Thrifty And Fashionable

Growing up with three sisters, it was important for us to be well-groomed. We were always borrowing clothes from each other then returning them clean and pressed. It was a way of streching our wardrobes and to the outside world we had an endless supply. We were thrifty without realizing it and no one was the wiser.

The first thrift store was opened in London during the middle eighteen-hundreds.The Salvation Army went around collecting donated goods from the working classes and then selling them to the poor for a fraction of the cost. A few years later,a Salvation Army store was opened in the lower East side of Manhattan serving over three million impoverished people.

During the depression, it was shameful to be seen wearing thrift store cast-offs. Clothes were handed down to another family member. Shoes were patched, blouses or shirts were mended or seams torn apart and made over to fit a family recipient. During the nineteen-fifties, wealthy women donated their clothes to be re-sold. The profits from these upscale resale shops were shared with the donor or the shop profited from it. During the nineteen-seventies,thrift stores were popular with the hippies and the college students searching for vintage styles.

Now days, thrift store parking lots are filled with luxury cars as well as the more modest ones reflecting the escalating prices. The stores have become so profitable that the same people they once helped cannot afford to shop there. Thrift stores like Goodwill have some quality items and at shopgoodwill.com clothing items are auctioned in the same way as on ebay. Although, it is better to visit their stores for more of a variety of items and sizes.

Kate Magazine is an online shopping magazine and she gives sound advice for buying vintage clothes and sizing them correctly. Also, she has links to resale shops and a newsletter that can be sent to an online email inbox. She also gives shopping tips about what time of year the mall outlets sell their merchandise at the lowest prices. A city's online yellow pages is a good source for locating the names of local thrift stores and resale shops.

After finding a favorite thrift store, resale shop or mall outlet, it is wise to visit it frequently in order to keep up with the changing merchandise. It is a good idea to check the thrift store, resale shop or mall outlet's refund or exchange policy because a lot of them do not allow it.Shopping at these establishments is a unique way to add to an existing wardrobe without going over a limited clothing budget.

Through the years, the author has shopped at these kinds of establishments and found some unique fashion items at bargain prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_A_Hill

Are You Good-Looking Enough For Your Job?

Beauty has muscle. Beauty captures our attention and pulls us in…

Beauty is only skin deep, but it counts almost for everything. Especially , within the first few seconds of meeting a prospect.

Most, if not all of the time, we take things at face value. Here are a few examples:

1) You buy the ‘orange-ist' orange – even though you know they've probably been sprayed with chemicals to look that way.

2) Your mouth waters as you stumble across a succulent joint of lamb in a Sunday supplement – even though you know it's probably been lightly ‘dusted' in creosote to look that way.

3) Your attention is drawn to a lithe, tanned young thing on the TV screen – even though… see 1 above.

We take things at face value… And so do your prospects.

A colleague of mine is an N.L.P expert, and I mean EXPERT. He has spent years and years learning and developing his skills. Pouring over books, attending seminars, taking exams… He's worked closely with Paul McKenna… He's a Master's Masters N.L.P instructor (or something or other), and yet… He struggles to find clients. Why?

Well one major reason it that he doesn't LOOK like an expert. People judge and they don't see beyond the clothes, the haircut and the bad time keeping. And so he doesn't get hired. Totally unjustified, but true…

You could say he's a ‘green' orange*.

It doesn't matter how good you look on the inside - your prospects judge the ‘packaging' first. So are you good looking enough for your job? Or in other words… Are you looking good enough for your job?

*Ethylene is used commercially to degreen oranges, however, it is for cosmetic reasons because oranges can be fully ripe even if they are green on the outside. Reference Wills, R.B.H. et al. 1989. Postharvest: An Introduction to the Physiology and Handling of Fruits and Vegetables. London , BSP Professional Books.

Andrew Ludlam is a client attraction expert, and Director of Maverick Marketing Solutions. If you're deadly serious about maximising the potential of your business, then I urge you to visit http://www.maverickmarketingltd.com and sign up for the monthly 'Maverick Marketing Solutions Newsletter'... where you’ll also receive the FREE white paper “Six Magnetic Ways To Attract More Clients To Your Business In The Next 90 Days..!" (Value $37)

Warning! This could be the last business marketing website you ever need to see...

Tips To Expressing Yourself With T-Shirts

T shirts can provide a lasting impression on your life and those around you. Through simple illustrations and slogans they immediately show your current feelings or opinions.

Vintage t shirts will bring up situations from the long ago past. They can be anything from funny to rude and offensive, to sayings, to your favorite rock band of yore, to baby tees. And don't forget putting a t shirt on your dog. Ugh.

In my own experience I have been a cancer survivor for 5 1/2 years. In my first summer my struggle inspired my sister-in-law to get active in the Tacoma, Washington Relay For Life program of the American Cancer Society. Every spring they host a weekend walk and fund raiser. A large part of that walk is the Survivor's walk celebrating all those people currently battling cancer and those who are cancer free.

All the survivors walking in that event are given purple t shirts with the Relay For Life logo on the front. On the back is the saying: I Am... Living Breathing Inspiration.

I love wearing my t shirt with that saying on it both for my own feelings and for the inspiration of those around me.

Another situation involved a camping/hiking trip my partner and I took several years ago in the Columbia River gorge near The Dalles, Oregon.

This was the year the Sesquicentennial of the Oregon Trail was being reinacted. A replica of the 1843 wagon trains was in progress coming all the way from the mid-west to Portland, Oregon.

When we joined them they had arrived in The Dalles and were camping out at a large fair grounds. After square dancing the night before, we set out on foot hiking with the train for that day's journey, a distance of about 18 miles.

When we got up the next morning and were about to leave the train, we came on a fellow in a wheel chair who was selling t shirts. He said they were his own original design, in this case a fine pencil sketch of the Oregon Trail at Barlow Pass. I bought one on the spot both to support him in his efforts and for my own memory of the occasion. I still wear that tee shirt and think of the fun my girl friend and I had on that trip.

The next obvious use of t shirts is if you're a sports fan. In my own case as a long suffering Seattle Seahawks fan, I still wear the tattered t shirt I bought in 1983 that reads "1983 Play-Offs" along with the team logo on the front. I guess that hasn't been the last playoffs we've been in, but it sure seems like it.

So get out there and express yourself with a t shirt. Buy one or get online to design your own. I think every aspect of life has been shown on a t shirt and every new experience that shows up seems to wind up on a tee shirt.

Dale Miller has several websites up covering a variety of subjects and resources. Please visit the website for t-shirt resources, links, articles and more: http://www.tshirtsforall.com

Eyewear Lens Technology Makes Wearing Eyewear a Pleasant and Fashionable Experience

Modern eyewear technology gives more eyewear lenses and eyewear frame options. Whether you wear fashion eyewear, designer eyewear, prescription eyewear, non-prescription eye wear, sport eyewear, sport specific eyewear or discount eyewear there is a pair of eye glasses and eyewear lenses to suit your every need.

The eyewear lenses available today are thinner and lighter than ever before, making wearing eyewear a much more pleasant and fashionable experience than it used to be. Some of the different types of eyewear lenses to be found can include; high index eyewear lenses for people who don’t like wearing thick prescription eyewear, these lenses offer superior optics in a thinner and lighter lens; aspheric lenses, flatter and thinner, these eyewear lenses are great for strong prescriptions providing better vision than ordinary eyewear lenses, better looking and much more fashionable; multi-focal eyewear lenses, bifocals and trifocals available in many different configurations for a variety of activities from golf, hobbies, crafts and computer work; progressive eyewear lenses do the same thing as bifocal eyewear lenses and trifocal eyewear lenses but without the lines through the lenses.

The coatings that are added to your eyewear lenses can make all the difference in the activities you do, the appearance of your eyewear lenses and the way you see things. Some of the eyewear lens coatings available can include anti reflective eyewear lens coatings which can improve your vision and the appearance of your eyewear lenses (these coatings are similar to coatings found on microscopes and camera lenses). Anti reflective coatings consist of several layers of metal oxides applied to both the front and the back of the eyewear lenses. Anti reflective eyewear lenses help to block reflected light, this makes seeing easier as you will get a reduction in glare (also helpful for driving at night). The anti reflective lenses also look better cosmetically as there won’t be any unpleasant glare when people are looking at you (especially helpful for people on television or for those getting their photos taken).

Scratch resistant eyewear lenses although not completely scratch resistant (as no eyewear lens material is completely scratch proof) do help the lenses to be more resistant. Scratch resistant eyewear lenses are treated in the front and back of the lenses with a clear, hard coating. Mirror coatings unlike anti reflective coatings that are clear are available in a wide variety of colors to include silver, gold, copper, blue, hot pink and green to name a few. Mirrored eyewear (often seen on state troopers) do not change the way you see, they are for purely cosmetic reasons only. Lastly UV (ultraviolet) eyewear lenses coatings help to block the harmful UV rays that are thought to cause cataracts, retinal damage and other eye problems. The UV coatings do not change the appearance of the eyewear lenses.

Along with the coatings that can be applied to eyewear lenses there are eyewear lens options that help to reduce glare and protect the eyes from the suns harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays. Polarized eyewear lenses have been one of the most popular choices for boaters and fishermen for years by reducing the glare from the water.

Now you can find polarized eyewear lenses being used by a wide variety of eye glass wearers to include drivers, skiers, golfers, bikers and joggers as they eliminate glare for several outdoor activities. For driving they help to reduce the glare that comes off a long, flat surface of a road giving you better vision. Polarized eyewear lenses work by taking the light that is horizontally polarized and blocking the vertically oriented polarizers in the lenses.

Photochromic lenses change from light to dark depending on the amount of UV (ultraviolet) light they are exposed to. The lenses used to be made of glass but are now made with regular plastic, polycarbonate (impact resistant) and high-index glass and plastic. Silver halide in the eyewear lenses causes them to darken when exposed to UV light. Available in a wide variety of eyewear lenses that are thinner and lighter than ever before, with some photochromic eyewear lenses changing from clear to dark in as little as sixty seconds. The eyewear lenses can be found in nearly every lens design, refractive index and prescription with one hundred percent UV protection.

