Sunday, March 29, 2009

Women's Bathing Suits To Suit All Shapes

Shopping for women’s bathing suits can be a daunting task because most women believe that bathing suits compliment only those with the perfect hourglass figure. This is not so. If you consider that very few have perfect figures, then you’ll realize that there are many swimsuit options that can look great with your own body type.

You have the option of wearing one- or two-piece suits if you have large hips, but you should wear solid colors on the bottom to add more emphasis to the top part of the body. Remember that high-cut legs emphasize the hips, so try to buy low-cut legged suits.

If you are slightly overweight, try wearing string bikinis. However, string bikinis may not sustain strenuous physical activities so they are not very appropriate for women who play a lot of sports such as beach volleyball.

Wear medium to high-cut legs, and suits with wide straps if your shoulders and bust are broader than your hips, and emphasize on colors and textures on the bottom. Avoid plunging neck lines or mini bottoms and concentrate on square necks.

Streamlined skirt bathing suits look great on women with pear-shaped figures. Avoid any type of suits that reveal your thighs. The cut out bathing suit, on the other hand, is perfect for women with bigger waists.

Two-piece suits without a defined waist are great if you have an “H” shaped body. If you’re buying a one-piece suit, look for piping and princess seams that have the effect of giving you extra curves, and concentrate on bold colors. Also void solid-colored tanks.

As you can see, with a little thought to swim suit style, any body can look great on the beach or in the pool.

Bathing Suits provides detailed information about bathing suits, bikini bathing suits, kids' bathing suits, men's bathing suits and more. Bathing Suits is the sister site of Kids' Swimsuits.

Kids' Bathing Suits

Kids’ bathing suits now come in different styles and designs, with accessories and add-ons such as water shoes and sunglasses. But a lot of other important factors have to be taken into consideration when buying bathing suits for kids, not just the fashion or design.

Kids’ bathing suits such as wetsuits are good for slowing down heat loss from the child’s body: they are a must for kids who are into swimming, surfing or scuba-diving. For kids who scuba dive a lot, thermal suits with more heat loss protection are recommended because body metabolism of growing children operates at a higher rate than adults, which makes them lose their body heat faster. For younger ones, wetsuits that come along with built-in flotation devices are safest, even though the suits that don’t have these do provide a small degree of buoyancy too. For sun protection, bathing suits with ultra violet protective rash-guards should be considered.

If you’re planning to take your toddler to the beach or pool for a swim, don’t forget to buy a bathing suit that has an inbuilt floatation device. Progressive swim trainers, swim vests, bobbers and life jackets are also appropriate for younger kids. Big swimsuit companies like Speedo, Water Pals, and Aqua Sphere have some of the best floatation devices, including a number of assorted bathing suits for kids.

For infants who are still in the diaper mode, there are separate swim diapers for boys and girls. Sun hats are also good protection from the sun if you’re planning to take your baby outdoors for a swim.

So you can see that there are many kids’ swim suits in the market for all ages, water activities and fashion tastes.

Bathing Suits provides detailed information about bathing suits, bikini bathing suits, kids' bathing suits, men's bathing suits and more. Bathing Suits is the sister site of Kids' Swimsuits.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Dress Well, Look Great - 3 Simple Steps

Is it possible for a person to go from finding dressing a chore to doing it effortlessly? The answer is yes. For some, knowing how to dress well and look great is difficult. It is something that for them takes a lot of time and effort. While for others, who know the secrets to successful dressing, looking great daily is not only possible but easily accomplished.

Knowing how to choose clothes that bring out our assets is not something we are born knowing. However, some of us are fortunate enough to learn early from parents, relatives or friends. For those who did not have someone to learn from, all is not lost.

Effortless dressing is something that can be learned if you take the time. Why should you learn? Why is looking your best important? The reasons are simple. We feel better when we know we look our best and people react to us in a more positive manner when we look good. This old cliché is still true, ‘ you only get one chance to make a good first impression’. This is especially true when how you look affects if you get the job, the promotion or the date. It is not fair that we are judged on how we look but since we can’t control it, the only other alternative is to go with it.

Being well dressed involves knowing yourself - your lifestyle, your best colors, your best clothing styles, best hairstyles and so much more. However, if you pay attention to the following three steps you will be on your way to looking great.

1. Keep clothes wrinkle-free. No matter how expensive your clothes are or how well they fit if they are wrinkled you will lose all credibility. Take care of your clothing by keeping them well pressed and hang them to prevent wrinkles. Before you buy pants, skirts or blouses check to see how easily they wrinkle by taking a little of the fabric in your hand and squeezing for two seconds. If it wrinkles don’t buy it.

2. The perfect fit. Clothes that fit well will make you appear slimmer and present a more polished look. It is amazing how much difference an inch taken off or added in a certain place can make. Why nip and tuck your body when you can nip and tuck your clothes and get the same result?

3. Grooming. A neat, fashionable hairstyle, subtle makeup and good overall grooming are the final touches to a well-dressed look.

A polished look can be yours every day, if you dedicate a little time and effort up front to learn about yourself and how to choose the right styles and colors. It’s the first step to investing in you.

©Copyright 2006 Sheila Dicks

Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe consultant who helps women feel more confident by dressing to suit their body type. To get tips on how to dress slimmer and find your best styles get a copy of her ebook “Image Makeover” at http://www.how-to-dress.com or go to http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to get the Free Report “ 7 Things Your Girlfriends Won’t Tell You About Beauty and Fashion”.

Are You Considering a Career in Fashion Design

More and more young people are choosing fashion design when they are quizzed about their future choice in a career and who can blame them. A career in fashion design means having a great job creating clothing concepts that will influence the way that people look all over the planet. One thing that many people are not aware of, is that top designers have a way of making it all look so easy when in fact they have put in years of work and study to get to the pinnacle that they are at.

To be successful at fashion design, one must be able to do a wide variety of tasks well including drawing, selecting colors and fabric types and sewing just to name a few things that a good designer must do well. Another thing that a good designer must have is vision, because the designs that they create have to be a year ahead of the popular trends in fashion.

This is because, what you see on the racks in clothing stores this spring were actually thought up over a year ago. This is when the designer first began to sketch designs and try to imagine what they will actually look like when than are finally constructed. It takes a full year for a designer to design and create a line of clothing and if the designer is wrong on which direction that they predicted fashion would take they will be out of business.

If you are considering fashion design as a career choice then now is the time to start your studies by learning to sketch your ideas. Sketching is a great way to work out idea concepts without having to go through the time and expense of actually constructing anything. Also, it is important to remember that the only way that you are going to communicate your ideas in fashion is with sketches.

Written by Shasta Cohen. Find the latest information on a BCBG Black Dress as well as BCBG Purses.

Fishing In Hong Kong - If You Are Looking For Reel Fun

Ever get tired of fishing at the same old spot? Are you one of those fishing enthusiasts who has to try out the local waters no matter where you travel?

Try fishing in China! You may not know it, but Hong Kong is famous for being an excellent fishing location. While the family is out shopping and seeing the sites, you can enjoy your favorite sport in new, exotic waters. You'll never forget the fishing in China adventure!

Hong Kong was a gem in Great Britain's colonial crown from 1852 until its 1997 when its sovereignty was transferred to the People's Republic of China. Though it's part of China, Hong Kong will have much autonomy for 50 years, until 2047. It's a favorite vacation location, offering spectacular architecture, sophisticated culture, and surrounded by fantastic natural beauty.

Hong Kong offers unlimited tourism attractions - exciting night life, busy exotic markets, and some of the best fishing in the world. Located on the Pacific Coast, Hong Kong is surrounded by ocean, making for excellent salt water fishing. And Victoria Harbor hosts many islands and smaller natural harbors that are home to a wide variety of fish species. Popular fishing harbors include Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Hong Kong Island.

Being an ocean port, Hong Kong offers excellent salt water fishing. Fish are plentiful throughout the harbors. And even in this highly populated area, you can find quiet peaceful fishing on the peninsula of Stanley. Stanley contains an open-air market where your family can find an amazing array of inexpensive Chinese clothing, souvenirs, arts, and crafts while you enjoy fishing in Hong Kong. You can fish off one of the beautiful Stanley beaches.

Local anglers say some of the best fishing in Hong Kong can be found at Lamma Island and the Sai Kung peninsula. These scenic spots recall traditional Chinese fishing villages, and you can find dependable charter boats. You can get to Sai Kung by car, taxi, or bus. Lamma Island is a short boat-ride southwest of Hong Kong Island. The ride costs from $25 to $50 US. Lamma Island is a great spot for rock fishing.

Salt water fishing in Hong Kong is like salt water fishing everywhere. Use your old familiar techniques or try deep sea fishing from a boat or surf fishing. You can also do plenty of fresh water fishing in Hong Kong. Nearby reservoirs offer carp, Big Head Tilapia, and edible Goldfish.

If you're planning a trip to China, you'll find some great fishing in Hong Kong. The area is full of wonderful sights and sounds. Tourists find and endless supply of attractions, so your family will never get bored waiting for you to bring home your catch. The surrounding area is spectacularly beautiful, and fishing in Hong Kong is an adventure you'll never forget.

