Art of the Steal

Check out Sharon Stone’s fur fashion choice. I reckon she’s wrong to be wearing that primarily because she looks ridiculous! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not morally opposed to wearing fur. But we have to draw a line somewhere. And it looks like the line is behind Sharon Stone. If you’re gonna wear fur, do it right, or not at all.

The Anti Fur Society (http://www.antifursociety.org/) suggests on their website that we should do a simple test to tell if the fur that we are going to buy is real or faux.

Before buying what you think is FAUX but which could be real fur (dog/cat/fox/rabbit), please do the simple test:

1) REAL FUR: Feels smooth, soft. Blow on longhaired fur, it divides such as soft hair. Often made of several layers of thin hair, the fibers form a dense under-wool through which the longer hairs stick out. The base is leather and resists a pin. It burns like human hair, smells similar.

2) FAUX FUR: Feels coarse, simpler structure; pierces easily with a pin. Individual hairs are often the same length and have and even color. Burns like plastic; hair feels hard between finger and thumb. Close to light, its shine is different from real fur.

Yeah, that’s right. We should bring out a lighter and burn a bit of a fur coat to tell whether it is fake or not!

Anyway, what’s all the fuss about wearing fur anyway? I mean, unless you’re a non-leather wearing vegan, don’t you think it’s a bit hypocrytical to be telling people they shouldn’t be wearing fur?

Fair enough, when you watch videos of some of the cruelty to animals that goes on it’s plainly disgusting. But the fact of the matter is that even people who wear fur will find this sort of thing repugnant. Skinning animals alive is just sick. The video below comes from PETA (http://features.peta.org/ChineseFurFarms/ftf.asp)

Just because this sort of thing goes on in some cultures, does this mean that people the world over should not be allowed to wear fur? Animals are grown for meat. Isn’t it just the same thing to grow them for fur? If they are killed humanely, what does it matter if it is their meat or their fur that is used?

Before jumping on your high horse, it might be a good idea to take a look at your own actions. Do you eat meat? Do you eat fish? Do you have any leather shoes? Telling people not to wear fur coats is in some respects similar to demonizing drug users. Sure, there are arguements against this sort of behaviour but wouldn’t proper government regulation serve to stamp out inhumane fur farming practices. This could ensure better treatment for animals, profits for farmers, tax revenues for the state and ethical fur products for people who want them.

Choosing an engagement ring and wedding bands is very important. After all, you will have to live with it for the rest of your life, if things work out perfectly. The good thing is that there are a variety of designs and styles to choose from. With Tungsten rings, you are guaranteed to find the ring that you desire. Some have stood the test of time while newer designs have proved to be just as popular. Read on for the latest trends in buying rings.

The classic engagement ring has been popular since prehistorical times and its popularity has not waned. However, newer trends have come up. Halo designs have become a common choice because of their uniqueness. These rings have the diamond set within a circular rim instead of being on its own. This design calls attention to the center stone and makes a ring appear vintage.

Twisted bands offer a break from traditional rings. They are more intricate and unique. Customizing is made even easier with their numerous designs. The center stone is also better highlighted.

Women love diamonds and many rings do have these as their main focus. However, a colorful gemstone can be used as a substitute for a diamond. Amber, amethyst, jade and rubies are just a few of the available options. They infuse a cultural feel to the ring. Paired with smaller diamonds, they give rings a charming and understated elegant look. This style is also favored by celebrities; the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, wore a blue sapphire ring as her engagement ring. Floral designs are also trending. They add a glamorous, feminine look to the rings and may hold more sentimental value to a bride.

Most wedding bands were made of gold and silver. Now you have more choice. Precious metals such as platinum, palladium, titanium and zirconium are used to make rings. Not only do these metals look more attractive, they are worth more and last longer.

Walking down the aisles to tie the knot is obviously one of the happiest events in life. As such, everything must be seriously considered, especially the ring. After all, this is something you will have to wear for the rest of your life. For this reason, you should make point of considering Tungsten rings.

Guest Post by Sally Kendal (soon to be married).

[Ed: Congratulations Sally.]