Another option in colored eyewear lenses is tints which do not change as do the photochromic eyewear lenses but stay the same color at all times. Available in plastic eyewear along with glass lenses in nearly every color imaginable. The lighter tints are usually for cosmetic reasons only and found in colors such as light pink, brown, gray, blue and red to name a few. The darker tints are most often used as sunglasses and found in gray, brown or black tints. Tints found on eyewear can either be solid with the entire lens in the same colored tint or gradient with the tint from light to dark (from bottom to top). Yellow tints are an excellent choice for target shooters because the objects can appear sharper, it’s also helpful for tennis players as the tennis balls can be seen more clearly.

Green tints are a popular option for golfers as the sport eyewear can help you see the subtle breaks in the green without squinting, helping you to play the fairway in low sun angles. The green tinted golf eyewear can also aid in seeing the hole flag and golf ball making for a better played golf game. Rose and pink tinted eye goggles are an excellent choice for skiers and snow boarders allowing them to see the shadows and edges on a ski hill.

Whatever your eyewear needs may be from sport eyewear, prescription eyewear, nonprescription eyewear, children’s eyewear, sports specific eyewear, fashion eyewear, designer eyewear or discount eyewear there have never been more options available than there are today. There are eyewear frames and eyewear lenses to suit every face shape, lifestyle and personality.

Valerie Giles owns and operates Eyewear-4U http://www.eyewear-4u.com, an eyewear site featuring fashion eyewear, sports eyewear, prescription eyewear, discount sunglasses and contact lenses as well as accessories. The accompanying article is copyrighted. It may be reproduced only if the hyperlinks here are left intact.

Anklets Ahoy!

"Hail to that foot of the lusty beloved which hits the head of the lover, that foot which is adorned with red paste and jingling anklets is the banner of love and which is worthy of adoration by inclining one's head."

From the 5th century drama, Padataditakam (Hit by the Foot) The human race can be so immensely creative, so immensely passionate, and this is what makes our lives so immensely rich and at times so immensely difficult, painful.

The anklet, a romantic foot fetish of great aesthetic value, is a very important part of women's adornment in the Indian culture where the ornamentation of a woman's whole body is an essential aspect of daily life, and has great spiritual and social significance.

Old Indian paintings, drama and poetry often depict men treasuring the touch of their lover's foot. Women lavish great care and attention on their feet, almost with as much as their face. The tender, delicate and well pampered foot becomes a symbol of affection, sensual desire and plays an important role in love-play.

Indian poets were inspired to picture the movements of the lover's dance and the jingling of the bells on her anklets as seductive and bewitching. The idea being that the woman has adorned herself seductively in anticipation of a meeting with a secret lover.

The classical Indian dance also concentrates on the dancer's rhythmic footwork, particularly the elaborately detailed positioning of her feet in relation to the ground. The overall effect is ever so subtle, sensuous & erotic.

But, I also read about the practical effects of the anklets with foot bells. One is that in some tribes' husbands give their wives these anklets in order to frighten snakes away. Then again, I also read that the husbands give their wives anklets with bells so that they can keep an "ear" on them, should they "dance" out of range!!

Fadwa Qasem

fadwa-designer jewerly

www.fadwa.com

Fadwa Qasem, Jewerly Designer. My specialty is original chokers. My concept: to paint with beads. Using semi-precious stones, Venetian style hand painted glass beads, beautiful lamp beads, faceted crystals, and other beads specially designed for me, I create one-of-a-kind or limited edition jewelry pieces.

After spending considerable time studying beads and their fascinating history, I discovered that the glass beads have a background no less auspicious than that of diamonds, pearls, and semi-precious stones. Each bead is a miniature container holding the secrets of the culture that made it, traded it, and wore it.

I have a degree in English Literature, and spent a great deal of time and effort on learning and researching jewelry and beads.

I have participated in many exhibitions in Canada, the UK, Jordan and Dubai (UAE).

http://www.fadwa.com was established in 1997 as a virtual gallery of my work.

History of the Watch

The earliest mention of the watch was in Shakespeare’s play "As You Like It." In the second act of the play one character produces a sun-dial from his pocket and muses about the time. Though at this time in history a true, portable timekeeping piece would have been too much of a hassle. Coming up with a powers source for the watch was impossible at this time. But in the 1500’s Peter Henlein from Germany created the first pocket watch. And from that point on portable timekeeping was part of the norm.

In the early 1600s, form watches came into being. Cases shaped like animals and objects and religious themed watches were the most popular. But cheap, portable clocks…watches…didn’t really come into wide spread use until 1780 when Abraham Louis Perrelet invented the self winding movement.

Watch making enters its prime period in the years that followed. In 1791, J.F. Bautte founded the watch company that would eventually become Girard-Perregaux. In 1820, Thomas Prest registers a patent for the self-winding watch. In 1833 Antoine LeCoultre started his own watch making business that would eventually become Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Other big names and when they were founded:

Minerva founded in 1858
Heuer founded in 1860
Zenith founded in 1865
Movado founded in 1881
Rolex founded in 1905
Citizen founded in 1918
Seiko founded in 1924

But probably the most innovative and best-selling watch of all time is the Timex. Timex created the Waterbury pocket watch in the 1880s and made affordable timekeeping a mainstay for the average man.

By the turn of the twentieth century, the watch industry's first and most successful mass marketer, Robert H. Ingersoll, worked with Waterbury Clock, a partner of Timex, to distribute the company's "Yankee" pocket watch, the first to cost just one dollar. Twenty years later, with nearly forty million sold, the "Yankee" became the world's largest seller and "the watch that made the dollar famous." Everyone carried the Yankee: from Mark Twain to miners, from farmers to factory workers, from office clerks to sales clerks. Throughout the rest of the 20th Century, Timex conquered the low-end market selling 500 million watches by the end of the 1970s.

And the watch market has continued to grow and expand in the following years. With the introduction of the digital watch in 1972, watchmakers had brand new roads to explore in the area or portable timekeeping. It is now not so uncommon to find watches that can do everything under the sun from reading the wearer’s heart rate to playing music. But telling time is still the number-one priority.

So whether you’re more interested in the fashion statement your watch makes (Rolex, Heuer, Seiko) or the practicality of your watch (Timex, Casio, Citizen), there will always be numerous choices out there.

Hey, anyone know what time it is? I think I’m late.

You may use this article on your site as long as the two URLs are hyperlinked.

Allen Shaw is a successful author who provides tips and information on brand name watches and watches in general. "I am the news director at USA News Network and have been working as freelance writer for 2 years. I've been published in a few magazines, newspapers and websites and my specialty up to this point has been movie and music reviews."

Staying Professionally Chic In The Heat

Whether you live in a warm climate year round or you are just trying to survive summer’s heat till autumn’s cool arrive the following quick and easy professional style tips will keep you cool and have you looking professionally chic in any heat.

Wardrobe

Select fabrics that are natural / man-made blends that consist of at least 51% natural fiber, such has a 55% cotton 45% polyester blend. This will give you the coolness of a natural fabric without the wrinkles. Choose jackets with ¾ sleeves. They are cooler than full sleeves and more professional looking than short sleeves. Light and bright colors works well in warm weather but do not use loud bold color combinations and prints. Dress in layers to adjust to the high heat outside / air conditioning inside temperature changes you will experience. A ¾ sleeve jacket over a sleeveless shell or a summer twin set is are excellent solutions for temperature changes. A cool alternative to pantyhose are thigh – highs they allow air to circulate better then pantyhose and will keep you cooler. Wear slightly larger jewelry it will give you a more polished look. Instead of a simple pendant on a chain try a triple strand of pearls. Avoid plunging necklines, extremely short hemlines, sheer fabrics, cloth handbags and briefcases, open toe shoes, sandals and flip flops.

Make - Up

Opt for a lighter make-up routine. Heavy make-up in high heat can clog pores and lead to breakouts. Before applying your makeup rub an ice cube over your face. It will help makeup last longer and prevent smudging. Use waterproof cosmetics. After applying your makeup brush your face with face powder it will set your makeup and prevent shine.

Hair

Wear your hair in a simple flattering yet professional style. Hair grows faster in warmer months so be sure to have your hair trimmed every 4 to 6 weeks. With hot weather comes limp and frizzy hair. To correct this problem use only hair products designed specifically to treat your hair type and problem. If you pull your hair back be sure to use only quality accessories. Avoid using plastic clips and rubber bands they will detract from your professional image.

Eileen Hammel President of Smarter Image,and Smart Skin Care - Smart Cosmetics by Smarter Image is a Nationally & Internationally Recognized Beauty and Image Expert. http://www.smartskincaresmartcosmetics.com/

Flattering Swimwear for Everyone - Yes, Even YOU!

"There are so many styles of swimwear to choose from, especially if you are a women. With more options than ever, all women regardless of size or shape, can feel stylish wearing swimwear at the pool or on the beach this season."

Summertime is inevitably a season when we all at some time or another bring out the swimwear. Whether it is at the beach, camping or the cottage, the warm weather and tantalizing water encourages a refreshing swim. There are some on the other hand who may not even use their swimwear for the water but who like to sit in the sun’s rays and give their skin the glow of summer. Whatever use you have for your bikini or swimwear the wonderful assortment of fabrics, styles and accessories will have you out and about enjoying the fine weather.

There are some of us who don’t exactly look forward to this time of year when we have to bring out the swimwear and bikinis in hopes that those couple of extra pounds gained over the year won’t have us bulging out of the seams. Not to fret though as swimwear today offers great stretch fabrics for easy mobility and plenty of style options that might just minimize or hide any imperfections.

The fabric, body shape, design and color are all factors when choosing the most flattering swimwear for you. When selecting a swimsuit the quality of fabric is important as you want a suit that will stand up to the seasons of wear, sun and saltwater. Nylon, Lycra and Faille are popular fabrics used for swimsuits, they resist fading and hold their stretchiness. Nylon and Lycra used together offer more stretch then standard swimwear along with shaping, control and comfort for the wearer.