Abhishek is an avid Fishing enthusiast and he has got some great Fishing Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 116 Page Ebook, "Fishing Mastery!" from his website http://www.Fishing-Masters.com/772/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Bamboo Clothing - The Secret To Healthy Fashion

From a fashion point of view, the thought of bamboo clothing probably won't inspire images of beautiful models walking down some of the world's most famous catwalks. Not yet anyway.
If the current trend towards bamboo clothing continues then yes, it may not be long before some of the most fashionable clothes are made from bamboo material.
So what are the benefits of bamboo clothing? In this article, we'll give you at least seven main benefits to consider bamboo as an alternative material to cotton, wool and some of the more popular synthethic fibers.
Benefits of Bamboo Clothing
1. It's fashionable. Yes, consider the feel of silk combined with the strength and durability of the toughest jeans material and it won't hurt you in the hip pocket.
2. A great alternative to cotton. In fact, there is a war brewing at the moment as bamboo lays down the gauntlet to cotton. It's been described as the cotton of the 21st century and for good reason. It has superior anti-bacterial qualities and is extremely moisture absorbent.
3. It's very versatile. Bamboo fiber breathes better than it's rivals and more importantly, regulates temperatures extremely well. In fact, it's versatility means it can adapt to both cool and warm climates. It's ability to evaporate perspiration has both personal and hygienge benefits. In other words, odor is eliminated very effectively.
4. It's durability means it can withstand tough wash cycles as well as adapting to home driers. It's able to release soil and stain more effectively than it's counterpart materials.
5. Those who suffer from skin irritations will appreciate it's ability organic nature. In a nutshell, because it's organic skin irritations are almost a non-issue and for those who spend a good part of their lives out in the sun, it's ability to resist UV rays makes it a natural choice clothing in sunny conditions.
6. Because of bamboo's ability to resist disease means no harmful chemical spraying is required in it's natural growing state unlike cotton, which means less chance of allergic reaction.
7. Environmentally, bamboo clothing is hard to beat because of the renewable and sustainable nature of the plant.
Want to know more about the benefits of bamboo clothing? Get the latest tips and tricks on shopping for bamboo products including shades and bamboo wood flooring.

Wear Organic Clothing

The world in which we live in is an ever changing place. Everything is changing, from our homes, the buildings we work in and now our clothing. Organic Clothing has become a multi-billion dollar business. Some people have yet to realize this.
What do we mean by organic clothing? Clothes that are made from materials that are grown and not man made are considered to be organic. Materials that are organically grown don't harm the earth, water or the air we breathe. They are considered safe for the eco-system. What's the term used these days - "green".
What are the benefits of Organic Clothing? The clothing industry tends to pollute more than any other industry. Pesticides are used more often on cotton because it's not a food product. The pesticides have a tendency to pollute the water supply in the nearby towns. While farming organically promotes a clean environment. Organic clothing will contain no harmful materials or dyes.
Where can I buy organic clothing? There is a vast majority of marketers of organic clothing. The big department stores just recently started carrying their own brands of organic clothing. You can find specialty vendors online, they tend to carry the more hard to find items like bamboo towels. Organic clothing does tend to be a bit pricier than traditional clothing. You can buy hangers for your organic clothing made from newspapers. Currently most of your vendors are online. It will be a little while longer before you start seeing them in your local neighborhood.
What are they made of? Even though cotton is very popular, organic clothing is made of a variety of materials. These materials include hemp, wool and bamboo. Organic cotton is not like traditional cotton. Harmful chemicals and pesticides are not used in the process. In fact in order to get the label as being organic there is a strict set of rules that must be adhered to through out the entire process.
Is it comfortable to wear? Most organic clothing are smoother to the touch. Organic cotton is softer, kinder and feels better on the skin than traditional cotton. Bamboo pulp has s smoothness to it very similar to silk. Soy fibers have a smoothness too, very much like cashmere. People who suffer from allergies may find relief with organic clothing.
Today's society is a throwaway society. Here in America we produce more waste than any other country in the world. We like and prefer convenience. We all tend to take the easy way out. But, there is an ever increasing part of our population that is taking the other way. They are going green. The green revolution will not happen overnight, because habits are hard to break. As we start to see these changes taking place, more and more families are starting to revert back to the cloth diapers instead of the disposable version. Many parents are seeking out organic clothing for themselves and their families. These parents should consider dressing their children (and themselves) in organic cotton or hemp.
For a wide variety and wonderful selection of organic clothing, feel free to browse our website located at: http://www.green-uk.co.uk

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Fishing In Hong Kong - If You Are Looking For Reel Fun

Ever get tired of fishing at the same old spot? Are you one of those fishing enthusiasts who has to try out the local waters no matter where you travel?
Try fishing in China! You may not know it, but Hong Kong is famous for being an excellent fishing location. While the family is out shopping and seeing the sites, you can enjoy your favorite sport in new, exotic waters. You'll never forget the fishing in China adventure!
Hong Kong was a gem in Great Britain's colonial crown from 1852 until its 1997 when its sovereignty was transferred to the People's Republic of China. Though it's part of China, Hong Kong will have much autonomy for 50 years, until 2047. It's a favorite vacation location, offering spectacular architecture, sophisticated culture, and surrounded by fantastic natural beauty.
Hong Kong offers unlimited tourism attractions - exciting night life, busy exotic markets, and some of the best fishing in the world. Located on the Pacific Coast, Hong Kong is surrounded by ocean, making for excellent salt water fishing. And Victoria Harbor hosts many islands and smaller natural harbors that are home to a wide variety of fish species. Popular fishing harbors include Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Hong Kong Island.
Being an ocean port, Hong Kong offers excellent salt water fishing. Fish are plentiful throughout the harbors. And even in this highly populated area, you can find quiet peaceful fishing on the peninsula of Stanley. Stanley contains an open-air market where your family can find an amazing array of inexpensive Chinese clothing, souvenirs, arts, and crafts while you enjoy fishing in Hong Kong. You can fish off one of the beautiful Stanley beaches.
Local anglers say some of the best fishing in Hong Kong can be found at Lamma Island and the Sai Kung peninsula. These scenic spots recall traditional Chinese fishing villages, and you can find dependable charter boats. You can get to Sai Kung by car, taxi, or bus. Lamma Island is a short boat-ride southwest of Hong Kong Island. The ride costs from $25 to $50 US. Lamma Island is a great spot for rock fishing.
Salt water fishing in Hong Kong is like salt water fishing everywhere. Use your old familiar techniques or try deep sea fishing from a boat or surf fishing. You can also do plenty of fresh water fishing in Hong Kong. Nearby reservoirs offer carp, Big Head Tilapia, and edible Goldfish.
If you're planning a trip to China, you'll find some great fishing in Hong Kong. The area is full of wonderful sights and sounds. Tourists find and endless supply of attractions, so your family will never get bored waiting for you to bring home your catch. The surrounding area is spectacularly beautiful, and fishing in Hong Kong is an adventure you'll never forget.
Abhishek is an avid Fishing enthusiast and he has got some great Fishing Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 116 Page Ebook, "Fishing Mastery!" from his website http://www.Fishing-Masters.com/772/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Gothic Clothing for Fun

Are you ready to put a different type of style into your life? If you are into punk gothic clothing is going to be the type of clothing that will fit your style. for the cuts, the off the shoulder looks, and the inclusion of leather in your clothing, gothic clothing is going to set your style, set you out from the crowd, and put you in the scene you want to be in.
Gothic clothing uses a look that includes what some people feel is a sexy, sleek, and wild look. Not everyone is going to dress in a suit and tie for work, and if you are not in that group, consider gothic clothing to set your mood for fun all day and all night long. Gothic clothing is based on the use of tight corsets, tight clothing, leathers, the look of chains and an overall style that is different from many other types of designers and styles that are available.
Most gothic clothing is not available in retail stores offline. You can occasionally find a gothic clothing store offline, but in larger cities. Prices for gothic clothing are going to be a bit higher, as you are purchasing a specialty item, one that will take you back in time to a point where costumes where a daily habit, and the costumes wear worn by those who had the most power in that time, and the most wisdom.
Gothic clothing often times represents a more animal looking side to life. The animal prints of the leopard and the tiger are often times very popular with the gothic clothing you can find for sale online. The tiger prints in bold yellow, black, and sometimes in white with black are popular as gifts, for wearing, and to set your wardrobe out among the rest. Leopard prints in red, white, black and sometimes in yellow are exciting additions for those who want to have the gothic clothing feel extended in their life.
Gothic clothing purchases can be completed online. You can find many gothic clothing retailers online, from different countries that are going to add that something special to your wardrobe, and that others in your friendly circle are not going to have. You can mix and match gothic clothing to include pants, shirts, shorts, tops, tanks, and neckwear or head gear that is fabulous compared to the boring type of suits and outfits that are available through other retailers. The gothic clothing lines are exciting, sexy, and sultry, setting your own style to be one that will make you a step above the rest in your crowd. If you are in the rock scene, in the punk scene or if you are a partygoer, you are going to love what you can find online in the gothic clothing sections.
Copyright 2006 - Ivar Rudi. Ivar suggests you find great market for less by shopping online today. For more information and resources about this subject check out: http://www.gothic-clothing.biz/ and also http://www.mini-skirt.info/

