

handbag

Nose Powder – there’s nothing worse than developing shine throughout the day which is why it’s absolutely essential you have a bit of a nose powder on hand. It doesn’t matter what your complexion is, stress or Sun can do a number on your skin without this valuable item.

A Little Black Book – this item can take many forms and some women even turn it into a Journal. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to have a place where you can record information or a phone numbers. Sure a cell phone can do that, but what about when you come across a great healthy recipe or new fast weight loss tips?

A Bit of Cash – you’re not going to get very far without a bit of cash on hand these days, and there’s no better place to put it in your trusty handbag. It’s better to have two compartments, one for cash and the other for coins just in case of emergency. A lot of people have made the transition to plastic payments that involve debit or credit cards, but having a bit of cash will always be handy in case of emergency.

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Saturday, Dec 24, 2011

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Posted by Rusty Hood ()

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With winter well under way, much of the northern hemisphere is only now remembering that winter clothing doesn’t stop at a chunky sweater and a large coat.  Over here in Mongolia, where winter sets in sometime around early October and doesn’t leave until the following May, I realised this long ago. 

When my girlfriend and I first arrived in Mongolia in the middle of October we were coming from four months living in balmy northern Thailand.  For much of the year we’d been sweltering under the Thai sun, escaping whenever we could to the refuge of an air conditioned room, so the move from plus 30 to minus 40 degrees Celsius came as something of a jarring shock.

On the way back to Mongolia we’d passed through Beijing, China, the home of enough counterfeit goods to colonise another planet.   I grabbed a new parka and a thick sweater, assuming that I was ready for all the cold had to throw at me. 

I was wrong. 

From the moment we stepped off the train in Ulaanbaataar I realised my mistake.  I’d forgotten to buy scarf and gloves.  My core was toasty warm, but my face and hands were nothing more than pain-filled blocks of ice. 

At minus 40 degrees the pain begins almost immediately.  For just a few seconds you think ‘OK, this isn’t so bad’, but as soon as the air steals away your residual heat the skin begins to sting, then throb, then it goes numb, leaving nothing but the pain.  You can’t think of anything but getting indoors.  Your life becomes single purpose. 

Fossil Infinity Scarf

Thankfully I have my loving girlfriend to save me from those situations in which my stupidity has caused pain.  She whipped off her Fossil infinity scarf, threw it over my neck and bundled me into the nearest cab before I started to weep like a little girl.

I’m not proud.  But at least I was no longer cold.  

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Thursday, Dec 22, 2011

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Posted by Rebecca Fields ()

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Around this time of year both men and women face the same problem.  As the temperature drops and the number of layers clothing grows, we all suddenly start to look… well, a little like the Michelin Man. 

Michelin Man

Right now my girlfriend and I are in Mongolia for the winter, a country that plummets to -40 degrees from December until February.  For the next couple of months we have little choice but to wrap up in long underwear, thick shirts, chunky sweaters, bulky parkas, hats, scarves, gloves and insulated trousers.  The missus has already begun to complain that she’s put on weight, but the reality is simply that she catches a glimpse of herself every time she passes a mirror, and the person looking back at her isn’t the slim, svelte beauty she’s accustomed to but a chunky beast covered from head to toe in thick clothes.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.  Sure, we’ll always look a little larger in the winter months thanks to our bulky layers, but modern technology allows for us to wear insulating clothing that draws its power not from its thickness but its filling.  Let’s take a look at an example…

Mountain Hardwear Zonal Jacket

This is the Mountain Hardwear Zonal jacket for men.  The body of the jacket is made from 20D polyester rip, and the jacket is insulated by Thermic Micro, Mountain Hardwear’s patented insulation.  

Now, if you go back a few decades you’d have to wear an enormous goose down parka to get the sort of insulation provided by the Mountain Hardwear Zonal, but thanks to cutting edge technology Mountain Hardwear can provide unbeatable protection against the harsh winter cold in a jacket that weighs just 15 ounces.  

If you live in a relatively mild climate it gets even better.  A couple of months ago, as the summer ended here in Ulaanbaatar to be replaced by cool winds and temperatures hovering around zero Celsius, I took to wearing a Woolrich Woolen Mills Mountain Parka.   The parka is lightweight, with a body built from cotton and Nylon Ramar and lining of wool and Nylon.  The silhouette of the Mountain parka is incredibly slim, not bulky in the slightest.  

Woolrich Woolen Mills Mountain Parka

I walked around UB wearing the Woolrich Mountain parka for a couple of months before the cold made it necessary to add a sweater, and through all that time I didn’t once catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and think ‘Christ, I’ve gained weight’.  The idea that winter clothing has to be bulky and unattractive is one who’s time has been and gone.  Embrace the cold, my friends, and keep looking great until the sun finally returns.  

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Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011

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Posted by Darlene Cantrell ()

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The little black dress is a staple in every woman’s wardrobe. Because of its versatility, it can be worn in any occasion. With different accessories, it can produce different looks. It can be worn by every woman of any shape or size. The black dress is also available everywhere, no matter how high or low the budget is. A woman can surely find the black dress that will fit her to a T.

                The little black dress, for it to be timeless and long lasting, must be made of fabrics like cashmere, linen, silk, or wool. Spandex or Lycra and knit fabrics are only appropriate in some occasions and they don’t last very long. The most flattering and enduring hemlines are those that fall right below or right above the knee. Very short or very long just follow the trend of the season and must be avoided. The 3:1 rule is a very good rule of thumb when selecting the black dress. A woman must cover three parts of her body while revealing only one part. Thus, if she wants a plunging neckline then she has to sacrifice the very high skirt’s slit.

For those women who have a full bust, wrap, v-neck, square necklines are appropriate. However, plunging necklines must be avoided as they can attract attention to one’s upper body. Puffy sleeves and the likes also add volume and must be avoided. One must refrain from choosing fabrics which cling tightly. Women with small chest can opt for extra material or ruffles to establish an illusion of larger chest.  Those with wide shoulders can opt for an asymmetrical neckline. Those dresses with a fitted bottom and a full top will accentuate the shoulders more and must therefore be avoided. Those with large waists can hide them by choosing an empire cut, a drop-waist or a shift dress. Bottom heavy figures can disguise the hips by opting for an A-line dress or empire waist. Even plus size women can opt for plus size cocktail dresses in black.

 

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