The design of the swimsuit is probably the most important factor when women are out shopping for swimwear and bikinis. You will find plenty of suggestions on flattering suits for all sorts of body types. There are suits to create curves where needed, suits to minimize hips, suits to whittle waistlines, others to add shape to specific areas and then there are the standard all purpose suits that may look great on a variety of shapes. Lines and colors are very important in minimizing or accentuating particular parts of the body. Black and darker colors are often used to minimize, while stripes depending on whether they are vertical or horizontal are used for the same minimizing (vertical) or accentuating (horizontal) effects. There are several special sizes of swimsuits available to accommodate women from petite, tall and plus sizes.

Bikinis alone come in several popular designs that may include; tankinis which are similar to a tank top (with matching bottom, there are different variations of the tankini from short (above the navel) to tops that touch the bottom piece; bandeau tops are designed as a strip usually with no straps; halter tops are just as the name implies similar to a halter with possibly a string that goes around the neck connecting the bodice; lastly there are bra-tops (similar to bra designs) and triangle tops (triangle designs). The bikini that works best will vary from person to person, you want a top that offers support if needed, it is always best to try on a few different tops and see what works best.

Women’s swimsuits offer features such as; soft-cup bras which give full support, built-in shelf bras with underwire, sarongs that add gentle shaping to midsection, gentle tummy wraps that accentuates shape, side shirring adding gentle shaping, and overlapping tops with bottoms for gentle coverage. There are also swimsuits available in swim dress designs which offer additional coverage of hips if needed for some, and bandeau style one pieces with no straps.

Women really are at an advantage when it comes to selecting swimwear designs, as the number of women’s designs far exceeds the number of men’s designs.

Women’s swimsuits come in one-piece designs, swim dress designs, sarong swimsuits, tankini suits and several bikini designs. Whereas men’s suits are available mostly in the standard racing style, swim trunk and swim short designs.

The list of swimwear accessories is as great as the swimsuits to be had. The accessories are an important part of your beach or lake excursion, and can include; straw hats, crochet hats, sun hats, short chemises, pareo (cover up skirt), cover ups, capri’s, thongs, sunglasses, tote bags, mesh bags and most importantly beach towels.

Children’s swimwear offers some excellent options for those little one’s just learning to swim. There are great thermal wear suits available, which keep children nice and warm, the innovative suits are made from a specially treated heat reflective neoprene material. Thermal wear suits and special sun protective swimwear also offer UV protection from the sun. There are special water shoes for children that protect their small feet and help to prevent slips. Then of course there is the wide variety of designs and fabrics available to choose from. Designs for girls come in one and two piece while the boys’ suits most often come in the short and trunk designs.

Other considerations to keep the children busy at the beach or lake are lifejackets, arm floats, flotation devices, goggles and beach toys. There are great swim vests and special swimming tubes specially made for children to gradually ease into swimming. The list of pool toys is endless with floating basketball nets, dive toys, swimming fins and volleyball games to name a few.

The sun protection clothing and sun protective swimwear that is being manufactured is innovative and an excellent choice especially for children. Some of the sun protective clothing and swimwear claims to block 98 per cent of UV rays with a UPF of 50 plus. What this means is that only one fiftieth of UV radiation falling on the surface of the garment will pass through. Wearing this clothing is added protection against the suns harmful rays.

When going to the beach, pool or when participating in any outdoor activity it is important to wear a sunscreen of at least thirty. Nothing spoils a day in the sun like the pain of sunburn. That is why being prepared for your outing is important, bring along the necessary hats, sunglasses and cover-ups to ensure both comfort and protection. This is true especially for children, it’s probably best to avoid mid afternoon intense sun if possible. However if you cannot avoid being in the sun, be sure to bring along a beach umbrella to provide shade and again hats and sunscreens for children are absolutely necessary.

With so many wonderful swimwear options to choose from your beach, pool, lake or camping experience can be both pleasurable and fashionable. Take the time and find a swimsuit that you feel comfortable in and one that compliments your particular figure. With the right swimwear choices you will be ready for all your travel and vacation needs with a suit that lasts for a few seasons.

Valerie Giles owns and operates Bikinis and Swimsuits, a swimsuit and resort wear site showcasing bikinis, swimwear and resort wear. Find the perfect swimsuit for every occasion and every figure type. http://www.bikinis-and-swimsuits.com

Spice Up Your Style with New Exciting Eyewear - A Wonderful Fashion Accessory

Eyewear without a doubt has become a wonderful fashion accessory, with an endless array of wonderful designs, styles and colors that make wearing eye glasses fun. Fashion eyewear choices can include names like; Armani, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Christian Dior, Cartier, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada and Laura Ashley to name a few. Fashion eyewear can be found in a variety of frames available in the latest shapes, styles and shades to suit every need and style. You will also find children’s fashion eyewear similar to the adult styles made with high quality materials for durability and safety, important to stand up to the wear and tear of children.

Whether you wear fashion eyewear or discount eyewear there is a pair of eye glasses to suit your face shape, personality and lifestyle. Never have there been more eyewear styles, designs and colors than there are today.

Modern technology has given us an endless variety of sport eyewear and sports specific eyewear to protect our eyes and enhance our sporting activities. With sport eyewear available to offer superior quality optics, elimination of fogging, maximum fields of vision and elimination of reflection the choices have never been better.

There are sport specific eyewear and eyewear lenses for the golfer, cyclist, mountain climber, skier, snow boarder, driver and tennis player. Sport eyewear is best known for the optical quality and visual enhancement of the lenses. One example of the innovative sports specific eyewear is the yellow enhancement of eyewear lenses that can be helpful in tennis where the tennis balls are most often yellow. Amber or rose lenses enhance soft grays that mark the shadows on a ski slope. It is very important to wear the correct protective eyewear when participating in sports, to ensure you see properly and your eyes are protected.

There are a variety of safety eyewear options available to be used at both home and work where there may be small airborne particles that can get into the eyes.

Safety eyewear may be worn when using lathes, saws, sanders and other power tools. Safety eyewear should cover the front of your eyes and the sides and top of your eyes so that particles will not get into the eyes and cause damage. Safety eyewear with polycarbonate lenses (impact resistant) are an excellent idea.

Shopping for children’s eyewear can be an overwhelming task given all the choices available combined with wanting to find something your child will want to wear while at the same time being long lasting. Most children need eyewear for nearsightedness or farsightedness and will either have to wear their eyewear on a part time or full time basis (this will be established by your eye care practitioner). Children’s eyewear can be found in a wide variety of designs, styles and colors with several designer styles similar to the adult versions. Both plastic and metal eyewear frames can offer durability that will keep up to your child’s demands. Spring hinges that allow for flexibility at the temple and polycarbonate (impact resistant) lenses are also great choices for children’s eyewear. It’s a good idea to let your child participate in selecting their eyewear, this way they are more likely to wear their eyewear. It’s also wise to stay clear of fads that will quickly become outdated and of course you’ll want to make sure your child’s eyewear fits properly and comfortably.

One type of eyewear that we often forget about is that of specialty eyewear. Specialty eyewear can include computer eyewear, reading eyewear, driving eyewear, sport eyewear, protective eyewear and safety eyewear. Some of the specific uses of specialty eyewear can include; computer eyewear lenses are designed specifically for the close distance associated with the computer; sport eyewear can give increased enjoyment and protection during sports while helping to better see the lines in a golf course or tennis balls; safety eyewear can give protection from dust and glare; eyewear for hobbies such as beading, needlepoint and crafting helps the eyes as your spending a lot of time at close distances.

Where you will purchase your eyewear will most likely be a matter of personal choice based on factors such as time, convenience and eyewear knowledge. Before you make any eyewear purchases you’ll want to of course visit your eye care practitioner for any necessary eye prescriptions and it also helps to know what styles look best on you. A visit to an eyewear shop can allow you to try on a variety of designs and styles with the help of a knowledgeable salesperson. After you have your eye prescription and know what styles look best you are free to purchase eyewear from the multitude of online eyewear sites. Choose from many of our featured merchants that we have screened for you. Discount eyewear sites offer a wide selection of brand name eyewear, designer eyewear, fashion eyewear, sport eyewear, children’s eyewear and prescription eyewear at discount prices. Before making any eyewear purchases make sure the site is reputable.

With so many wonderful eyewear designs to choose from it can often be difficult deciding upon one pair of eyewear frames. With that said, new designs and styles are constantly appearing making the choices even more overwhelming, you’ll most likely want to have a few pairs of eyewear in your collection. Some of the current eyewear trends can include; rectangular and oval shaped designer eyewear frames with colors like quartz, rose opal crystal, white, peach, lilac, havana, black and gold; ultra-thin lightweight frames; semi-rimless styles; scandium eyewear frames, a new lightweight material that is lighter than titanium; stained glass designs on eyewear frames.

With the thousands of eyewear styles, designs and colors available wearing eyewear has never been more exciting. There is eyewear to complement any face shape, lifestyle and personality. You can look great and feel comfortable wearing eyewear.

Valerie Giles owns and operates Eyewear-4U http://www.eyewear-4u.com, an eyewear site featuring fashion eyewear, sports eyewear, prescription eyewear, discount sunglasses and contact lenses as well as accessories.

The Sky's the Limit when it Comes to Buying Sunglasses Online

There is a never ending supply of quality sunglasses options today, including discount sunglasses. Styles include polarized sunglasses, designer replica sunglasses and fake sunglasses, sports sunglasses, mirrored sunglasses, golf sunglasses, sun glasses for kids and sun glasses accessories. With so many sunglasses to choose from it’s possible to find good quality discount sunglasses on reputable online sites that offer good customer service, money back guarantees, free shipping, sales advice and tips along with a good inventory of sunglasses.