Monday, March 23, 2009

Theme Parties

Parties were always a large part of my childhood when I was growing up in Michigan. My mother would throw birthday parties for my three sisters, brother and myself. We had at least seven birthday parties every year for our family. We also had Christmas and New Years parties, family picnics and other special occasions. Our guests reciprocated, and invited us to their parties. Needless to say, we had or attended at least a dozen parties every year.
I remember that I couldn't wait for the next party, especially my own. My mother would invite my aunts and uncles and I had an opportunity to see my grandparents and my cousins. My mother would cook some of my favorite dishes that she served to our guests. She also baked a birthday cake and served it with ice cream and coffee for the adults and soda for the kids.
The food was always wonderful. It was great seeing my aunts and uncles and playing with my cousins. Most importantly, I couldn't wait to open up my birthday presents. It was exciting to open my birthday cards and to open my presents. I loved getting gifts, new clothes and toys. The parties were always greatly anticipated and were always a lot of fun. However, they were always the same. I can still remember removing the candles and pink hard sugar "H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y" letters from the top of my cake, removing the icing, and saving them for the next party. We never considered or thought about changing the party format. But, why not step out of the ordinary and raise your parties up to another level of fun and excitement.
It wasn't until much later in my adult married life that I evolved to accept the concept of themed parties. I remember eating dinner at a Chinese restaurant during the Chinese New Year. The wait staff celebrated by dressing in red Chinese robes, and the owners put on a show with a colorful Chinese dragon and firecrackers. I was very excited and decided to have my own Chinese New Years party the following year.
The subsequent party was simple and fun. I prepared a menu of sample items including chop suey, fried rice, egg drop soup, sweet and sour chicken, noodles, egg rolls and tea. I distributed it to my guests and asked each to bring one of the items. I also asked them to wear "Chinese" clothing. I decorated with a red table cloth and Chinese restaurant place mats. I put up some paper lamps, parasols, and fans. I played Chinese music, and the guests all tried to eat with chop sticks. Everyone, enjoyed sampling the variety of foods, listening to the music, eating fortune cookies and having their pictures taken in their costumes. I was on my way. I would never have an ordinary party again.
My sister lives on the water front. She enjoyed having Tropical Hawaiian Luau Parties. She decorated with flowers and banners. She purchased Hawaiian print dinner and desert plates, cups and napkins. Food consisted of bar BQ hamburgers, hot dogs, salad and potato salad. She played Hawaiian music and had the guests participating in limbo rock games. Guests wore Hawaiian style clothing, brought Hawaiian style dishes and refreshments. Moreover, the guests were expecting to have fun and were willing to role play to make the theme work.
I also had a Hawaiian tropical pool party. One of my friends once lived in Hawaii and studied Hula dancing. She added another dimension to the party by teaching the women and the men various Hula moves. We live in Florida so there are plenty of flowers and palm trees. My sisters gathered flowers and palm fronds. They made beautiful decorations and centerpieces. They also greeted guests by creating a tunnel of palms when they walked through the front door.
Our French party maintained a French theme. However, we took it to the next level by building our own Eifel tower decorated with white Christmas lights. We took night photos of our guests with the lighted tower in the background. Another friend is an artist. She drew personal caricatures of the guests on large drawing pads. Again the guests left with something special, a souvenir, to help them remember your theme party for a long long time.
The choice is yours. You can have a ho-hum party. Or, with little more planning, you can have an involving theme party that excites your guests and makes them want to have fun and participate in your party. Here is the formula: Select a theme. Find decorations, music and table ware that support the theme, decide the entrees and deserts that are theme related, invite guests that will excitedly take part and share in the success of the party with food, decorations, costumes etc. Add a surprise. This could include a photographer, a caricaturist, party games, karaoke, a singer, door prizes. Let your imagination run free.
C. Skiba, Miss Party Star, developed "12 Secrets to a Super EZ Party" from her years of experience as a party planner. She is the webmaster and co-owner of SUPERBIRTHDAYSUPPLY.COM and SUPERPARTYSUPPLY.COM

Theme Parties

Parties were always a large part of my childhood when I was growing up in Michigan. My mother would throw birthday parties for my three sisters, brother and myself. We had at least seven birthday parties every year for our family. We also had Christmas and New Years parties, family picnics and other special occasions. Our guests reciprocated, and invited us to their parties. Needless to say, we had or attended at least a dozen parties every year.
I remember that I couldn't wait for the next party, especially my own. My mother would invite my aunts and uncles and I had an opportunity to see my grandparents and my cousins. My mother would cook some of my favorite dishes that she served to our guests. She also baked a birthday cake and served it with ice cream and coffee for the adults and soda for the kids.
The food was always wonderful. It was great seeing my aunts and uncles and playing with my cousins. Most importantly, I couldn't wait to open up my birthday presents. It was exciting to open my birthday cards and to open my presents. I loved getting gifts, new clothes and toys. The parties were always greatly anticipated and were always a lot of fun. However, they were always the same. I can still remember removing the candles and pink hard sugar "H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y" letters from the top of my cake, removing the icing, and saving them for the next party. We never considered or thought about changing the party format. But, why not step out of the ordinary and raise your parties up to another level of fun and excitement.
It wasn't until much later in my adult married life that I evolved to accept the concept of themed parties. I remember eating dinner at a Chinese restaurant during the Chinese New Year. The wait staff celebrated by dressing in red Chinese robes, and the owners put on a show with a colorful Chinese dragon and firecrackers. I was very excited and decided to have my own Chinese New Years party the following year.
The subsequent party was simple and fun. I prepared a menu of sample items including chop suey, fried rice, egg drop soup, sweet and sour chicken, noodles, egg rolls and tea. I distributed it to my guests and asked each to bring one of the items. I also asked them to wear "Chinese" clothing. I decorated with a red table cloth and Chinese restaurant place mats. I put up some paper lamps, parasols, and fans. I played Chinese music, and the guests all tried to eat with chop sticks. Everyone, enjoyed sampling the variety of foods, listening to the music, eating fortune cookies and having their pictures taken in their costumes. I was on my way. I would never have an ordinary party again.
My sister lives on the water front. She enjoyed having Tropical Hawaiian Luau Parties. She decorated with flowers and banners. She purchased Hawaiian print dinner and desert plates, cups and napkins. Food consisted of bar BQ hamburgers, hot dogs, salad and potato salad. She played Hawaiian music and had the guests participating in limbo rock games. Guests wore Hawaiian style clothing, brought Hawaiian style dishes and refreshments. Moreover, the guests were expecting to have fun and were willing to role play to make the theme work.
I also had a Hawaiian tropical pool party. One of my friends once lived in Hawaii and studied Hula dancing. She added another dimension to the party by teaching the women and the men various Hula moves. We live in Florida so there are plenty of flowers and palm trees. My sisters gathered flowers and palm fronds. They made beautiful decorations and centerpieces. They also greeted guests by creating a tunnel of palms when they walked through the front door.
Our French party maintained a French theme. However, we took it to the next level by building our own Eifel tower decorated with white Christmas lights. We took night photos of our guests with the lighted tower in the background. Another friend is an artist. She drew personal caricatures of the guests on large drawing pads. Again the guests left with something special, a souvenir, to help them remember your theme party for a long long time.
The choice is yours. You can have a ho-hum party. Or, with little more planning, you can have an involving theme party that excites your guests and makes them want to have fun and participate in your party. Here is the formula: Select a theme. Find decorations, music and table ware that support the theme, decide the entrees and deserts that are theme related, invite guests that will excitedly take part and share in the success of the party with food, decorations, costumes etc. Add a surprise. This could include a photographer, a caricaturist, party games, karaoke, a singer, door prizes. Let your imagination run free.
C. Skiba, Miss Party Star, developed "12 Secrets to a Super EZ Party" from her years of experience as a party planner. She is the webmaster and co-owner of SUPERBIRTHDAYSUPPLY.COM and SUPERPARTYSUPPLY.COM

Loss Of Chinese Textile Exporters In The US Is India's Gain

Limitations ordered by the U.S. over textile exports of China within the first half of 2006 has benefited other countries with active textile exporters. The U.S., as the world's biggest trading economy, began importing its textile needs from other exporters. The Indian textile industry is among the major textile exporters to benefit from these restrictions judging from the increase of its profits in the U.S. Although China is fast becoming another economic giant, its administrative body cautioned its own textile export industry of possible decrease or growth slow down for the rest of 2006.
The Chinese export industry reportedly generated a meager $8.23 billion in sales of textile exports for the months of January to July. This is a decrease of 76 percent compared to the textile sales posted last year. The year 2006 is marked as the only year when the Chinese textile exporters suffered this much loss. The Communist country attributed these losses to the U.S.-imposed restrictions. Conversely, Indian exports reportedly registered an increase of 18 percent within the same time period.
It can be recalled that Indian Textile Minister Sankersinh Vaghela has expressed optimism about the chances of his country's textile exporters against indomitable competitors like China. Vaghela had clearly foreseen the effects of the U.S. restrictions on one of his country's main rivals in the textile industry. With its improving textile economy, India has projected plans to exceed the set fiscal target of 19.7 billion for the fiscal year 2006 to 2007. This is an increase of more than two billion in profits. The bulk of this excess is credited to Indian textile industry which is projected to reach the $40 billion mark by 2010. Plans to upgrade the country's manufacturing community through building integrated textile manufacturing parks are underway with a projected budget of Rs.1.4 trillion.
The restrictions imposed on China's clothing industry were founded over concerns by the E.U. and the U.S. that Chinese exporters may stifle competition in the textile industry. China has been accused of unfair trade practices because of its tendency to swamp markets with cheap clothing and surplus textile products. This behavior of the Chinese textile industry was traced to the lifting of the quota system, which limits global textile sales of countries. The lifting of the quota system was soon followed by an unprecedented increase in Chinese global textile exports. By imposing the restrictions, the U.S. economy is attempting to prevent the advance of a new world capitalist. By limiting China's access to the U.S. market, China's capitalist streak is controlled.
China has sought a compromise with the two capitalist powers and both has already reached agreements with China and its exporters regarding the issue. The U.S. signed a trade agreement with the Communist nation that will hopefully help resolve the dispute. This agreement, which allows Chinese clothing exporters a rise of an initial 8-10% this year, will undoubtedly have an effect on India's own clothing exports. This is a development that the Indian nation should closely monitor.
For more valuable information on Importer directory, please visit http://www.toboc.com

