Fashion triumphs over war: History of New York Fashion Week

May 30th, 2011 admin

Fashion shows began in America as the result of a fashion emergency: the terrifying realization that work in the French couture ateliers could very well come to a standstill because of French involvement in World War I. In August 1914, Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Edna Woolman Chase, personally witnessed couturiers Paul Poiret, Monsieur Doeuillet, and Jean and Jacques Worth in uniform, headed off to war. (Always in Vogue, Chase, p. 117) At the time, fashion was rooted in Paris, and without French designs to buy or copy, as Mrs. Chase envisioned it, there would be no fashion in America and therefore nothing to fill the pages of Vogue. Ever vigilant, she took the situation into her own hands and came up with the idea of the “Fashion Fête,” a fashion show of American designers.

The first hurdle was that there were actually few known American designers in 1914. There were dressmakers, who usually copied French designs, and importers of French designs, but very few Americans designing originals in the United States. Chase went to the best merchants, including Bendel’s and Bergdorf’s, and the top dressmakers with her idea for a fashion show and asked them to put things together to be displayed. She then filled her Fashion Fête committee with New York’s best-dressed socialites.  This committee would tackle editing the clothing choices (which were then re-edited by Mrs. Chase). (Ibid, p.123)

 

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4 things to consider when ordering customised hoodies

April 2nd, 2012 admin

Ordering customised hoodies or T-shirts is an exciting thing: all that variety, all those designs to choose from! But before you get too carried away, read these hints and tips and make sure you pay attention when ordering. After all, once it’s been confirmed there’s no going back:

  • Be sure to make sure your customised hoodies aren’t too overpowering: bright pink looks powerful, but are you sure it won’t be too overbearing? Always try on a hoody or T-shirt in a shop first, so you know how it’s going to look.
  • Be careful when spelling words out: not the best at spelling? Then put the text into Word first and let the spell check feature decide whether or not it’s right or wrong.
  • Make sure the image you want to upload is good enough quality for customised hoodies: most web-sites have outlines which tell you how much DPI their software needs to create a great looking image. Although a high-quality image isn’t crucial, beware that a lower-quality one may spell disaster for your customised hoodies. Not sure? Then be sure to check the properties of the original photo to discover if the JPEG – or other format – is suitable.
  • Be sure to explore all the options, and if the firm have an FAQ page for customised hoodies then have a good read: often, answers to technical issues and concerns will be featured here, and if they’re not you can always feel free to contact a member of staff so that you know exactly what you’ll be getting.

 

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Invest In the Value of Your Home with VELUX

March 15th, 2012 admin

Investing in your home is important to increase the comfort factor and to add market value to your property for resale purposes. Many people find the expense off-putting and procrastinate about dreams they may have because of the expenses of modern living. VELUX offers a cost-effective range of roof windows and VELUX blinds to change the interior of your home with minimal hassle.

Adding VELUX Windows to your home means you can invite natural light into your rooms and combining them with VELUX window blinds offers you complete control over how that light enters and plays in your home. Start living in those rooms that you avoid because they are dark or uncomfortable and increase the quality of fresh air that you make available in your home environment with effortless installation and customised colours and designs.

If it’s extra light you need Velux Blinds Direct has a solution for every kind of roof top. Whether you have a steep incline or a flat roof, or whether you just need to bring some light into one area of the home with a sun tunnel you will be able to find your perfect match in the VELUX range.

If you want complete control or to block light out of a room completely then VELUX blackout blinds are the answer for you. If you want to diffuse light for more effect then roller blinds have the solution you need. If it’s light adjustment and durability you need from your blinds, with a touch of privacy then take a look at the Venetian blinds on offer. If you have an area of your home that needs temperature control, such as a loft or attic space, Awning blinds will give you thermal insulation. And, if you want to keep absolutely everything out of your home except air, look no further than an insect screen.

VELUX blinds can be installed on any window and offer you the convenience of manual or electric operation, for areas that are difficult to get to. Some blinds come with a solar option and adjust automatically to the level and degree of light that is available, saving you on utilities.

 

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The Wide Varieties of Lilies

June 16th, 2011 admin

The variety of lily textures and shapes make it one of the most popular flower types, and the diversity of colour patterns is thanks to their hybridization over time. They can be one solid colour, or they can feature spots that become more numerous toward the centre of the flower. Some lily hybrids are even more striking in colour, with the two parts contrasting one another. On some flowers, the outer part is light and the inner part is darker, or vice versa.

The following are four popular divisions of the lily flower.

 

Longiflorum: These lilies are more commonly used as cut flowers rather than as garden flowers since they tend not to be as hardy as other lilies. Typically these lilies are white trumpet-shaped flowers, often used in wedding bouquets.

Oriental: These flowers are also popular as cut flowers. They come in a variety of colours, although one of the most well-known versions of the oriental lily is one with a white and pink combination, sometimes freckled with dark-coloured spots.

Martagon: These hybrids are an interesting type of lily whose flowers actually face downward. Because these blooms can thrive in areas with a moderate amount of shade, they are often grown in wooded areas of a garden. It can take some time for them to become established, but once they do, they can flourish for years.

Asiatic: These lilies are probably the easiest to grow, and of all the classifications of lilies, they are also the most diverse in colour, ranging from white or light pink to deep plum colours.

 

Sending a bouquet of these delightful blooms has never been easier with the Internet companies like aryanflorist.com, you can take your pick online for lilies and send flowers to India, the U.K., the U.S. , or wherever your loved ones live.  The above mentioned flowers are also popular in gardens since many lily hybrids can be easily grown and enjoyed for many years.

 

 

 

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Latest Fashion and Swimwear for the Beach

May 30th, 2011 admin

When the weather warms up and everyone is ready to head out on holiday or for a cruise, it is time to pick up some great swimwear before all the best selection is sold out—there is a diverse array of choices ranging from simple one-piece suits to designer bikinis. Best of all, the variety in selection means that there is a swimsuit out there to flatter every figure.

Even basic one-piece women’s swimwear is more daring as of late, with plunging necklines and halter tops that draw the eye upward for women who want to divert attention from their hips or stomach. There is even the keyhole style, which already includes a low neckline and has another hole just below the neckline, revealing a small part of the stomach.  The latest, trendy and stylish range of swimwear from Cocolush online bikini shop is now available for Spring/Summer 2011.

One of the most recent ladies’ swimwear fashion trends is the cut away swimsuit. These are really interesting swimwear choices because they are so diverse in the ways that the swimsuit is cut. Some are perfectly symmetrical, with a thin strip of fabric going between the top and bottom and cutting away at both sides, while others cut away on just one side.

It is unlikely that the two-piece suit will never go out of style, but the fashions are constantly changing: today’s latest bikinis include an assortment of separates, such as halter tops, bandeaus, and boy shorts. If you are planning to put together separates that do not necessarily match one another, the best way to coordinate is to choose one solid and one print—for example, a solid top with a striped bottom. Two different print types for the top and bottom, such as a tropical print top and a striped bottom, can clash even if the pieces are similar in colour.

Along the same lines, some designer swimwear companies sell mix-and-match pieces for a specific type of swimsuit. Each piece is the same colour or print, but the cuts are different. For example, if you want boy shorts and a halter bikini top, then you can choose those two rather than having to settle for a two-piece suit that does not have the top or bottom that you prefer.

Choosing a fashionable and flattering swimsuit can be overwhelming given the amount of choices available, but by knowing the latest fashions in swimwear, you can get a good idea of where to start in your search.

 

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