Cheap sunglasses can be found in a wide selection of polarized sunglasses options to include aviator styles, snow boarding and ski goggles, large and small framed designs and a variety of different frame styles. Polarized sunglasses are excellent for water and winter sports where the water and snow can increase the reflected glare. Polarized sunglasses provide glare-free vision by absorbing ninety eight percent of the reflective glare. You can find polarized sun glasses in a variety of lens shades from black, blue, brown, silver, pink, green and red to name a few.

Replica sunglasses are a wonderful way to wear your favorite designer styles and designs without the high costs that come along with designer sunglasses. Just because sunglasses are designer doesn’t mean that they are better quality, often the replica sunglasses are better quality (always look at factors such as lens types, frames and coatings). There is a wide variety of designer replica sunglasses available in a wonderful selection of colors, designs and styles to suit every face shape and lifestyle.

Depending on what sort of sports you enjoy you may need a couple of pairs of sports sunglasses which can get costly, but if you shop wisely you will be able to find the sports sunglasses you need at discounted sunglasses prices. There is an excellent variety of sports sunglasses available to include; baseball sports sunglasses; cycling sports sunglasses; driving sun glasses; fishing sports sunglasses (see the fish before the fish see you); glacier sports sunglasses; golf sports sunglasses; motorcycle sun glasses; polarized ski goggles; tennis sports sunglasses and sports sunglasses for water sports. Polarized sports sunglasses will help minimize glare offering better vision along with protection. There are plenty of brand name discount sports sunglasses to be found.

The sports eyewear sunglasses are really best known for their excellent optical quality and the visual enhancement of the lenses. Some examples where visual enhancement of the lenses can be extremely helpful are with golf sports sunglasses and tennis sports sunglasses. The golf sports sunglasses are very useful for seeing the subtle breaks in the green without squinting. With the color enhanced lenses you will be able to play the fairway in low sun angles, eliminate fogging, have maximum fields of vision while accommodating for grass reflection. Tennis sports sunglasses may use a yellow enhancement on the lenses to aid in seeing the tennis balls more clearly, therefore improving your game.

Another popular type of sunglasses is the mirrored sun glasses styles. Mirrored sun glasses can be found with polarized mirror lenses in many colors. Mirrored sun glasses lenses have a highly reflective coating which greatly reduces the amount of light that reaches the eyes. They can absorb ten to sixty percent more light than uncoated lenses.

When it comes to shopping for your children’s sunglasses you’ll want to not only find discount sunglasses prices but quality sunglasses. By quality sunglasses you’ll want to know that the sunglasses lenses and sunglasses frames your children wear will stand up to the bumps and knocks that come along with being a child. There is a wide selection of children’s sunglasses to include sizes, designs and styles for kids, infants, youth and teens. Sunglasses frames can be found in an assortment of colors such as baby blue, black, pink, tortoise, red, white, yellow and purple to name a few with an even wider variety of styles similar to their adult counterparts.

Your children will also be pleased to find designer frames.

Of course you’ll want to have the right sunglasses accessories to complement your collection of sunglasses. Some popular sunglasses accessories can include items such as; sunglasses cases, sunglasses bags (micro fiber, leather, vinyl and fleece), floater cords and basic string cords, visor clips (great for clipping sunglasses onto your vehicle visor), metal cases, soft cases, lens care (micro fiber lens cleaning cloths, disposable lens cleaning wipes, no fog spray) and clip on sunglasses (for clipping onto prescription eye wear).

It’s important to note that just because sunglasses are designer names or high priced doesn’t necessarily mean they are better quality, quite often discount sunglasses are better quality as discount online sunglasses sites can offer lower prices as the merchants do not have to pay high overheads (rents and displays). When shopping for sunglasses look at factors such as the quality of the sunglasses lenses look for quality polycarbonate and glass lenses, strong frames and check coatings of the lenses for UV (ultraviolet) protection.

It becomes obvious that your collection of sunglasses can become quite large given all the different styles, designs and uses of sunglasses available. With that said whatever sorts of sun glasses you might need or sunglasses accessories you’ll want to shop around and find a reputable online site that offers a good selection of sunglasses with excellent discount sunglasses prices. You’ll also want to be sure and purchase your sunglasses from online sites that offer money-back guarantees.

Check out the merchants on our web site before you make your purchase.

Valerie Giles owns and operates Eyewear-4U http://www.eyewear-4u.com, an eyewear site featuring fashion eyewear, sunglasses, sports eyewear, prescription eyewear, discount sunglasses and contact lenses as well as accessories.

Vintage Costume Jewellery Sparkles Again

Men and women have worn costume jewellery since the Romans developed the ability to cut glass imitations of precious gemstones. Jewellery was worn to enhance appearance, display wealth and affirm love, friendship and loyalty. The reasons for wearing jewellery remain the same today, but the popularity of styles changes. Vintage costume jewellery is experiencing a revival these days as sparkling vintage rhinestone brooches are roaring back in style. Here are a few things you’ll need to know to help you pick out the right pieces.

What is it.

Costume jewellery is defined as jewellery that is made from non-precious materials such as cut glass.

Parures.

It is a set that includes a necklace, brooch and pair of earrings.

Demi-parures.

It includes a brooch and a pair of earrings.

Missing Stones.

Steer clear of an item with any missing stones. They are very difficult to replace.

Faux Pearls.

Watch closely any pieces with faux pearls because they chip easily and these chips cannot be fixed. Also, soap, cream and perfume can erode faux pearls.

Enamel.

Pieces with enamel can cause problems. Small areas of enamel damage can be retouched but large areas are very difficult to repair.

Condition Matters.

Good condition is important with vintage costume jewellery. Pin clasps that don’t work, hinges that are suspect may not be replaceable because they may no longer be made. Before you purchase, double check that all the pieces are in original condition and in good working order.

Names to Look For.

The biggest name in Canada for vintage costume jewellery is Sherman and it was usually signed. Other makers to be on the look out for are Trifari, Coro, Schreiner, Hobe and Schiaparelli.

Care.

Once you’ve found something you like, you’ll want to take good care of it. Store your vintage costume jewellery separately in small plastic bags to guard against scratching.

Where To Find Great Vintage Costume Jewellery.

Antique shops, flea markets, garage sales and Ebay are all good sources for vintage costume jewellery.

Value.

Prices range from under $20 for unsigned pieces to much more for signed sought-after pieces, parures and demi-parures.

Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium located in Toronto, Canada. He has appeared on a variety of television programs; does furniture restoration; caning and rushing repairs; appraisals and has taught courses on antiques at the Learning Annex. Martin can be reached at http://www.takeaboo.com

Sunglasses! Does Fashion Compromise Your Eye Protection?

With models and movie celebrities showing off their trendy attire including the types of sunglasses they wear, a question that comes to my mind is, “are they becoming more of a fashion statement than protection for your eyes?”

All you have to do is turn on the television, and famous stars are spotted wearing the hottest brands of eyewear, such as sunglass styles from Gucci, Ray Ban, Oakley, Serengeti, Christian Dior, Armani, Silhouette, and the list goes on.

There are even websites that list famous movie stars and music singers that are wearing a certain brand and style of sunglass frames. For example: A certain site lists many of these actors, actresses, and singers below!

Celebrities And Their Favourite Collection of eyewear!

· Alex Curran, and Paris Hilton wear – Christian Dior - Dior Schlak 2

· Angelina Jolie – Gucci 1789

· Anna Friel, Courtney Cox - Giorgio Armani 205s, and Renee Zellweger - Giorgio Armani 208s

· Ben Affleck, Elle Macpherson, Gwen Stefani, Hugh Grant, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, and Penelope Cruz all were wearing – RayBan 3025

· Nicole Kidman – Oakley - M Frame

· Djibril Cisse – Oakley - Thump Polarised MP3 256MB

Depending on who may be your favourite, or not so favourite actor, if any of the sunglass styles above appeal to you, then more than likely you’re going to want to buy them. So let’s take a look at the designer glasses and sport lenses above and do a brief summary of their benefits and features and find out if they not only hold up to their fashion flare, but also to the vision protection that is so important for your precious eyes.

Christian Dior: Are a must for the fashion conscious person! They’re known to be the ultimate in luxury fashionable lenses. Each Dior product is made with detailed and intricate Italian craftsmanship that represents a work of art. The original Dior series including the Dior Schlak1 and 2 offer beauty and style, and the features provide scratch/impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses, lightweight frames, and provide 100% UV protection.

Gucci: Worn by some of the most famous and beautiful people, such as Angelina Jolie, Grace Kelly, Peter Sellers, and Audrey Hepburn. Gucci sunglasses are known to offer a sexy and sleek look and feel with quality Italian materials and craftsmanship. This select eyewear allows you to create your own sense of style, but also offers top quality lenses with 100% protection from UVA/UVB rays.

Giorgio Armani: Made exclusively in Italy, Giorgio lenses and frames exude exquisite taste and glamour! Combined with their class and elegant look, they provide the person wearing these quality lenses complete peace-of-mind that the 100% UVA/UVB protective lens will block the sun and protect their precious vision.

Ray Ban: The best selling sunglass brand worldwide going into their fourth decade, Ray Ban’s are a true favourite among the elite! Ranging in a wide variety of styles including the popular 3025 model, which consists of a lightweight durable metal frame with lenses offering complete 100% UV protection with their unique optical clarity. This original lens product is in a class of it’s own, and I can see why it has the highest level of recognition in designer eyewear!

Oakley: Best known for their superior style and un-paralleled innovation in eye- protection! I’m sure you will find many stars under the moon fashioning this sophisticated eye wear technology!

It’s no surprise Nicole Kidman has been seen sporting a pair of Oakley M Frames, and when image is just as important as protecting her vision, then this precision line of lenses would definitely be on the top of many celebrity lists.

Ranging from the Oakley M frame Hybrid, to the M frame strike, you will find these glasses provide impact resistant polycarbonate material that are very light in weight with exceptional 100% UVA/UVB shield. With interchangeable lens options in a variety of colors, these polarized and Iridium coated lenses will have you looking fantastic while reducing nasty glare.