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Chinese New Year Spectacular Showcases the Fashion of Ancient China

The NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular has entered its fourth season. Its theme of Myths and Legends weaves a tale of the proverbial battle between good and evil through theatre, music and dance.
The Spectacular has drawn a lot of attention in recent years for its theatrical costumes and themes revolving around ancient times; inspiring and impressing audiences of all ages with its natural style and bright presentation. Each character’s appearance is vividly portrayed and expressed through their costume.
Modern design has a theory for every detail, including color balancing and dynamics. Ancient people did not have such theories. Beauty and virtue were the general principles of their designs. As long as it looks comfortable and harmonious then it is acceptable. The design group for the NTDTV Spectacular applied modern esthetics to recover and recreate the history. They further emphasized the balancing of harmony and contrast based on beauty.
These costumes were designed strictly according to the records in ancient books and paintings to re-display the Chinese traditional clothing and culture as accurately as possible to the audience. One reference was The History of Chinese Clothing. The book was compiled from the research of archaeological findings by a group of senior scholars of Shanghai Universities and Colleges.
A more direct source of blueprints was the frescoes in the Dunhuang cave, a treasure house of Chinese culture. All the way from the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, paintings were added in each historical period and much of the clothing found on the characters was representative of the typical clothing in each time period. Besides Dunhuang, the designs were also referenced from sculptures, the jade carvings and household utensils from ancient times.
In the period just before the Tang Dynasty, people’s lives were very turbulent, most notably due to the wars during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. This is expressed through the flowers on the clothing, which looked relatively rough.
During the Tang Dynasty, the economy was good and society was stable. The flowers on the clothing were full, magnificent, and serene; the decorative patterns exuded elegance. Garments with big sleeves were most common during the Tang Dynasty. The outer garments were transparent, and the inner garments carried a low neckline. The hairstyles were varied; a woman’s hair could drag along the ground if not combed. The Tang Dynasty’s poetry and literature were full of imagination and the Chinese people were also very broadminded. Their clothing reflected this by being very open and broad. The clothing also absorbed elements from other cultures through frequent contact with the regions in the west, India and other Asian countries; Persian designs were also very popular.
Ancient clothing was not limited to only a few styles for each period. The big sleeves, for example, changed both in detail and color from the golden age of the Tang to the late Tang. The design must take into account the specific point in history. The size of the sleeve is also designed according to the era, with base colors designed from the most original findings.
The linings of the costumes were mostly from China in order to make things authentic, as one could tell with a glance that it was a foreign product if linings from other countries were used. The designers for the Spectacular are presenting the beauty of the Chinese traditional culture found within the Chinese traditional clothing.
The costume designers follow a principle: to make something responsible for and representative of society while respecting legitimate culture instead of something to stimulate the senses. Therefore, the designs must be in accordance with what is recorded from history. Everything from the hairstyles to the hats were all designed based on historical data throughout the entire artistic process.
Shi Wei is a Chinese History student living in the US. For more info about the NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular in your city/area, please visit: http://shows.ntdtv.com http://www.ntdtv.com

Clothing of Asia

Asia is the largest continent of the world with its 17,300,000 sq. miles area. The continent comprises of a number of countries and each country varies from the other in terms of its culture, habits, tradition and fashion. It will be a Herculean task, rather an impossible one to bring Asia and its culture under one roof. It is so vast and variegated that all the words of expression would fall short for it. So it will be wise enough to concentrate on only one of the aspects at aimed, selecting only a few countries. When we think of Asia, the name of the countries lurk into our mind are Japan, India and China. So let us concentrate on the traditional attires of these countries and find out how these traditional wear are getting infiltrated into the modern fashion trend.
India: Being an Indian, I know Indian culture and tradition better than any other foreign country. So I would definitely like to talk about our traditional clothing first. India is a country with as many as 29 states and each state has its own way of robes. But as far as the national dress is concerned it is identified with 'sari'. It is attire for women only. A 'sari' is nothing but a long rectangular piece of cloth about 5 to 9m in length. It is worn without any fastening, pins or buttons. The tightly fitted blouse worn under sari is known as 'choli' and the final length of the saris hanging from the women's shoulder is called 'pallu'. The style, color, texture of a sari varies from one another. It may be printed, embroidered, stone and mirror embedded et al. The material of sari can be cotton, silk, synthetic or man many more things. Besides its color and design, the most striking and charming feature about the sari is that it is not cut or tailored for any particular size and can fit any women. There are several ways of wearing a sari; and its manner of draping as well as its color and texture indicate the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman.
Beside sari, there are many other dresses that are worn by Indian women like 'salwar kameez', 'lehanga', churidar etc. A 'kameez' is a long tunic worn over 'pyjama' which is like a loose fitted trousers. A tight-fitted pant is known as 'churidar'.A pleated skirt is called a 'lehanga'. Some traditional garments for men are 'kurta', 'lungi', 'dhoti' and 'pyjama'. 'kurta' is like a long top while 'lungi 'and 'dhoti' are apiece of cloth that is draped around the waist. 'pyjama'is the pants worn under the 'kurta'. A collarless khadi jacket is also popular among men. But most of the India men, unlike women, wear the conventional western clothes. A majority of women in India wear 'sari' though some urban women love and feel comfortable in western dresses.
Throughout the country there are many religious and regional variations in the costumes, such as Rajasthani women wear embroidered, mirrored and the tie-dye materials while in Arunachal Pradesh women are found draping home-spun long woolen skirts.
Indian dressing style is thus marked by many variations-both religious and regional; and one is likely to witness an abundance of colors, textures and style in garments of India.
Japan: The clothing of Edo period (1601-1867AD) comes into one's mind when asked about Japanese traditional clothing. This consists of the basic pieces like 'kimono', 'obi' and 'hakama'. The Japanese clothing is as simple as it is complex and elegant. The building block of Japanese traditional clothing begins with the "kimono'. During Edo period, this become an outer garment and was made up of all kinds fabrics. Before and during Edo period, fabric was class oriented, silk was reserved by the for the upper class people. All adult 'kimono' are cut into 8 pieces from 1 roll of cloth about 36cm, 14 inches wide and 11m long. The seams are cut straight and always the same width regardless of the wearer's size, so cloth is left over. Any extra length was tucked under or over the 'obi' depending on the gender. 'Kimono' is simple in design and there is no fasteners used to hold the 'kimono', close. 'Kimono' is designed according to age, social status and gender. Just as a married woman would wear a 'kimono' made out of darker fabrics and with shorter sleeves than a young unmarried girl. Under the 'kimono', the lighter 'kimono' is called 'Nagajuban'. An 'Han-eri'(a scarf like collar) is worn between kimono and neck. Some other dresses worn by them are 'Yukatabira'(light and loose fitting robes), 'Happi'( a short coat), 'Kamishino'(two piece costume), "Kataginu' etc. "Hakama' is like pants and has 7 folds that signifies 7 human qualities such as courage, humility, justice,chivalry, honesty, loyalty and prestige. During monsoon they wore jackets made up of straw. 'Cording', 'sashes' and 'obi' are used to close different types of jackets.
All Japanese clothes are wonderfully embroidered and crafted with beautiful fabric works. Clothes are highly decorative that includes family crests, animals, bamboo, flowers, branches etc.
China: The 'Pien-fu' is an ancient two piece ceremonial garment of a tunic like top extending to the kneesand a skirt or trousers extending to the ankles. In China, clothing indicated not only class gender difference but also ethnicity. Han Chinese and Manchu were two major ethnic groups in China who wore different cloths. The decorative band, appliquéd borders and richly variegated embellishment and embroidered design is one of the unique features of the traditional Chinese dress. 'He ch'ang-p'ao' is one-piece garment extending from the shoulders all the way to the heels. "Shen-I' is a cross between the 'pien-fu' and the 'ch'ang-p'ao'. It consists of a tunic and a skirt or trousers like the, 'pien-fu' but the tunic and the skirt are sewed together and essentially one piece like the 'ch'ang-pao' .Chinese clothing is not only an external expression but also an internal symbolism. Darker shades of color are preferred to lighter shades. Dresses with lighter color are worn by the people for daily use. Chinese associate few colors with seasons such as red stands for summer, black for winter, white for autumn and green for spring. They can be said to have fully developed a system of matching, coordinating and contrasting colors: and shades of light and dark in apparels.
Chinese clothing has a vitality of its own. It reflects a woman's modesty. Chinese traditional silk clothing almost varies with consistency which was roughly established by the era of the Yellow Emperor and the Emperor Yao and Shan. Remains of woven silk and hemp articles and ancient ceramic figures further demonstrate the sophistication and refinement of clothing in the Shan Dynasty. Orient dresses almost vary with a woman's figure. Mature women, in such attire can display their graceful and refined manner. In the 17thc in North China, a collarless tube shaped dresses were developed; they were the old ancestors of new dresses.
But this traditional Asian Clothing is seen slowly infiltrating into the modern and trendy fashion of the day. Various fashion designers have taken the approach of making dresses that people can wear everyday from the exotic treasures of Asian traditional attire.
'Saris', besides being the traditional attire of India, has become an inseparable part of today's fashion. Women worldwide now are experimenting by draping this elegant designer's creation of India. In many grand parties, women from other countries also, are seen wearing a gorgeous sari. Apparels like lehenga, choli, salwar kameez are already in the trend.
Black Japan printed floral Kimono wrap top, georgette geisha kimono, geisha blossom kimono top, Asia flutter top and so on are some of the other imports to modern fashion from Japan.
Clothing of Asia varies from one country to another. More importantly in a country from one region to other it varies significantly. But if you are closely following the trend across various Asian countries, you will find a certain pattern is followed everywhere. In one type of clothing a piece of cloth is draped which may be sari in India or kimono in Japan. The same trend is followed in Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and other Asian countries. In other trend a loose trouser like attire for lower limbs and a closed-chest coat like things for upper part are followed. Sometimes this top goes upto knee like kameez in India or ends at belly region. People who are near hilly region generally wear colorful and embroidered garments, while people in plain land prefer to remain simple. Asian clothing is wide, vast and has enormous ranges. Like the people of Asia these are colorful, smooth, silky and comfortable. And above all these are as attractive as Asian land.
Kanquona Bhattacharjee is a freelance writer and blogger. She has completed her post graduation in English from the University of Calcutta. She has some deep insight into social problems and often present these in front of the most strongest medium. Her personal website url is http://www.wertex.org/ She can be contacted at kanquona@wertex.org