Gone are the days where the bride would dictate the attire of the bridal party at large. The choosing of the perfect bridesmaid dress has long since become a more democratic and versatile affair. Many brides-to-be are now more inclined to set their bridesmaids off on their own personal shopping challenges in order to find the right kind of bridesmaid dress for them within a certain set of specifications.

Some brides will insist that each bridesmaids dress must be of the same colour or slot within a common colour family. Others will specify a structure, such as floor-length or sleeveless. Chances are, there will be some element of uniformity working within the bridal party but guidelines are certainly much looser compared with the more traditional weddings of the 80s and 90s.

When looking for the perfect bridesmaid dress it really pays to shop around. Use the marvels of the world wide web to help you as there are a vast number of outlets and shopping tools available at your fingertips with just a few clicks of the mouse. Choosing to buy through a reputable online outlet such as the Coast website (where you stand a better than average chance of finding your perfect bridesmaid dress) will certainly save you a lot of time and effort by avoiding the stresses and strains of the high street trawl, though it is worthwhile to note that you should only buy from online brands offering a free returns policy.

But if you’re first commercial search proves fruitless, don’t despair: there are a range of more creative possibilities at hand. A number of innovative websites now allow you to design your perfect dress online offering a service where you can choose your fabric, cut, size and style. This is a great solution for when the high street market falls short of meeting your bride’s requirements and designing your own bridesmaids dress permits you the luxury of entering your measurements and picking a style that is flattering to your figure. Within a week or two you’ll have a made-to-measure, one-off occasion dress delivered direct to your door.

I enjoy fashion in all its various guises. In my youth, I was interested in keeping up with all the latest trends, swapping style tips with friends and even attempting to start a few fads myself. Most of them never caught on but I like to think I can take some of the credit for one or two crazes that became popular at my high school. I’d be too embarrassed to mention what they were now that my tastes have matured, but you get the picture – I’m pretty interested in fashion and probably spend more of my time and money than the average punter.

So, having established my credentials in the fashion stakes, and therefore hopefully having reassured you that I’m not against fashion in general, I’d like to talk about something I’ve been meaning to get off my chest for a while. And that’s dog fashion…

Dog Fashion

I usually take the attitude that people should live and let live. But when it comes to dressing your dog up in clothes that make them look human, and worse still, making them wear stupid accessories that cause discomfort and distress to the dogs, I find myself getting quite angry.

The decadence of western society today has gotten completely out of control, check out the official pet fashion week website if you’re in any doubt. We feel the need to dress our animals up as if they were our spoiled little children. We buy dog collars encrusted with jewels that costs the equivalent of several months wages for a third world worker. It’s vulgar and I want no part of it.

Fair enough if your dog’s natural coat of fur is too thin for the harsh winters where you live, or if it has a medical condition that demands extra warmth or protection from the sun’s UV rays. But dressing a dog up purely for your own amusement is just plain wrong.

Dog Fashion Show

I had the misfortune of attending a fashion show recently where, unbeknownst to me, there was a category for dogs. The outfits were pretty outlandish to say the least and I had to leave the room at one point because some of the dogs were clearly distressed. If it hadn’t been for the presence of a vet, who had been hired to keep an eye on the animal welfare side of things and who stepped in to rescue the dogs in question from their sartorial torture, I would have been on the phone to the authorities.

Small Dog Fashion

One area of fashion that seems to be getting more and more popular these days is the “accessory dog”, popularised by wives and girlfriends of footballers and the rich and famous who jump on every bandwagon going. These poor pooches (usually something like a Chihuahua) are dressed up in the most sickening outfits, stuffed into a handbag and then paraded around like a piece of jewellery. It’s no wonder that Chihuahuas tend to be so bad tempered.

Fashion Dog Collars

Now, dog collars are just about the only fashion item that I would be comfortable putting on a dog of my own. I mean every dog needs a collar, so if you want to get them a nice looking one then I say go for it. You could even get different collars for different occasions or ones that match with your own outfit. Knock yourself out!

High Fashion Dog Collars

Where things get a little over the top for me – even where collars are concerned – is when the owner loses all sense of proportion and ties a collar round the neck of their dog that would pay for innoculating an entire third world country against every disease known to man. When I see examples like that it makes me so angry that I invariably shout at the television, radio or whatever medium beamed the shameful facts into my stream of consciousness. Come on people, get a grip!