Fashion and technology have come full circle, and many reputable designer and sports eyewear suppliers have recognized this trend. The sunglass once produced for eye-care purposes only have now become an important declaration of your sole individual character and distinctive vogue flair, which many of your favourite rock and movie celebrities have embraced in their image.

About the author: William is the owner and the author of “1st In Cool Eyewear” available at http://www.1st-in-cool-eyewear.com A great source for cool sunglasses and a wide variety of sunglasses available online. Find and compare sunglass sites for Oakley sunglasses, Polarized sunglasses, discount sunglasses, designer sunglasses, and sport sunglasses all in one convenient location.

Your Wild and Crazy Side with Zombie Contact Lenses

Zombie contact lenses are a whole new concept in the contact lens industry. Also known as zombie whiteout or zombie special effect contact lenses, they are perfect for a theme party that calls for something scary or for a Halloween fright night get together. Many people who work in theatre as well as in films utilize zombie contact lenses on a regular basis to change their appearance.

Zombie contact lenses make the eyes appear completely white except for the black dot in the middle. Too scary for some but just right if the occasion calls for spooky or out of this world outrageous. Zombie whiteouts are sure to be an attention grabber and a conversation piece.

Zombie contact lenses, just like any other kind of contacts must be fitted to your eyes properly to ensure comfort so visiting an accredited eye doctor is a must. Zombie whiteouts are available both for contact lens wearers who require a prescription for vision correction as well as for those who don't.

Keep in mind that eye infections are always a health concern when you wear any type of contact, regardless of whether you wear ordinary contact lenses on a regular basis or occasionally wear ones such as zombie white-outs for fun. Proper hygiene in regards to cleaning and disinfecting of contact lenses is a must. This point cannot be stressed enough.

Many big name contact lens companies such as CIBA Vision and CooperVision carry what they term as "WildEyes" or "Crazy Lenses." Zombie whiteout contact lenses would fall under these categories. If you choose to search for zombie contact lenses on the Internet keep in mind that they are often also referred to as theatrical or costume contact lenses.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more contact lens tips and discount contact lenses that you can research and purchase in your pajamas on his website.

The Royal Blue Contact Lens Really Stands Out

Have you always wanted to have sparkling baby blues but weren't fortunate enough to be born with them? That's not a problem anymore. Now more than ever colored contact lenses are catching on and their popularity is soaring.

Today royal blue contact lens is a favorite choice for both men and women. Imagine how much a simple thing like changing your eye color can serve to change your appearance. Family and friends alike will be amazed at your eye transformation.

Royal blue contact lens is an excellent choice of color for both people with special eye care concerns as well as those with perfect vision. They can be worn by practically anyone. In other words, you can enjoy beautiful royal blue contact lens even if you're one of those people fortunate enough to have 20/20 vision. And the best thing about these contacts is that they don't look the least bit artificial. Strangers would swear upon seeing you that you were born with royal blue eyes, but you're not telling!

Whether you require a prescription for vision correction or not, it is always a smart move to have contact lenses fitted by someone who is an expert in the eye care field. Your eyes are far too important to mess with. And an eye doctor can answer any and all questions that might arise concerning your royal blue contact lenses.

There are many different kinds of infections that can occur in the eye if the royal blue contact lens is not fitted the right way. Also a cleaning regimen must be adhered to faithfully regardless of how often you wear your royal blue contact lenses. Nothing spoils the appeal of alluring royal blue contact lenses like red, sore, watery eyes rift with infection.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more contact lens tips and discount contact lenses that you can research and purchase in your pajamas on his website.

Pretty in Pink Contact Lenses

Want a different eye color than the one you were born with? No longer does anyone have to be satisfied with what biology gave them. Pink contact lenses, along with other colors, have found their way into the market and they are making quite a splash!

Pink contact lenses are mainly worn for cosmetic purposes and generally are not for those needing a prescription to improve eyesight problems. Although it must be said that pink contact lenses still must be fitted by a professional eye care specialist and all lens wearers must follow the same cleaning procedures as regular contact lens wearers do.

Pink contact lenses are in a category all their own- meant for effect and to alter one's eye appearance, say for example for a special night out. Many people go the pretty in pink contact lens route just because they want to show some variety and have some fun.

It should not come as a shock that young teenage girls and twentysomething women can more often be seen sporting pink contact lenses than young men. It is a fashion statement that eyes can be stylish too.

Pink contact lenses come in "enhancer tints" and "opaque colored." The opaque tends towards being a little more dramatic but not too much so. Pink lenses can be purchased through your eye doctor or over the Internet. It is advisable however to have regular eye check ups and discuss the "fun" option in contact lenses with people who know their business well and can answer any and all questions you might have.

So the next time you get decked out in a pretty pink gown ladies, don't forget that pink contact lenses are now an option to dress you up even more.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more contact lens tips and discount contact lenses that you can research and purchase in your pajamas on his website.

Mirror Tinted Contact Lenses: Wild, and Practical Too

As a contact lens wearer, if you have searched the various lens options available on the market today, you've probably noticed that there are a lot of features to choose from. Some are fairly standard, and are mainly related to your eyesight correction and comfort. However, many features are now offered that are designed for your personal preferences and style. One such type of lenses are mirror tinted contact lenses. At first, you may think they are some kind of wild and crazy idea. But when you learn more about them, you realize they take care of some very real and important needs, and you may just decide that you'd like to try a pair yourself.

For example, if you're involved in sports, you know how important eyewear can be. In many sports, players who need vision correction often struggle when trying to find eyewear that can help them see the way they need to, but which is still comfortable and doesn't interfere with their performance. Many athletes have trouble with sun glare, when they need to focus on a ball while playing outdoors and facing the sun. Some people experiment with tinted goggles or sunglasses that strap on, but most of them end up missing the convenience of wearing nothing but contacts which are barely noticeable.

With mirror tinted contact lenses, an athlete can have the best of both worlds - convenience and sun protection. A baseball pitcher can pitch a game facing into the sun, and with mirrored contacts they don't have to hassle with the irritation of sweaty, clouded goggles, or sunglasses that partially block their field of vision. Goggles or glasses can also be dangerous if they are struck by a ball or another player during play. A soccer player wearing mirror tinted contacts can block out the sun, but still be agile and aggressive, not having to working about having sunglasses or goggles knocked off.

Even if you're not an athlete, you may be one of those people have an extreme sensitivity to light. Perhaps standard tinted contacts don't help and you need the extra protection of mirror tinting, but you'd like to avoid the discomfort of wearing sunglasses for long periods of time. Or, you may not have extra sensitivity, but you are involved in activities where you will spend lots of time in bright sun, like at the beach or on long road trips. In either case, mirror tinted contact lenses may be the perfect solution.

Not only are mirrored contacts practical, they can also be wild and fun. Even if you don't need to block the sun, you may want to experiment with them as a cool effect at parties or other occasions. You can be the life of the party when people see your shiny mirrored eyeballs. If you really get into it, you'll even find that there's a whole variety of colored contacts, special effects contact lenses ("Special FX"), theatrical contacts, and novelty contact lenses that you can play around with.

You can have a lot of fun with mirrored contacts. Just remember, they can be extremely practical, too. You will definitely want to try them if you're sensitive to light, will be involved in activities exposing you to the sun for long periods, or you're into sports and want the convenience of contacts and sun-blocking that you've previously gotten only from sunglasses and goggles. Try out mirror tinted contact lenses for yourself and you'll be pleased to find that you can finally have the best of both worlds, and have fun at the same time.

For more information visit http://www.aa-contact-lenses.com

Why Ladies Craze for Women's Sandals?

Talking about sandals in front of women is absolutely a tempting topic for them. When women check some magazine and store where they saw some new design of sandals, surely they will talk about it and if possible would willing to purchase it.

Even when a woman looks at somebody’s beautiful sandals, there is no doubt that she would eager to buy them too. It seems that women cannot be separated with sandals, shoes, and other beauty accessories.

Of course not only women who can collect sandals. Men and kids are also able to do so, though they cannot choose a wider option compared to women. Yes, it is because manufacturers produce women’s items in a very extensive designs, colors, and materials.

What about you? Are you also fans of sandal, shoes and other footwear? If you are part of them, maybe you ought to know more on different type of sandals. Women’s sandals can be divided into so many types based on designs and models. You can name them: beach sandals, bridal, dress, flip flop, platform, sport, thong, and wedding. There are so many of them which you can find the information about it at MySandalsGuide.com!

Moreover, here are the designs you can find in one of the sandals types above. If you love dress sandals, you can get diverse styles such as: ankle strap, backless, flats, glass, heel, slingback, strappy, and woven. What a complete collection!

Well, well, well, you can imagine how many styles you’ll get if each type has its own styles. Of course every type or style has its own plus and minus points. It’s you who make review toward the sandals, whether they are comfortable or stylish enough to fulfill your desire.

Some of you are the big fans of designer brands. No matter how expensive the items are, you don’t really mind with it as long as you feel comfy and confident while wearing them. Well, looking for branded items at shoe stores could be tiring and time-consuming, right? The only way, namely, the most practical way, to hunt for so many brands is by using the Internet. Yes, find the perfect pair from all over the world just at your fingertips!

Diana Claire lifelong for footwear led her became footwear reviewer. She has tried different kind of footwear, and she put her review at MyShoesGuide.com. Her experiences on footwear can be helpful for those who need more information about a certain kind of footwear. Visit her Website http://www.mysandalsguide.com

Women's Sandals Add a Touch of Elegance and Sex Appeal to Your Feet

Womens sandals are no longer simply the rubber thong style sandal of yesteryear, they have become a footwear fashion diva's dream, ranging from designer leather thongs with beaded detail to fancy, sophisticated looking sandals you can wear with an evening gown. Today's sandals not only look fantastic, but they are made so that your feet will be comfortable all day. What more can a woman ask for?! It's not uncommon for most women to have a particular womens sandal brand or style for different aspects of her life. Maybe a comfortable Birkenstock sandal for those long sunset walks, a pair or two of Steve Madden sandals for working at the office, and maybe a fancy pair of Gucci high heel sandals for your evening out. Wherever you like to wear your sandals, you can bet there is a pair or two specifically for you.