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Formal and Informal Clothing - Japan and China

Japanese clothing is worn more to suit the seasons, these also differ with the wearers age, marital status or social standing. During springtime, bright and floral patterned Kimonos and clothes are worn; while in autumn, clothing resembles fall patterns. When it is winters, clothes with bamboo, pine tree or plum blossom pattern and design are worn which bring good luck and prosperity. Summers are the time to wear cotton clothes and winter clothing's heavily lined and layered.
Informal Japanese clothing would include any clothing, which features woven patterns or dyed clothing or repetitive patterns. The traditional cotton yukata or the summer Kimono, the woven cotton haori or the short silk jacket and dyed ikat kimono would be all informal clothing. These informal Japanese clothes would customarily only be worn as daily wear, to a bathhouse or for informal friend and family visits. Formal Japanese clothing is rather contrasting, either very elaborate or a simple elegant design is considered formal. The Uchikake or the wedding kimono and other kimonos with elegant designs, subdued colors or solid patterns would classify as formal Japanese clothing. These should be worn for paying formal visits, funerals, or by married women for weddings and formal occasions.
Japanese clothing is also distinguished by marital status and unmarried women wear brightly colored and richly patterned Kimonos with long sleeves. Some of these sleeves can even be as long as the women's ankle! Girls, as young as 19, would begin wearing these vibrant Kimonos. With the increase in age or change in marital status, the sleeves of the kimono would continue to get shorter.
Hanfu or the Han dynasty clothing is the most widely known Chinese ancient clothing. Inseparable from silk and worn by the legendary yellow emperor, the Hanfu has a history of more than three millennia. Chinese ancient clothing consisted mainly of robes with pants for men and skirts for women under them. Modern Chinese clothing is a western and ancient combination of chic dressing and auspicious symbolism.
The informal Chinese clothing would include tops and bottoms and one piece robes that wrapped once or more around the body. A typical set of Hanfu is two or three layered where the first layer is the undergarments or Zhongyi in white cotton or silk. The second layer is front closed clothing and an optional third layer can be the Zhao Shan or an overcoat. This attire could be made 'semi-formal' by adding to it a pleated skirt (Chang), a cloth panel added to the waist belt and a formal hat (Guan). Meeting a guest or going to meetings or a cultural day would encourage you to make it 'semi-formal'.
Formal Chinese clothing is reserved for special occasions like an important sacrifice or other religious activities or by special people like Emperors and officials. This includes the Xuanduan, a dark robe equivalent to the western black tie and a priest's full ceremonial dress called a Fusha. A lanshan was worn as an official or academical dress.
Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences. One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientchinaclothing.org

Chinese and Japanese Ancient Clothing

The Chinese were always a fashionable race and Chinese ancient clothing was largely influenced by all the dynasties which ruled it. The Han Chinese clothing or the Hanfu has the longest history of clothes worn. The Hanfu rules of dressing were followed strictly as a mark of respect for the culture. On the other hand, ancient Japanese clothing kept changing with every dynasty that ruled Japan. Since the Kimono is a national dress, it has always been mistaken for very ancient clothing worn by the Japanese people which is incorrect.
The basic design of the Ancient Chinese clothing Hanfu was largely developed during the Shang Dynasty. The Shang had two basic styles - the Yi which was the coat worn on top and the Shang whichwas the skirt worn beneath it. Buttons on any ancient Chinese clothing was substituted by a Sash. The clothing was in warm tones. The Zhou dynasty in western China varied in the sleeves being narrow as well as broad. The length of the skirt varied from knee length to the ankle and the different sizes and styles created a distinction between the people who wore them. Ancient Chinese clothing used minimal stitching on the garment and the use of embroidery and silk sashes to design the dresses.
Japanese ancient clothing was majorly influenced by Chinese clothing. Vigorous trade between Japan and its continental neighbors brought in Chinese dresses and styles into Japan during the Han Dynasty. The Tang styles and Sui dynasty from China influenced clothing in Japan while it was developing from a collection of loose clans to an Empire. All robes in Japan were to be worn from left to right just like the Chinese. Right to left was considered barbaric in China and the 'left over right' became the conventional rule of wearing a Kimono ever since. During the Heian period (894 specifically), Chinese influence began dying out and Chinese characters began being abbreviated in Japanese script. The Heian court was taken to sensitivity of art and subtle beauty and wardrobe became much more detailed. Colors, combinations and fabric textures changed and separated themselves from Chinese influence.
After the Heian period, the Kamakura period saw a number of clashes and war clans within Japan. The ancient Japanese clothing soon underwent another change and now clothes became more functional. The number of layers and broad sleeved clothes were shunned for more usable clothing. Soon the imperial land split into a southern and northern court and these people's lives got influenced by the soft court life. Fights resumed and the gradual decadence is obvious in the elaborate dresses of the period. Women had stopped wearing the Hakama and the robes were lengthened to ankle level. Veils and robes over the head were some strange ways experimented and worn during this time.
Japanese ancient clothing was mainly robes and most of the patterns and designs were religious and auspicious. Dragons were printed with nine yellow dragons and five cloud patterns. These heavily embroidered robes were won by the emperors and were auspicious for the wearer. The Cheongsam was another one piece dress adorned by ancient Chinese women. It had a high neck with a closed collar and short or medium sleeves. Buttoned on sides with a fitted waist, it had slits going up from the sides and complemented their figures.
Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences.
One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientjapaneseclothing.org

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Are Chinese and Japanese Ancient Clothing Similar?

Ancient Japanese clothing is often mistaken as the 'Kimono'. The word kimono simply means 'thing to wear' and it is a modern term coined when Japan was pressurized to name a national costume. Though what is call a Kimono today is somewhat similar the clothing of ancient Japan. The long, narrow garment worn now tied with an Obi, or a Sash around the waist, was a look achieved around the Edo period (17th to 19th century).
Japan was a collection of loosely tied clans and while Japan aspired to become an Empire, it had increased trade with China. With the advent of trade, came Chinese dress materials and style of clothing. Ti will hence be safe to assume that ancient Japanese clothing was largely influenced by ancient Chinese clothing. By 718, the clothing codes had restrictions entirely influenced by china. The influence of china on ancient Japan was no less than a military siege! While wearing a robe, the Chinese considered wearing a robe form right to left barbaric since it was easy for right handed people. The code in Japan specified that robes had to be worn right over left and it became a convention of Kimono wearing in Japan ever since.
Chinese ancient clothing has been setting trends for centuries. Rules of dressing were followed religiously and most dress patterns and designs were influenced by religion. Ancient Chinese clothing was in warm tones with a lot of embroidery and silk sashes used to tie the robes instead of buttons. During the Zhou Dynasty, dragon robes were seen mostly worn by emperors. These were heavily embroidered with nine yellow dragons and five cloud patterns. These were considered auspicious for the wearer and had a symbolic meaning. The nine and five combinations were calculated deliberately used while designing; this symbolized the dignity of the throne. Dragons were embroidered on the front and back of the robes, also the knee areas and even shoulders.
Ancient Chinese clothing for women was the Cheongsam which was a one piece suit consisting of a high neck with a closed collar and short or medium sleeves. The fitted waist and slits on the sides complimented women's figures well. The tunic suit dominated ancient Chinese clothing, known as the 'Zhongshan suit', had a turned down collar and 4 pockets. Animal print embroidery patches were used during the Ming and Qing dynasty. Beautiful in appearance and very intricate, these embroideries also symbolized the ranks of officers who wore them.
Both the ancient Chinese clothing and ancient Japanese clothing evolved over the centuries and during different dynasties ruled. The major differences in the designs and embroideries were that while the ancient Chinese clothing symbolized religion and auspicious symbolism; the ancient Japanese clothing was more colorful and used floral patterns without any symbolic meanings. Both the clothing styles however distinguished in social ranking, age, sex and other aspects. Clothes of a wearer explained their social status or their marital status where women were concerned.
Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences.
One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientjapaneseclothing.org