So, to return to the question posed by the title of this article, are high fashion dog collars a step too far? The answer, to which any right thinking individual would attest, is clearly a resounding, “yes”.

No woman likes to be stuck with the same hairstyle everyday – we all like to experiment and be a style chameleon once in a while, and if you have normal hair the ghd IV styler is the perfect option.

One of the off-putting things about experimenting with your hair style is the fact that it seems that you have to have so many tools and products. A lot of people think that you need straighteners for straight hair, curling tongs for curly hair and waves and a variety of other tools for different styles. However, that is not the case, you can have all the styles you want with just one pair of hair styling tools – the best ghd straighteners.

Because ghds have a rounded barrel, not only can you create straight and sleek hair you can also, just by changing the way you use your ghds, create volumised styles, glam Hollywood curls, loose beach waves, flicks or a variety of styles in between. With one styling tool you can really experiment with your hair and find a perfect new style.

If you have normal or fine hair then you can do all this with the ghd IV styler. They have a rounded barrel for creating curls and waves and smooth ceramic plates that glide effortlessly through your hair.
Because they are ghds, you know you are getting the smoothest ceramic plates which won’t snag on your hair as you straighten, and so reduce the damage to your hair. They also heat up consistently across the plate so you don’t get hot spots. Therefore, each strand of hair gets properly straightened without one section getting fried, while the rest barely straightens at all.

They also heat up and cool down in seconds, so when you are in a rush there is no waiting for your straighteners to get going or cool down so you can put them away. What’s more, with ghds you can do without that agonising commute into work wondering whether you have left your straighteners on, because ghds turn themselves off when they haven’t been used for a while, so they are also safe too.

No wonder they were voted ‘Best Styling Tool’ in the Sunday Times Style Beauty Awards 2010.

The true spiritual fathers of the green movement are the French Enlightenment writer Rousseau and the American maverick Thoreau. It is was only with the onset of the Industrial Revolution at the end of the 18th Century that wide numbers of people began to notice a deterioration in nature. As the Industrial Revolution progressed and cities got bigger, machines got bigger and populations grew at breakneck speed that people started to form political parties to fight back against pollution, resource depletion and corporate domination.

Landmark events in the history of the green movement include the first Greenpeace boat going to Alaska in 1971 to protest nuclear testing; the formation of the UK Ecology Party in 1973; and the first election successes for the German green movement in 1983 which lead to the formation of the German Green Party the same year.

The rest is history. The German Green Party actually took control of government. After that neither the Left nor the Right in Europe could ignore the politics of environmental concern and implemented stricter environmental guidelines into the bureaucracy of the whole region. America under George W. Bush was reluctant to pay heed to the fears of rising carbon levels in the atmosphere but since then Barack Obama has shown in Copenhagen that he too is stalling on immediate meaningful action on climate change. The thing is, for many of us, environmental degradation just doesn’t matter.

It seems that the only place where you don’t need to do an environmental impact assessment or count your carbons is the willful People’s Republic of China. Whereas other developing nations daren’t fear to openly contradict the maxims of their economic betters, China is bloated with the autonomy that only a juggernaut economy can provide. They are quite happy to do as they wish with the environment.

This is the official story. There is, however, another narrative on this topic which might sound crackpot and conspiratorial but is worth finding out about nevertheless.

One of the earliest influences on the green movement was a report by the Council of Rome in 1972 entitled “The Limits of Growth”. The Council of Rome is a globalist think tank. It set out in 1972 to rehash Malthus for the 20th Century claiming that economic growth was dependent on the consumption of natural resources and that by the year 2000 there would be a global environmental disaster. The report even used an early computer simulation to add weight to their argument.

This computer model was later found out to be totally inaccurate. In 1991 the Club of Rome published a paper called “The First Global Revolution” (1991). This statement is contained therein:

“In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill.”

If you do even the most cursory internet searches for the Council of Rome you will find a lot of material claiming that it is an organization that is ultimately looking for One World Government. This is the dream of the masons, the illuminati, and the Bilderberg Group to name but a few who are often credited with seeking ultimate world domination. It is the old conspiracy of a shadowy elite composed of bankers, European aristocrats, the British Royal Family and old American wasp families seeking to control the globe through One World Government. I’m not saying this is anything but unlikely and unsubstantiated but it is worth bearing in mind a few things.