Today's sandals by such designers as Steve Madden, Gucci, Prada, Cole Haan, Ecco, and Birkenstock, come in a variety of functional or just plain good-looking styles including the wedge heel, mid heel, thongs, and everything in between. The colors and materials found in womens summer sandals make going to the beach, or work for that matter, a fun, stylish, and fashionable experience. Flowers, polka-dots, animal prints, bows, jewels, beads, and much more can be found adorning many styles of sandals.

You can wear your womens summer sandals to the office since some of the styles are so classy and sophisticated looking. The sandals available to women today are designed to serve as more than just for beach wear. Get your moneys worth and wear them to work, dancing, or out on that hot date! Womens thong sandals are still around and continue to be quite popular, however, they have changed somewhat. You can still buy the cheap rubber thongs that have been around for years, but now you can find the same style made with much higher quality materials. You can actually expect to get some foot support with some of the brands available today, and you can wear them all day without getting sore feet.

With all the wonderful styles of womens sandals available today, you should have several pairs in your closet. They are fun, funky, and classy, depending on what you want, and they look fantastic with everything!!

Chris Rodriguez is the author/publisher for the fashion shoe website http://www.1st-in-designer-shoes.com Please visit her site for information on your favorite designer shoes, boots, athletic footwear, and sandals. We provide access to reliable retailers offering designer shoes at fantastic prices. Come visit us today!

Oakley Sunglasses! A Global Brand That Defines The True Meaning Of "Vision"

It’s amazing that it has been 30 years since the Oakley name has been introduced, and that this incredible brand of Oakley products originated from a man that started off with a line of motocross goggles back in 1980!

Oakley’s reputation has grown since then to be the industry leader in the manufacturing of high-quality sunglassproducts. Their successful journey started with their first high-performance line of Eyeshades®, and branched off into numerous options of sunglasses including M Frames®, Zeros®, E Wires®, A Wires®, Eye Jackets®, Moons®, the X-Metal®, series Mars®, Romeo®, Juliet®, and the introduction of the eyewear called OVERTHETOP®!

The Oakley product line has since grown including prescription eyewear line, Oakley watches, Oakley clothing, footwear, and a wide range of accessories that will be touched on in another article.

Top Oakley Frames Are Designed For Purpose!

Oakley frame options are extremely extensive, so I won’t go into the features of every frame and lens they offer. What I have done though, is listed some of their top designs, and I will go into detail on how they will benefit you.

*M Frames: For the person looking for some serious eyewear protection, the Oakley M Frame® is classified as essential equipment for the extreme athlete! Consisting of features that include true Polaric Ellipsoid® geometry, where the lens is contoured in three dimensions to match the curvature of the eye. This patented technology provides you razor-sharp clarity at all angles of view, and you get complete protection against the wind, sun, and side impact.

The M Frame® is ultra-lightweight and extremely comfortable, but don’t let this fool you into believing that they will not stand up to extensive abuse. These glasses exceed ANSI Industrial standards for high mass, and high-velocity impact protection!

All the lenses are constructed of pure Plutonite®, which blocks 100% of all the UVA, UVB, UVC, and harmful blue light, offering incredible clarity at the highest level, and the lens options are removable and interchangeable to adapt to a variety of light conditions. The M Frame with hinges for a customized fit, and the Pro M Frame with a hingless design with subtle pressure and flexibility for a secure fit, also come with optional RX implants that are custom grounded to give you optimum corrective prescription optics.

Other frames to consider for the extreme water-sport buff is the Oakley lines including the Oakley Water Jacket® with glare reduction, and vented lenses that combat against all elements on the water. This lens has a formulated hydrophobic coating that prevents water droplet build-up. These are great for athletes that like to play hard in the liquid playground!

Another one to contemplate is the Racing Jacket® that will attract anyone looking for a lens that doesn’t easily fog up. They include the best clarity with the patented XYZ Optics®, and have the best defogging ventilation called Ram-air surge ports, combined with Unobtainium® nosebombs, and earsocks that keep the frames securely attached to the hingeless, lightweight frames.

Oakley design! It Doesn’t Hurt To Have The Best Protection Make You Look Great

If style and your fashion presence are important to you, but you don’t want to compromise your vision safety, Oakley protection has you in mind! They know that how you look and feel is truly the reason why they produced the complete line of Oakley wires, and X Metal frames.

Wire Frames: There are approximately fifteen styles existing, including the hatchet wire, crosshair, and whisker, along with many other wire frame sunglasses. Depending on what style you choose, you will quickly notice the unique wired frame styles, and quality features ranging from the patented hydrophilic Unobtainium® earsocks to ensure a snug, secure fit, the XYZ Optics® for maximized clarity at all angles of vision, the Plutonite® lens material for 100% UV protection, Polarized lenses, and optional Iridium® coating to reflect glare and heighten contrast. What this means for you is that these particular sun glasses not only have a fantastic fashion look, but also will provide you with the best eye care protection from all the bad elements on this planet!

X Metal XX: What can I say! How can you not be impressed with a sunglass that includes Explosive compounds that are vaporized at 3600®F, and is the only frame offering 3-D sculptured, hypoallergenic, all-metal frames on earth! Part of the X- Metal frame family such as the Romeo and the Juliet, it has matched features from the two to enhance coverage for people with larger facial sizes, and now provide new options from Titanium Dioxide plating, to true 24-karat gold finish. Available in a prescription lens as well.

With Oakley making a presence in well over 100 countries around the world, and now with Oakley online giving access to millions of people via the internet, their growing message is that they would like to be recognized as the innovators of reinventing the concept of eyewear. Their passion that ignited the optical industry has provided their vision to become not only the best optical product providers, but also the leader in quality fashion, and an exciting line of accessories!

About the author: William is the owner and the author of “1st In Cool Eyewear” available at http://www.1st-in-cool-eyewear.com A great source for cool sunglasses and a wide variety of sunglasses available online. Find and compare sunglass sites for Oakley sunglasses, Polarized sunglasses, discount sunglasses, designer sunglasses, and sport sunglasses, all in one convenient location.

Tips in Choosing the Right Kind of Sunglasses

Today, sunglasses have become everyone's bestfriend. We never leave home without them. We carry them just about anywhere our lives take us. We never miss out on every opportunity to sneak at the shades counter whenever we get the chance. Sunglasses are fast becoming indispensable. They don't just keep out those dangerous UV rays but they also exude a lot of attitude. They're our eyes on the world, especially the fashion world. The world ultimately looks better and hipper through the lenses. But with all the variety of trends coming on the scene, how do we pick the right shades? How do we know they fit our facial profile?

Here's a list of quick tips for sunglasses picks to match your face:

Square Face

You need slightly curved frames with the top high enough on the face to downplay the jaw line. Try aviator or wrap styles that suit your moods.

Round Face

Straight or angular frames in a deep color such as black or tortoise flatter the features of your face. For a good fit, try square-framed sunglasses with colored lenses.

Triangular Face

Defined by a broad forehead and a narrow mouth and chin, your face can be complemented with thin rims and vertical lines. Sleek oval frames with colored lenses also looks becoming on you.

Oblong Face

Similar to the square face with a little more length, the shape of your face looks best with a frame that covers as much of the center of the face as possible. Avoid large frames, heavy nose bridges, bold colors and square shapes. Experiment on updated classics for a trendy look.

Oval Face

With an oval shape, you can choose more shapes than any other. However, always remember to pick frames in proportion to the size of your face.

Aside from finding the perfect frame for your face, you should also consider frames that are proportional to your nose. Oversize frames balance out a large nose, while short noses should find sunglasses with a high bridge and a light color. Long noses are complemented by a double bridge and frames with high sidebars, drawing attention toward temples.

A good rule of thumb: Go for the frame that is opposite from the shape of your face. Think of the word "balance" and make sure to play around with many different shaped frames before you decide on your final choice.

© 2005 Rachelle Arlin Credo. All rights reserved.

Rachelle Arlin Credo is an entrepreneur and relationship coach. She also works as an image consultant and part-time writer. Her literary works have been published in various magazines and online publications. For more info, visit her website at http://www.rachelle.co.nr

Dress Your Jeans

These days, jeans are becoming a basic building block of any wardrobe. Almost everywhere around the globe, you see people wearing jeans. From high-waist pants, capris, and cargos to tattered jeans and cigarette pants, the variety seems infinite. Jeans are becoming such a moth-eaten that they're coming to close quarters with being a total faux-pas. But how do you squeeze out a savvy style for your jeans without becoming too distinct?

The answer: ACCESSORIZE! Exude style savvy with your jeans using the following tips:

• For low-waist jeans, use navel diamonds and gems to accentuate a cute belly-button. You can also wrap silver chain-belts around your tummy, to shimmer while you dance "the bump". For a totally 70's look, add on colorful bangles and large hoop rings.
• For capris, wear anklets - either a slim gold chain to accent a trim ankle or ethnic beads for a "beach-babe" look. You can also add hip body bags for a sportier look.
• For cargos, those handy Swiss knives bring action to your jeans, as do large backpacks. You can also wear Buddha beads which bring luck for extreme adventures.
• For high-waist pants, use large dark-colored snakeskin belts to hide the height of the waist. Never use bright colored or diamond belts - it'll grab all the attention.
• For tattered or ripped jeans, wear kerchief belts for a handy-man look. You can also position a kerchief in your backpocket to call attention to a sexy bottom. Don't use overpolished accessories with the grunge look such as diamond or leather belts - it's an extreme combination.
• For loose or baggy jeans, more oversized chains clipped from the belt-line to your pocket give you a "gangsta" look. So do vintage pocket-watches, which bring out the "hip-hop" style. And if you're in for the "chicano" look, wear plaids as well as bandanas or hairnets.
• For cigarette pants, use "l-mac" (colored-transparent plastic) belts for a "be-bop" look. Gold or silver jewelry and fancy anklets can also dress up your jeans. never wear anything ethnic - it ruins the polished style.