Ancient Chinese Clothing - Essential Accessories and Symbols

China is an ancient country with a very rich heritage. The thousands of years of history have laid a rich basis for the lives of its inhabitants today. While some of the ancient Chinese myths and cultural traditions have been forgotten or are no longer observed, many of them are still remembered and incorporated into everyday life. Taking a look into the cultural traditions of China can reveal a lot about the way that the people live. One of the most interesting bits of Chinese lore can be found in what is known as the Jade Culture. Jade was a very fashionable emblem of ancient Chinese culture. From very ancient times, during the Western Zhou Dynasty, jade has been used as a decoration that used to hang from the sash holding the Hanfu (a garment that was a part of the Ancient Chinese Clothing) closed. Jade was important in China not only because of its beauty, but also for its virtue and cultural significance. According to Confucius, jade had 11 virtues, some of which include beauty, purity and grace. Jade is of two types, soft jade, known as nephrite, which is native to China, and hard jade (jadeite) which was imported from Burma starting in the 1200's.
One of the most recognizable symbols of china is the dragon. A derivative of the serpent, it had a scaly body and five claws. It is a symbol of auspicious power and has been even Chinese folklore. This symbol is very obviously found in Ancient Chinese Clothing particularly on imperial robes. The rulers considered themselves descendants of the dragon and so the scenes pertaining to dragons on their clothes were indicators of their power. Traditionally, the Chinese being an agriculture-based nation are very dependent on water. So, the dragon is associated with the weather and is the bringer of rain and water in China. The dragon is also the embodiment of the yang (male). The female counterpart is known as the Fenghuang.
Some of the other popular motif designs are willow trees, chrysanthemums, cranes and bamboo. These are depicted on pottery, paintings, vases and of course clothes. Imagine owning a piece of Ancient Chinese Clothing complete with rich and elaborate patterns that once belonged to the rulers of this splendid civilization.
No Chinese object is complete without a depiction of at least one of the four favourite plants - the bamboo, the Chinese plum, chrysanthemum and orchid. Of these, the bamboo is used in the most versatile manner. From tableware - chopsticks and utensils - to flutes to paintbrushes and even hair accessories.
Combs made of bamboo, ivory, jade and other materials further enhanced the ensemble of Ancient Chinese Clothing of women. Headgear in ancient times included hats for men and hairpieces for women. Traditionally, the Chinese wear their hats indoors as well as outdoors unlike their Western counterparts. This is mainly because most hats are too impractical to take off and carry around.
Fashion of ancient China has constantly evolved through the various dynasties. For example, during the Sui Dynasty in the 500 AD, the emperor declared that only the rich people could wear colors while the poor people had to be dressed in blue or black.
Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, unbiased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences.
One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientchinaclothing.org

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Ancient Chinese Clothing - Styles and Fabric

The ancient Chinese clothing consisted mostly of robes. While the women wore lengthy tunics that reached the ground, the men wore tunics that reached their knees. The sleeves of the garments were wide, and loose fitting, with sashes being added as ornamentation. Darker shades were preferred over light ones. Lighter coloured clothing was worn more commonly by the common people. The original ancient Chinese clothing was referred to as the Han Chinese clothing. The outfit was called the Hanfu. With the coming of various dynasties, the hanfu underwent a lot of modifications.
Primarily, there were three variations of ancient Chinese garments
PIEN-FU
A 2 piece ceremonial costume, consisting of a tunic top extending to the knees, and worn with ankle length skirt or trousers.
CH'ANG P'AO
This is a one-piece ankle length tunic dress.
SHENYI
A combination of the first two, a shenyi is a 2 piece top and trouser/skirt outfit that has been sewn together to make a one-piece garment.
The earliest dynasty recorded, the Shang Dynasty (c.1600 BC-1000 BC), developed the fundamentals of the Hanfu; it was made up of a knee-length tunic tied with a sash, with narrow cuffs called yi, a narrow, ankle-length skirt, called shang. This was accompanied by a bixi, which was a length of fabric that reached the knees. Since technology was limited, the only colours that could be used were primary colors- red, blue , yellow and green. It was a unisex outfit worn by men and women alike. The higher strata of society of course had more elaborate work and motifs on it inspite of the limited colours available.
The following dynasty, the Western Zhou Dynasty managed to enforce a social system in the ancient Chinese clothing. This was displayed by the complexity in their outfits. The higher the rank, more flamboyant and ornate their attire. This included the length of a skirt, the wideness of a sleeve and the degree of ornamentation. Further, the Hanfu became looser. The sleeves were wider and the yi was fastened with a sash which was adorned with jade ornaments. Since left-handedness was looked down upon, the yi was essentially draped in a style known as jiaoling youren, or wrapping the right side over before the left.
The shenyi came into force under the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. It is a kind of a combination of a tunic and skirt where the upper and lower halves were cut separately but sewn into one piece. Another additional modification was that left end of the dress was reshaped into a kind of border which could be fastened in front on the chest. This modified dress was quickly adapted.
In the ancient Chinese clothing most of the traditional designs were unisex uncomplicatedly cut. However, as the dynasties changed, gender specificity came into the shenyi. The men typically wore pants and women, skirts. Each dynasty had their own styles of Hanfu as they evolved.
During the winter months in the ancient China, to keep them warm, people wore padded jackets over the tunics. Though it is considered very common in China, yet silk, as a fabric was restricted to the rich. The poor wore hemp or ramie.
Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences.
One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientchinaclothing.org

Ancient Chinese Clothing - Culture and More

China, a fast developing nation of today has a history dating over 5000 years. These 5000 years can be found in ancient scriptures. In fact, Ancient China was one of the most cosmopolitan civilizations. This is evident from the various components that make up its culture. A rich culture was depicted in the ancient Chinese clothing and dresses.
As a nation, it is more of a conglomerate of varied tribes over many years.
According to history, China became unified under one large empire in 221 B C. The Chinese civilization was always an advanced one. Even in ancient times, the daily routine comprised of the livelihood tasks of pottery, baking and farming with silk making. In fact most of the ancient Chinese clothing for the elite was made of silk! Over the centuries these routine interests turned into the quest for science and philosophy.
Since the culture was quite rich, there was a distinctive language that developed. Though presently there are up to 12 regional groups of language, Chinese was the language that was spoken in ancient China right from the Han dynasty.
The people of ancient China believe in the mandate of heaven. They worshiped many different gods, including weather and sky gods along with a higher god who ruled all other gods known as Shang Ti. Chinese as a race, worship their ancestors believing that when these died, they became gods too.
Such was the prevailing situation in the ancient Chinese civilization. The effect was also seen on the ancient Chinese clothing of the common man. Correct attire was regarded as the ultimate expression of Chinese culture and identity, differentiating them from 'inferior' foreign neighbors while making social and gender distinctions within their society. The ancient Chinese clothing had specific cultural meaning, with properly attired bodies reflecting order and control and unadorned bodies and feet serving as visible signs of disorder and dangerous nonconformity with the individual risking association to barbarian outsiders.
During the Sui Dynasty in the 500 AD, the emperor declared that only the rich people could wear colors while the poor people had to be dressed in blue or black. Later on this changed completely but the rule of being properly attired to show stability in a personality prevailed. It was a true case of clothes maketh the man.
Apart from the type of robes in the ancient Chinese clothing, the symbols denoted on them is an equally important indicator of the wearer's social standing. Symbolism denotes social standing, moral messages, and also told historical and legendary stories.
The symbols on ancient Chinese robes indicate the status of the individual who had worn the garment. For example, the number of dragons on a robe indicates a higher or lower official of the imperial court.
There are some typical symbols that one will find on ancient Chinese clothing.
The Sun, the Moon, and the Constellation, The Rock or the Mountain, The Fu, The Dragon, The Axe-head, The Flowery Creature, The Water Plant, The Sacrificial Vessel, The Flames, The Grain, Crane, Geometric Patterns, Bats, Butterfly and Water Motif. All these twelve imperial motifs signify various things. Only an emperor could wear robes with all twelve symbols. A higher official could wear clothes with a maximum of eight symbols.
The work was so spectacular that it is a good thing that these restrictions are no longer in force in today's day and age.
Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences.
One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientchinaclothing.org

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Ancient Chinese Clothing - History of Fashion in China