Environmentalists see the problem with society and nature from a global perspective. It is no use cleaning up your yard if your neighbor is going to keep his in a dirty and unhealthy state. Meetings of world leaders in Copenhagen, Kyoto and elsewhere for environmental summits seek to impose world binding agreements. The world is generally coming together to fight the threat of climate change and a host of other environmental concerns.

Another intriguing aspect to this topic is that one wing of the green movement places a great emphasis on population growth as leading to environmental catastrophe. One corollary of this idea is that population management is a good and necessary thing. There are those who praise China for its one child policy and there are those who nurture approval for state sanctions to regulate human numbers through state coercion. They seem unlikely bedfellows but environmentalists and New World Order freaks seem to have agendas that coincide when it comes to viewing mankind’s reproduction as a problem needing radical solutions.

The final piece of evidence for proponents of the idea that the green movement is being hijacked by conspirators who seeded the entire project is the fact that lots of people have been caught saying outrageous things ‘on the record’.

Gordon Brown is quoted as saying that a ‘New World Order’ must be created to fight global warming.

And Richard Haass, a very mainstream figure who worked several years for the State Department and who advised former Secretary of State Colin Powell, has written the following:

Globalization thus implies that sovereignty is not only becoming weaker in reality, but that it needs to become weaker. States would be wise to weaken sovereignty in order to protect themselves, because they cannot insulate themselves from what goes on elsewhere. Sovereignty is no longer a sanctuary.

(source: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2006/02/21/2003294021)

Richard Haass is the current president of the Council on Foreign Relations. An innocuous sounding think tank that like the Council of Rome seem to be very keen on weakening sovereignty and increasing centralized global control. Indeed part of Haass’s tenuous argument is that the fight to stop global warming has already meant that governments around the world have ceded sovereignty to some extent; and more can only be a good thing.

Not wanting to put any conclusions in people’s heads but I for one am worried about the susceptibility of noble and just causes such as protecting nature and the quality of life for future generations to darker elements. Groups, organizations etc. playing the ‘we need to be realistic’ card and proposing state control through violent policing. Already America doesn’t hide its self imposed mandate to ‘police the world’.

And remember the first of all the great social revolutions? the French Revolution ended with a lawyer called Robespierre, who campaigned before the revolution to end the death penalty, needing to kill thousands just to keep the revolution on track.

We should insist our environmental gurus be bearded tree lovers and libertarians and not sleek suits with hidden agendas.

We must insist upon cleaning up our own mess in our own backyard.

One further point to remember is that even if you’re not interested in politics, there are more and more movies being made these days that have some subtle (as well as not so subtle) messages. A couple that I have watched recently include The Other Guys with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as well as The International with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. Whether or not you choose to do anything with your own knowledge is really up to you. But there is no excuse for ignorance.

Nautical stripes came back in the early summer, and they’re here to stay! This is one of the hottest plus size fashions for 2011.

Nautical influences have been popping up left, right and centre in the shapes of sailor stripes and cute boat collars and, the best news; such a style of luxurious plus size clothing really flatters the fuller figure!

One of the most sought after everyday essentials is the cool and comfy boat neck tee, which is a must have investment if you wish to jump aboard this trend. Many of those seen on this season’s runways featured cute embellishments such as statement corsages, which appeared attached at the neckline.

This season’s colour palette was a little different to what you would usually associate the nautical theme with and boasted shades of navy, bluebell, violet and a super hot pink.

Such a piece is a great investment if you are looking for a casual yet on trend tee to throw on with a pair of favourite jeans. For a look that is a little dressier, team the on trend boat neck tee with a pair of white Capri shorts. This is a great look for a summer day and when teamed with heels and a few bling accessories, it can instantly be transformed into evening attire.

Other boat neck tees that are hot for 2011 include a red and white stripe ensemble or alternatively a navy and white stripe piece. Many come complete with 3/4 length sleeves, making them perfect for those cooler mornings, when the sun hasn’t quite reached us.

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If you’re looking for a steal, check out this amazing price for the RB3025 Aviators worn by lots of Hollywood stars.