© 2005 Rachelle Arlin Credo. All rights reserved.

Rachelle Arlin Credo is an entrepreneur and relationship coach. She also works as an image consultant and part-time writer. Her literary works have been published in various magazines and online publications. For more info, visit her website at http://www.rachelle.co.nr

Menswear - Putting Together A Business Wardrobe - Part 3

It’s easier for men to build a professional wardrobe, but as with many other things, it’s getting started that is the toughest! Let's talk this time about Accessorizing your Business Wardrobe, and look for additional articles Dress Shirts and my article on Caring for Your Wardrobe.

Okay, guys, we’ve talked about suits and touched on the foundation garments known as dress shirts, let’s talk about accessories. I suggest you take the conservative road with regard to your business suits, especially when you are just building a wardrobe.

Conservatively-styled suits may not get you noticed at a dance club, but they will certainly be a better investment for your professional life. A good, basic man’s suit will last for years, especially if you’ve taken into account my tips on fabric, construction and color.

Accessorizing your suit with relation to neckties and cufflinks are just one way you can add a unique personal touch to your look. Let’s start from the bottom and work our way up.

When selecting shoes to complement your business wardrobe, consider your own likes and dislikes. Do you prefer lace-up shoes or loafers? Lace-up shoes are a bit more conservative, so if in doubt, start with a lace-up shoe. Loafers are perfectly acceptable, though I would emphasize that you should look for a sleek, lower cut shoe rather than a pair of penny loafers.

Shoe color can be a subject for confusion, so let’s lay the ground rules: Black shoes can be worn with just about every suit, however, men with warmer coloring can also wear brown. A good pair of dark brown shoes will also complement a navy or charcoal suit.

As a general rule, socks should match or at least tonally relate to your trousers. Today’s man has a wide variety of shades and patterns to choose from, but be careful not to make your legs the focal point of your business look by choosing socks that are too light. Black dress socks with black shoes are a pretty safe bet if you’re unsure.

You can select from over-the-calf or mid-calf socks, but I find on most men that the mid-calf sock can sometimes cause a funny little dance called the “pull up the socks shuffle”. If in doubt, stay with an over-the-calf sock.

Athletes and men with larger legs and calves may have to shop at a specialty store to avoid a too-tight sock that will cause discomfort or cut off circulation. Socks below mid-calf are absolutely out of the question for a business look. “Showing a little leg” is inappropriate and is considered unprofessional.

The color of your belt should always match your shoes. This means a brown belt will NOT work with black shoes. There are a variety of patterns and buckle styles to choose from. A glossy, shiny belt might be a choice for a man in a creative, yet professional occupation, and a smooth leather belt with little shine is a better choice for a conservative occupation like Law or Banking.

I shouldn’t have to say this, but save the overly-large belt buckles (those the size of small cars) for outside of business hours. Most businessmen won’t own or wear a very large belt buckle for normal business activities.

Neckties have traditionally been a creative outlet for men in their business dress. It’s a chance to let some of your personality show through, though there are still rules to be considered. If you are wearing a solid white or blue dress shirt (and you should be, if you read my previous article on Dress Shirts), you have a lot of latitude when choosing neckwear.

Patterns and stripes are appropriate for wearing with solid color shirts, but don’t choose too wild a pattern. The focus should be on your face, and people should be listening to what you have to say, not staring at your tie.

When selecting a necktie for a patterned shirt, consider a large patterned necktie with a small patterned shirt (or vice versa). Don’t match large patterns in a shirt with large patterns in a necktie. There will be too much visual interest and no place for a person’s eye to rest.

Stripes, small geometric patterns and paisleys all continue to be popular, but avoid the novelty ties. People just won’t take you seriously when you wear that Hula Girl tie.

Cufflinks are a matter of purely personal choice. A man preferring French cuff shirts can have a great deal of fun choosing cufflink styles and colors. They are considered jewelry, a means of self-expression.

If you are warmer-toned in your coloring, by all means choose gold, warm metals or enamels, and warmer-toned stones like amber to wear with your shirts. If you are cooler-toned in your coloring, choose silver, platinum, gemstones in rich, dark colors and bright enamels to complement your suits and your own coloring. The sky is virtually the limit!

One last point on the accessory that can provide that extra little ‘oomph’ in your polish and finished business attire: the pocket square. They are very simple accessories that add that touch of elegance to your business look.

Select a color that accentuates your necktie (i.e. a gold pocket square for a navy-and-gold patterned tie and a navy suit), but don’t fall into the safe-but-boring world of matching ties and pocket squares. Since they are inexpensive, purchase several and tuck one into your pocket every day. The easiest way to find good colors is to purchase them at the same time you purchase your ties.

About the Author: Dianne M. Daniels is an Image & Color Coach, Consultant and Professional Speaker, and the author/publisher of "Polish & Presence: 31 Days to a New Image". She has helped individuals refine and define their personal and professional image, along with corporations and organizations. Learn how to create your Personal Climate for Personal and Professional Success at http://www.imageandcolor.com.

Menswear - Putting Together A Business Wardrobe - Part 2

Here’s the second installment of the “Menswear” series, on adding dress shirts to your professional wardrobe. Let’s go guys!

Dress shirts come in a lot of different styles, fabrics and colors. Your choices should reflect not only your coloring (cool or warm) but your business field (banking vs. advertising, real estate vs. entrepreneurial, etc).

Here’s a couple of rules of thumb: first, purchase 100% cotton whenever possible. They feel great against your skin (important, since you’ll have them on for 8 – 10 hours a day), and can be laundered and pressed / ironed either at home or professionally.

If you’re not handy with an iron (and gentlemen, you really SHOULD be), or want to avoid the expense of professional cleaning, you can also opt for “no-iron” or “wrinkle resistant” shirts. The cotton fabric of these type of shirts is treated to resist wrinkles, but you’ll pay approximately $15 – 20 extra per shirt for the convenience. They’ll only need a light touch with an iron after cleaning instead of a firmer hand.

Second, unless you see your supervisor or other managers wearing short sleeves, keep your purchases to long-sleeved shirts only. Remember, dress for the job you want, not the one you’ve got. Short sleeves are seen as more casual, and you almost never see and executive with short sleeves on his dress shirt!

You’ll need 6 – 8 dress shirts to start with, so that you’ll have a couple of days leeway in case you can’t get your laundry done (or get your shirts from the cleaners). If you work in a company where senior management dresses conservatively (banking, insurance, legal profession, etc) then plan on sticking to basics.

If you are in a client-oriented profession (real estate, financing, etc), then take your cues from your clients to a certain extent, and stick with basic dress shirts here as well.

To add some variety, you can add a pinstripe in a color compatible with your coloring (white with blue pinstripes, for example if your coloring is cool, white with red or yellow, perhaps tan or brown for a warmer-toned man).

Spread collars are currently popular, though traditional straight collars are always acceptable. Button-down collars have been popular in the past, but are now seen as more casual, therefore not 100% suitable for some more conservative professions.

If you want to express yourself a bit more within a conservative environment, you can choose a pinstripe shirt with a white contrasting collar and cuffs, or choose French cuffs (that require cufflinks) for a dressed-up traditional look.

If your work environment allows you to go beyond basic, look for a variety of patterns and colors. Those in the advertising or other creative professions have a wider choice of fabrics, and could select stripes, patterns or plaids (currently popular in gingham, glen plaids and tattersall plaids).

Choose patterns and colors that compliment your build (wide patterns are to be avoided on more strongly-built men), your coloring (warm or cool), and the shape of your face.

About the Author: Dianne M. Daniels is an Image & Color Coach, Consultant and Professional Speaker, and the author/publisher of "Polish & Presence: 31 Days to a New Image". She has helped individuals refine and define their personal and professional image, along with corporations and organizations. Learn how to create your Personal Climate for Personal and Professional Success at http://www.imageandcolor.com

Menswear - Putting Together A Business Wardrobe

We're going to discuss some specific aspects of Men’s business dressing, which has different rules than women’s. Ladies, if you have a husband, son, brother, good friend or other relative that could use this information, please feel free to pass it along. Enjoy this segment, and come back for the others!

Whether you are a new college graduate, just joining the working world, changing jobs due to a merger, acquisition or “dot-bomb” or just feel the need to update your professional look, putting together a business wardrobe can be a scary prospect.

In the next installments of this article, we’ll discuss the components of a great classic wardrobe that will have you well dressed for years, and will prove to be wise investments.

Let’s start with the potentially most expensive, yet most important part of your business wardrobe – your suits. Rather than buy the latest cutting-edge, designer look of the moment that will be dated and obsolete next year, select 3 – 4 classically tailored suits in year-round fabrics and conservative colors.

If you've seen my articles about Color and it’s effect on you, you'll know that men also fall into the color “Seasons”, and there are suggestions for colors in those articles. I’ll also include some hints and tips in this article regarding colors for men’s suits.

A popular choice of fabric in men’s suits is 120’s merino wool in a bengaline weave, which tends to resist wrinkling and provides a natural stretch for increased comfort. What’s 120’s merino wool? Well, Merino Wool is a specific designation for the wool grown and sheared from Merino sheep. It’s very silky and soft, and the fiber diameter further distinguishes the various grades of Merino Wool.

There are three major classifications: Super 100 (wool fibers slightly thicker than 18 microns), Super 100s (wool fibers less than 18 microns thick), and Super 120’s (wool fibers sheared only from the neck and shoulders of the sheep, under 16 microns thick).

The higher the grade number of the wool, the finer and more luxurious the fabric will be that is created from it and correspondingly, the higher the price for the garment! A suit made of a Super 120’s wool will cost more, however, that same suit will last years instead of months. It is well worth the investment in yourself and your professional appearance.

Popular choices for men’s suit colors include navy and charcoal grey, in a plain or pinstripe pattern, and make for a polished look. This is a terrific suggestion for men whose coloring is cool or blue-based. Winters and Summers are included in this color range. Additional popular colors for cooler-toned men are midnight navy, black, and gray navy.