The ancient Chinese people had very distinctive social classes. Each of these has specific styles and significance of dressing. Varied symbols are used on the clothing to distinguish between various strata of society. The ancient Chinese clothing has varied greatly throughout different periods of time. Each social or historical period brought about a new style.
During the Pre-Qing Dynasty (also known as the Manchu Dynasty was the last ruling dynasty of China from 1644 to 1912.); the prevalent ancient Chinese clothing was broadly referred to as hanfu with many variations such as traditional Chinese academic dress. Every individual stratum displayed a different fashion. In fact the military was totally distinctive in its appearance.
Chinese civil or military officials had an assortment of motifs to depict their rank and position. Hat knobs were used as an icon of their rank. There were nine types of color coded hat knobs that represented the nine distinctive ranks. Another popular insignia was the Mandarin square or rank badge.
The Chinese clothing known as the Hanfu (also referred to as guzhuang meaning "ancient clothing"), was the traditional dress of the Han Chinese folk. The term Hanfu has its organ in the Book of Han, which says, "then many came to the Court to pay homage and were delighted at the clothing style of the Han [Chinese]." It was fascinating for these visitors to see the characteristic outfit - like a kimono and sandals made out of rice reed. As you can see, the Hanfu has a colorful history dating back 3000 years and more. In fact the dress was even worn by the legendary Yellow Emperor. It was popular since long before the Qing Dynasty came into power in the mid seventeenth century. Since the material of this ancient Chinese clothing was always silk, supposedly discovered by the Yellow Emperor's consort, Leizu, the Hanfu was also called 'silk robes'.
The Hanfu now is worn only at special occasions which are mostly historical reenactment, hobby, coming of age/rite of passage ceremonies, ceremonial clothing worn by religious priests, or cultural exercise. However, there are attempts on to try and make it a part of more day to day wear or at least during Chinese celebrations and festivals especially in China as well as among the non resident community.
The Ancient Chinese clothing in its most traditional best can be explained as different parts of specific cloth that are draped in a special style. It would be totally different from the traditional garment of other ethnic groups in China like the Manchurian qipao. There is a great difference between the Han way of dressing and the Manchurian influence. It is as yet an unsolved problem which of the two would be the correct traditional costume of the ancient Chinese. Some costumes commonly thought of as typically Chinese, such as the qipao, are the result of influence by brutal laws (Queue Order) imposed by Manchurian rulers of the Qing Dynasty, and are regarded by some advocates as not being "traditionally" Han.
Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences.
One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientchinaclothing.org

Fashion - Are We All Looking For Chinese Clothing Manufacturers?

A business needs to be profitable i.e. make money. So all those running a clothes business need to get their clothes cheap (overseas) in order to sell them in line with the domestic market. It's probably some sort of automatism that we have developed during the years, to imagine that anything we get at a cheap price must have been made in China.
It's also common place to associate poor quality to the "made in China" label. This being said, I am fully conscious that I personally own many great quality products that have been made in Asia.Those looking for clothes manufacturers type "clothing manufacturer in China" when searching on the net.The cost of labor in China, even if rising year after year, is still lower than in the USA, Europe or Australia.
With the cost of labor increasing every year after the Chinese New Year and with the cost of shipping merchandises constantly rising with the price of petrol, the question is: How long will Chinese clothing manufacturers keep this edge?Logically people searching for clothing manufacturer in China are first looking for a competitive clothing manufacturer...wherever it is. For now the salary of a sewer in China is around 120$ per month (Nov 2008). The cost of labor is about the same (in fact 5 to 10% less) in neighboring countries: Vietnam, Cambodia etc... So when choosing the right clothes manufacturer for your order, keep your mind opened. What everyone is really looking for is a reliable clothing manufacturer.
Each retailer, wholesaler, brand designer dreams to get great quality clothes and cheap of course. My personal opinion is that all clothing manufacturers can do about the same clothes for about the same price. The difference will be in the extras, not all manufacturers will do the extra mile for you. The logic first step when selecting a clothing manufacturer seems to get a few quotations from a couple of clothing manufacturers. It's also an opportunity to test the consultant who is taking your call. Does the consultant understand you? Can he answer all your questions? If not, is he diligently getting back to you with more details? Does size matters? Yes, the size of your order matters, everybody knows that. If it is low, many manufacturers in China will not deal with it; unless they have a department specialized in small quantity orders of clothes with a low minimum. Go for the largest factory possible, but take one that is small enough to care about you. The location of the clothing factory, whether it is in China or Vietnam is not so important. What matters is who you deal with.
An especially important person for you is the consultant who answers your questions, take your order and keep you posted. Ultimately, since the consultant answers to you, he is responsible for your order. Rely on the facts, if your consultant make a promise to you and that promise is not followed Always try to commit your consultant to call you back or email you some details. Each commitment you obtain gives you a chance to test your professional relationship. Ideally your consultant follows your order at every stage: cutting, printing, sewing and packing. From a clothing manufacturer's perspective, it does make sense that the consultant follows closely the orders in the pipeline. The consultant, in the company, is the one who knows the most about your expectations.
My final thought: Whatever the country, Quality depends on People.
Lilian Lemaire is the managing director of http://www.ellen-clothing-manufacturer.com
Ellen Clothing Manufacturer is a French company with a clothing factory in Vietnam.
This article comes from Lilian's business blog: http://www.clothing-manufacturers.net/china/

Friday, March 13, 2009

Modern Chinese Clothing

Chinese clothing is not only externally elegant but it also symbolizes culture and communicates its own vitality. Archeological remains from the Shantingtung culture unearthed objects like bone sewing needles, stone beads and shells with holes in them clearly pointing out the use of ornamentation and sewing in that age. Clothing associated with colors was prevalent; red was the color for summer, green for spring, black for winters and white represented of autumns.
Ancient Chinese clothing favored darker colors and a fully developed system of matching, coordinating and contrasting colors and shades was used in apparels. Modern Chinese clothing has combined the ancient symbols of good fortune with the more modern fashion aesthetics in the Chinese modern clothing. A wide range of eye catchy designs for children and young people's clothing is designed in modern China, which includes lions, deities and masks of Chinese opera characters. Modern silhouettes are increasingly using designs and appliqué bronzes from the ancient clothing. Prints, weaves, embroideries, and motifs from the ancient culture merge with new age fabrics and styles to create modern Chinese clothing.
Distinctive and unusual designs from centuries gone by like the dragon and clouds embroideries used on robes meant for emperors are making a come back with modern Chinese clothing. These motifs and designs are beautiful and also symbolize ancient culture. The nine dragon and five cloud design was to bring good fortune to its wearer, and the design still holds it's auspicious significance with modern china. The amalgamation of this modern and ancient apparel, trends and symbolism is attractive and earthy. The traditional macramé is broadly used in modern Chinese clothing for ornamental purposes. It is used on borders, shoulders, pockets, openings, bodices and seams. The modern bridal tiara is another successful combination of traditional and modern in its Sung dynasty design. Traditional pendants and Sash in traditional colors of red, green and blue embroidered in the Hunan province style is still in existence.
The Chinese modern clothing springs from traditional designs and customs. Today social occasions still see men dressed in a refined traditional long gown. Women too wear a modified form of fashion from the Ch'ing Dynasty. There is no end to the variations to these ancient clothes in height, length and width and ornamentation. Even the silk making, weaving and spinning techniques from the past have been developed with modernity and textile industries grown around them. Chinese modern clothing hence helps people not only in china but around the world enjoy traditional features and modern chic in clothing apparels.
The most influential of all ancient times is perhaps the Shang dynasty when silk weaving, spinning and making had been developed. The modern Chinese clothing is visually different yet deeply rooted and interwoven with history. Ancient Chinese art and clothing has and will remain to influence modern Chinese clothing majorly. Culturally, china is neither fully modern nor traditional; this is evident in their lifestyle, modern adaptations of ancient way of dressing and even through ancient art forms depicted as motifs on modern clothing. Despite the advent of western influences and the business suit and 'jeans' in the country, china and modern Chinese clothing remains deeply rooted in the country's history and ancient religion and practices.
Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences. One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientchinaclothing.org