Don’t say I’m not good to you. As the summer comes rolling in it’s time to start thinking of our summer look. But does your man take care of himself? Why not introduced him to the timeless classic that are Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses?

Tom Cruise: Loved by fans all over the world

Regardless of what the kids on South Park think of him, Tom Cruise is still a man’s man. No wait, he’s a ladies’ man. Well, whatever way we look at it, he’s a good looking man. Don’t those sunglasses look pretty sexy? Ray-Ban sunglasses are like a good pair of jeans. Anyone can wear them and they make whoever is wearing them, cooler.

Still on the fence? Check out a bit of sunglass catching. Say what?

Just because you have a larger shape this doesn’t mean hiding your fuller figure is the best option. Rather than making it disappear, it will in fact make you look larger, so for this reason you should always stay away from baggier clothing but also anything that is too tight.

When choosing a shirt opt for one that will enhance your figure; if you have a pear shape choose a shirt that is cinched in at the waist but wider at the top. This will balance out the bottom heavy part, whilst showing off your best assets.

If you are wishing to invest in an outfit suitable for the office then you will probably also want to invest in a smart blazer. This looks killer with plus size dresses. There are however a few points to consider when choosing a blazer. Pear shaped women should always avoid wearing a blazer that hits the widest point of the hips, instead choose something that ends slightly above the hips or alternatively at waist level. A blazer with puffed sleeves is a great option for pear shapes, as it will balance out the shoulders in proportion to the hips.

Choosing a skirt can be a difficult task, especially when there are so many lengths and styles available. Both tight skirts and trousers should be avoided at all times if you possess a pear shape. Instead choose a skirt that offers a slight A-line cut as this style will work to skim over any problem areas and it will also smooth the hip and thigh.

A skirt with a waistline that lies slightly below the natural waistline is a good option as without those extra fussy layers you can make your waist look even smaller and your torso a little longer.

Finish the look with a killer pair of heels and you are good to go.

Most of us love a bit of jewelry. Sterling silver is perfect for all kinds of items from cuff links to sliver charms. The BIRKS online store has some really low priced charms for sale at the moment. As far as price goes, they qualify as a steal in my book. There may well be a logical explanation for their low cost but if you are into winter sports, then these pieces of silver jewelry may be perfect for you.

There are lots of different styles covering many of the events from the winter Olympics. This particular line of silver charms was created for the Vancouver winter Olympics competition of 2010. One and a half years later, the market for these pieces has shrunk considerably. But the fact of the matter is that if sporting jewelry is your ticket then you can save a fortune. In fact, the majority of the pieces in the collection now have a 75% reduction in price. This steal might not be for everybody but if sporting charms speak to you then why not check out what BIRKS have to offer?

The summer season is almost upon us and women everywhere are stocking up their wardrobes with those gorgeous summer dresses, but as they do so the age old question of what footwear to wear with them springs to mind.

Traditionally it seems that sandals have always been the obvious choice. Not only do they add a touch of summer to any outfit, they also keep your feet nice and cool as well as being some of the most comfortable footwear around. But with the unpredictability of the the UK seasons, they can leave your feet feeling a bit too cold, especially when you step in a puddle from one of those infrequent summer showers. So it seems that pumps would be the next obvious choice, usually associated with the autumn and spring months they act as a bridge between shoes and sandals. They are open topped for coolness, but they also keep your feet protected and most importantly dry!

It seems the one type of footwear we would never consider would be the boot for spring time. But could it possibly be the footwear to wear with a summer dress? It is possible and it seems this season the fashion world is pushing us this way. It seems as if women’s boots are moving out of the winter collections and merging with the summer. But if we stop and think about it for a moment it does seem that women’s boots are the ideal accessory for those shorter summer dresses. Not only do they give more length to our legs by the way of their heel, they also protect our feet from the spring elements and complement every dress out there.

Women’s boots come in such a variety of ranges they can match the weather as well as your dress. On a warm day why not opt for a shorter boot, either picking up an ankle boot or a peep toe boot. For a night out, or those miserable looking days, there is always a higher boot to choose from.

It seems that women’s boots have been overlooked for too long in the summer collections and they are here this season to make their stand. If you’re looking for the best women’s boots for this season, then visit http://www.very.co.uk/ and browse their selection online. They have a fantastic range available on their website.