Men who are warmer in their coloring could choose a bright navy, warm taupe or camel as a basic suit color, remembering that dark navy or black will wash out the coloring on these men and may make them look pale or unhealthy. Not exactly the impression we want to give, now is it?

Classic looks are ensured with a two or three button jacket, and current trends are favoring the 3-button style. More trendy looks have been seen with over 4 buttons on a single-breasted jacket, but these looks are best kept for evening activities and not for a business look.

Double-breasted suits can be problematic if your physique is not suited for them, and the difficulty of sitting in an always-buttoned jacket can cause extra wear and tear on your investment.

Business pants with a double-reverse pleat are a classic that will endure. You should be sure to have them tailored to fit your physique, as pulled-out pleats from an abundant abdomen or rear are sure to make you look even bigger, not business-like. An adept tailor is invaluable to a businessman, and the recommendations of friends and associates will help you find a good one.

Many suit retailers offer tailoring with a purchase, which can be a good way to start. Always test a new or unfamiliar tailor with one suit, so that if he / she doesn’t work to your liking; they haven’t affected your entire wardrobe!

Once you have your 3 or 4 basic suits, you can slowly add other suits to round out your business and entertaining wardrobe. Remember to keep your suit colors classic, and use what you know about your personal coloring (cool or warm) to choose shades and variations that will suit you best.

The best rule of thumb for Menswear: wear what is comfortable for you, remembering that classic tailoring and the right colors for you will best stand the test of time.

About the Author: Dianne M. Daniels is an Image & Color Coach, Consultant and Professional Speaker, and the author/publisher of "Polish & Presence: 31 Days to a New Image". She has helped individuals refine and define their personal and professional image, along with corporations and organizations. Learn how to create your Personal Climate for Personal and Professional Success at http://www.imageandcolor.com

10 Tips to Stretch Your Wardrobe Dollars

1. Buy what works for you! - Don't waste your money buying two-piece suits if you work in a warehouse! Take your job responsibilities into account when purchasing clothing for your career. If you work outdoors, buy clothing fit for your environment. Don't buy items that you won't feel comfortable in, because you won't wear those items and that's wasted money!

2. Stick to your best colors - Have a professional Color Analysis done to determine what the most flattering colors are for you. By sticking to those colors, you'll be assured that you'll always have mix and match capability and you'll always look great! One of the foundations of Capsule Wardrobing is the selection of 3 basic colors to build a wardrobe on. Make sure they are the right ones for you!

3. Buy the right size for right now - Clothing manufacturers are not known for their adherence to standards. Don't get hung up on what size the clothing is tagged as, get hung up on proper fit! If the article of clothing feels tight, pulls or seems stressed at the seams, it won't last as long, and it will make you look heavier in the process. Buy clothing that fits you well and it will not only make you look better, it will last longer.

4. Purchase for Multi-season use - Try to purchase fabrics that are multi-seasonal. A heavy, textured wool jacket is only good for the coldest of weather, whereas one made of mid-weight or lighter weight wool or wool blend could be worn with a sweater in cold weather and with a shirt or blouse in warmer weather. You'll get more use from multi-season garments than those with a single-season focus.

5. Remember the basics - Suits and separates can form the foundation of a great working wardrobe. Single and double-breasted long-sleeved blazers with matching skirts for women or pants for men or women are essential basics. Save the novelty items for your casual days at home, or for accessory pieces. Don't try to build a wardrobe around the "trend of the moment". When the trend passes, you'll look dated. Purchase basic building pieces to build your wardrobe and you'll be able to mix and match pieces to create lots of different looks with a minimal investment.

6. Accessorize with style - Every wardrobe needs a certain investment in accessories. The considered use of scarves, jewelry and pins, ties and pocket squares, and even hosiery, shoes and hats can transform ordinary clothing into something extraordinary. Determine whether your coloring is cool or warm and let that guide you in choosing accessories, especially metal jewelry. If your coloring is warm, gold will emphasize the glow in your skin. If your coloring is cool, choose more silver, platinum or white gold to emphasize the contrast of your skin. Combining smart accessories with a basic wardrobe ensures you'll always look coordinated and polished, not thrown-together or haphazard.

7. Buy quality over quantity – When purchasing clothing, consider buying items that are fully lined versus only partially lined or unlined (the clothing will "hang" better and last longer). Purchase items with a good feel and drape to the fabric, and choose clothing distributors that have a reputation for quality. It's not necessary to only buy wool, when a better grade wool or polyester blend will work as well initially. Buying a $400 suit for $175 on sale is a really good deal, considering the fabric and construction of that suit will be better than the $150 suit purchased on sale for $80. The more expensive suit will be worn more often and cost you less per wearing. A less expensive piece won't be worn as often and won't last, thereby costing you more per wearing.

8. Compatible shoes and hosiery - For a work wardrobe, shoes and hosiery are the finishing touch. Purchase quality shoes and take care of them. Shoes that are run down, scuffed and showing wear make you look the same way, no matter how polished and professional the rest of your outfit. Job interviewers have been taught to check out a prospective employee's shoes, and for entrepreneurs, prospective clients do the same thing! If they don't look their best, it will reflect badly on you. When you find shoes that fit well and feel good on your feet, buy several pair in your foundation colors, and two pair of your most often-worn color so that you can give one pair a rest while wearing the other. Avoid fads in shoes and stick with classic designs like pumps and sling backs for women, and wingtips or oxfords for men. Ladies, stick with a heel no higher than 2 ¾", and no lower than ½" for ease in walking and a reduced chance of injury.

9. Organize and categorize - Once you've determined your foundation colors for your wardrobe, you can organize and categorize your clothing for easy selection and wearing. Hang jackets by sleeve length, color and garment length, or combined with matching pieces to create ready-made outfits. Keep similar fabric weights close together to avoid putting a heavy wool jacket over a lightweight chiffon or silk skirt. Put mix-and-match items near their foundation counterparts for easier selection. Move items that need cleaning to a specific area for easy pick up and removal.

10. Take notes for future use - Whenever you are shopping, take along color swatches of your basic colors and those determined to be right for you. Make a promise to yourself to stay with your correct colors, and keep notes of what basic foundation items you already own. No one really needs 10 virtually identical black dresses or 10 identical black suits! One of the guidelines of Professional Wardrobing is to make sure that any item you purchase must either be compatible with at least two other items in your closet, or it must be a foundation garment that could be combined with other pieces to create many other outfits. In this way, you'll be sure to maximize your clothing dollars and create a terrific wardrobe.

Make the most of your clothing investment by using the principles outlined above, and you'll always be impeccably dressed!

About the Author: Dianne M. Daniels is an Image & Color Coach, Consultant and Professional Speaker, and the author/publisher of "Polish & Presence: 31 Days to a New Image". She has helped individuals refine and define their personal and professional image, along with corporations and organizations. Learn how to create your Personal Climate for Personal and Professional Success at http://www.imageandcolor.com

7 Keys to Powerful First Impressions

Image Development is the science and art of creating a Powerful First Impression. In the first thirty seconds people make judgments about you on a subconscious level, based on what they see, hear and sense. To create a Powerful First Impression, you must create a positive visual impact.

Here are 7 Keys to Creating Powerful First Impressions

1. Smile! A genuine smile, one that reaches your eyes and shines through your face and body language, is one that will encourage people to smile back. It makes strangers more comfortable with you, makes you seem more approachable, and gives a sense of comfort to those around you.

2. Use direct eye contact – You can convey power, authority and presence by using direct eye contact and direct eye contact also conveys trustworthiness and confidence. Be careful not to stare hard at another person, or you could convey a more confrontational attitude.

3. Wear colors compatible with your basic coloring – Human beings are one of two colorations: warm or cool. People with warm coloring look best in yellow-based colors like gold, warm reds, golden browns, and rich ivory. People with cool coloring look best in blue-based colors like true reds, blues, greens and winter white. Your eye, hair and skin tone help determine whether you are cool or warm, and that helps determine what colors look best on you!

4. Have great Hair Days! – Don’t fight your natural hair texture. If you have extremely curly hair, find a hairdresser that has the skill and patience to cut naturally curly hair and celebrate it. You can develop a unique presence by your hairstyle, so if it’s straight, wavy, kinky, curly or nappy, enjoy it, and get a hairstyle that works with your natural texture. It’ll save you time and aggravation over fighting to straighten extra-curly hair, or trying to get kinky hair to lie flat like newspaper.

5. Watch those lines! – Every day that you get dressed, you are sending a message. If you purchase clothing based on it’s effect on your body frame and choose items that celebrate your best features, getting dressed will no longer become an occasion for anxiety, but one of joy and happiness! The right proportions of clothing can make you look younger and thinner (or fuller, if you want that!) or they can make you look dowdy, matronly or unfinished. Choose to look your best in clothing that flatters your silhouette, body frame and size.

6. Avoid trendiness at all costs – The trend of the moment may not be right for you! Some of the fashion trends that have come and gone include micro-minis, hot pants, the ‘grunge’ look, psychedelic eye makeup and others. Though these trends may be fun to look at, they are often impractical for everyday wear, or simply not affordable. Choose items for your wardrobe that can serve multiple purposes and won’t look dated as soon as they are purchased.

7. Spend well, not often – Use the principle of Capsule Wardrobing to choose several colors that look great on you, then mix and match pieces within those colors to create a workable, professional and easy-to-wear wardrobe that won’t cost an arm and a leg as you try to keep up with the “trend of the moment”. You can purchase just 12 garments in 3 basic colors, plus 1 or 2 accent colors, and create 35 – 40 different outfits!

What message are you sending with your Image? Are you displaying a current look without being a slave to the trend of the moment; is your look finished, complete and together, or is your Image in need of an update?

About the Author: Dianne M. Daniels is an Image & Color Coach, Consultant and Professional Speaker, and the author/publisher of "Polish & Presence: 31 Days to a New Image". She has helped individuals refine and define their personal and professional image, along with corporations and organizations. Learn how to create your Personal Climate for Personal and Professional Success at http://www.imageandcolor.com