Monday, March 9, 2009

Celtic Wedding Dresses and Wedding Gowns

Celtic wedding dresses present a testament of passion and individuality. Irish marriage tradition is well rooted in the superstitious medieval Irish Celtic folklore, coupled by nature and sentimental charm. Most Glasgow Celtic wedding dress designers present beautiful renaissance to medieval gowns. Most of the gowns are custom-made giving them individual attention and personality. Some wedding dress designers create historical themed gowns in Gothic, Medieval and many more historical styles that are unique and fascinating. Other designers offer traditional wedding gowns for positively sensitive brides. This makes brides in other parts of the world to make their ceremonies special by wearing the breathtaking marriage gowns. Celtic wedding dresses present a perfect way to bring fourth the bride's heritage. It also highlights the passion of the renaissance way of life and dressing style. Due to the growing popularity of renaissance attire and events, it is easy to find high-quality dresses suitable for every bride.
Celtic Wedding Dress Designs If a couple wishes to celebrate their heritage, there is a range of authentic Celtic dresses to choose. These dresses will take the bride back in time to a world of chivalry, knightly virtues and romance. A Celtic marriage dress can be informal or formal. It can be an overdress worn over a simpler bodice or dress or a graceful one-piece style.
The design of most Celtic wedding gowns has flowing fabric, mainly from sleeves and are made of fabrics like lace, velvet, silk or cotton. The designs can be ornamented or sleek and simple. The modern Irish Celtic gown is designed using contemporary techniques that incorporate style and design influences from fantasy and medieval styles in different colors. Even if not of Irish tradition, one can find inspiration in their folklore and gowns to enrich one's marriage ceremony.
Choosing a Celtic Wedding Dress Several online shops offer authentic these wedding gowns. A Glasgow Celtic, gothic or medieval style ceremony dress is ideal for a bride. Styled on the lines of 18th century Corset using authentic embroidery for a touch of style, these wedding dresses are a remarkable choice for a grand ceremonial setting. The flowing lines in the medieval dresses offer a bold and easy to wear choice to traditional and modern styles.
The choice of a medieval style Celtic style wedding dress can be adapted to maintain an authentic and unique flair. The corset dress is a good choice for a marriage ceremony and is used as a foundation for a stylish Gothic dress. A period style dress can be dramatic and subtle but is a timeless choice for a dress.
For brides that have a love for the Celtic heritage, it is wise to get a designer able to design and create beautiful and good fitting dresses. Get a gown that is contemporary, elegant and reflects this heritage. Most of these wedding gowns have a Celtic knot signifying eternity of life and love and acting as a form of protection. A bride that believes in the superstition can choose to go for such a gown. For a bride that wants a custom-made dress, it is vital to get a renowned dressmaker able to bring out this heritage in the gown style.
Wedding dresses
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The Bride of Frankenstein Chose the Bridesmaid Dresses

Weddings are lavish celebrations. A lot of money has to be spent on food, decorations, settings, and clothing. This became a concern for my daughter who has been attending more than a few weddings over the past couple of years. She came over to our house a few days ago seeking my help for a problem regarding the expensive prices of bridesmaid dresses.
My daughter had just come from a shopping trip with a friend who is planning to get married. On this trip they were supposed to pick out the bridesmaid dresses. The first problem became evident when she saw the price of the dress that the bride had picked out. The price was very high so she and the other attendants pointed this out to the bride. However, the bride would not listen to her and maintained that this was the dress she wanted them to wear.
The other problem was the color of the dress that the bride selected. My daughter was upset because the color was unattractive and she is concerned that she will look sickly in the photographs. She felt that the color would make her appear lifeless and washed out. She felt that the bride was purposely picking these bridesmaid dresses so that she would look a cut above anyone else in the wedding party.
My daughter also shared that she had spent hundreds of dollars on bridesmaid dresses for previous weddings and simply cannot afford to spend more than eight hundred dollars on this dress. She was not very close to the bride and she did not want to hurt her feelings. On the other hand, she did not want to spend a ton of money on an ugly dress that she was only going to wear once.
We discussed this problem for a long time and I suggested that she should simply be honest to her friend. She should explain to the bride that she could not afford the dress.
She was unwilling to do this, but she could not come up with other alternatives. She also told me that she will inform me of how things went. She was fearful that she was damaging a relationship over the price of bridesmaid dresses.
When she left my husband asked me why our daughter had been so upset. I told him about our daughter’s problem. He told me that we should offer to pay for the dress so that she wouldn’t have to charge it. I explained to him that the problem went beyond the cost of bridesmaid dresses and that I thought it was important for our daughter to take care of the situation.
After a couple of days, my daughter called me. She had spoken with the bride about the high cost and poor color of the dress. The bride became unusually upset and hung up on her. However, after a few hours the bride called back and apologized and asked our daughter if she would like to shop for a less pricey dress. It turned out that the other attendants had also complained about the dress to her. They all agreed to start over by finding new bridesmaid dresses.
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Bridesmaid Dresses. Visit our site for more helpful information about Bridesmaid Dresses and other similar topics.

Designing Your Own Women's Plus Size Dresses

As with any other type of fashion, you will find that some Women's plus size dresses look more attractive on you than others. Unfortunately, you will also find that what is considered fashionable in any given season will not match your needs and preferences. Because you may already feel at a disadvantage, it may be useful for you to make your own clothes.
Consider a situation where you want a nice shirt to go with blue jeans. Chances are, if you go and look in the plus size shops, you will find that almost all of the shirts have elastic collars or scoop necks. Without a question, if you have sloping shoulders, this type of neckline will play havoc with you. On the other hand, when you make your own clothes, you can create a V collar to suit your personal needs.
Irregardless of whether or not you are interested in trendy prints, you can find all kinds of designs in the fabric department. In particular, you may want to wear dresses or gowns with a solid color. Or, if you want special clothing for the holidays, you will find many different prints to choose from. As may be expected, you will be free to choose the shade and pattern that best suit your complexion and figure.
Even though designers do their best to make appealing garments, you may have special needs. As an example, if you always feel cold in the winter, you will want the comfort of long sleeves. At the same time, you may find that women's fashion statements do not always adhere to practicality in these matters. Therefore, you may find that the almost all the tops that will fit you have short, or 3/4 length sleeves. That said, when you are the one making the garment, you can do whatever you want. This includes adding shoulder pads, and making sure that the cut of each garment enhances your body. While puffed sleeves may not be trendy at this time, you can even create those for one or two of your blouses.
If you have never sewn your own garments before, it will be to your advantage to start with easy patterns. Today, you can find many appealing designs that can be assembled in 60 minutes or less. As may be expected, if you need to have a bridal gown, you will need to practice before you start the project. You may even find that you will come up with a pattern or idea of your own that will be very trendy.
Each year, millions of women buy uncomfortable clothing that does not meet their basic needs. Chances are, if you are obese, you have suffered with many garments that fall off your shoulders, or simply horrible on you. That said, when you make your own clothing, you are free to tailor the garment to your body. While you may not be interested in looking like Dolly Parton, at least you can tailor your clothes to enhance your figure.
For more information about the types of Women's Plus Size Dresses available for purchase, pay a visit to http://www.womensplussizedressesonline.com

Sunday, March 8, 2009

The Kindest Cut - Flattering Dresses For Bridesmaids

When you are shopping for bridesmaid dresses, there are many things to keep in mind. You want the dresses to fit the style of your wedding, look good with your bridal gown, and be in a pretty color. One thing that some brides overlook is whether or not the dress will be flattering on all of her bridesmaids.
Shopping for bridesmaid dresses is never easy. It can be so challenging to find a dress that really fits all of your requirements, from color to style to fabric. For many brides, when they finally do find something they really love, they turn over the price tag and gasp - $650 for a dress?! If you know that your bridesmaids cannot afford your favorite dress, you can be back at square one.
It is no wonder that amid all of the other difficulties surrounding finding the perfect dress for your attendants that looking for a gown in the most flattering cut can be forgotten. If your bridal party is made up exclusively of swimsuit models, you may have nothing to worry about. However, if your friends and sisters are average American women with a wide range of shapes and sizes, seeking the kindest cut for all of them is extremely important.
I recently saw a very elegant wedding party being photographed in the courtyard of an exclusive hotel. The bridesmaids' dresses were a beautiful shade of bluish-purple in a soft flowing fabric. They had a wide neckline with a gathered fabric under the bustline that flowed into the skirt. The dresses were absolutely gorgeous, but...they did not flatter the figures of at least half of the attendants. The soft fabric was totally unforgiving, and emphasized every bump and ripple on the less svelte bridesmaids. The gathered fabric under the bust did not lay properly on some of the other girls, and the wide neckline was slipping off the shoulders of all of the attendants. Although the dress was surely beautiful, it was not a good choice for this group of bridesmaids.
To avoid this problem, the bride should carefully assess the figures of her bridesmaids, as well as their coloring and build before ordering the dresses. It would also be very smart to have a couple of your attendants with different figures try on any gown that you are considering. That way you can discover any flaws in the cut of the dress before the day of the wedding.
If your bridesmaids feel comfortable in the dress they are wearing, they will also look more beautiful and confident. It would be better to pick a slightly plain dress in a truly flattering cut than a more interesting dress that does not look attractive on everyone. A simple gown can always be dressed up with the wedding jewelry that you give as bridesmaid gifts. Jewelry like chandelier earrings, an elaborate necklace, or a sparkly brooch make great bridesmaid gifts, and are the perfect way to add personality to their dresses.
One of the easiest ways to make sure that every one of your attendants looks terrific in their dress is to let her pick it out herself. Many brides will designate a color, and possibly a fabric, and let each bridesmaid choose her own silhouette. Another great option is to go with a line of dresses that are also available as separates. This can be especially helpful for women who may be a different size on the top than the bottom. The other nice thing about the separates is that you end up with a group of bridesmaids who are beautifully coordinated, but they do not look like they were stamped from cookie cutters.
Making sure that her bridesmaids look and feel their best is one of the nicest things that a bride can do for her friends. Take the time to choose a dress that will be flattering and attractive on all of your attendants. Besides, turn about is fair play: if one of your bridesmaids ever asks you to be in her wedding, you want to be sure that she doesn't put you in a hideous dress as revenge!
Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaids jewelry at SilverlandJewelry.com. Bridesmaid jewelry gifts are the perfect way for a bride to show her appreciation for her attendants.