A few months ago, I decided I was overdue for a proper vacation. The last time I had been away for any length of time was five years ago. After my first year of university, my parents generously sponsored me to go on a European tour. I visited eight countries in fourteen days, and slept in youth hostels the entire time. The only luggage I brought with me was my trusty backpack. Following the advice of some more seasoned travelers, I sewed a Canadian flag on my backpack. Everyone loves Canadians, eh!
This trip was to be somewhat different. I have decided to go back to Europe, but this time I will be traveling in style. I am planning to take a first-class flight into London, and I am in dire need of some first-class luggage. Luggage is such a difficult thing to shop for. It is one of those things that will not be used often enough to justify any great expense, but to purchase cheap luggage would be a complete waste of time and money. I decided to get together with the friends I will be going away with, for an afternoon of good old American shopping.
We spent the afternoon going from department store to big-box store to specialty store and back again. I finally narrowed my choices down to three potential sets of luggage; American Tourister, Briggs & Riley, and Zero Halliburton. They each have certain appealing aspects, and they are all reasonably priced. I read somewhere that American Tourister luggage has one of the best warranties in the industry. Briggs & Riley have been manufacturing quality products since 1993, and they also offer an extensive warranty. Zero Halliburton is, well…..Zero Halliburton.
Once I thought about it for a little while, I realized that the Zero Halliburton suitcase was the one for me. I'll admit that I am actually in love with this luggage. If James Bond were transporting a suitcase filled with priceless gems, he would use a Zero Halliburton. I ended up purchasing a 26-inch Suiter for the slightly bloated price of $900.00. It is constructed from a wonderful brushed aluminum that looks like it would withstand an explosion, much less the baggage handlers at Heathrow. I will be bringing my prized collection of designer purses with me, so I can rest easy that they will be well protected in my awesome new suitcase. Do you think I should put a Canadian flag on it?
Cathy Feldman always wanted to be a famous supermodel. When she is not fantasizing about strutting down the runway with her favorite Gucci purse, she writes for designerhandbags101.com – an online designer handbag resource, with extensive information on Samsonite Luggage, Travelpro Luggage, Tumi Luggage and more.
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Wednesday 10 October 2007
Glove Mittens - Don't Let Those Fingers Get Cold!
When winter rolls around we all look to hats, scarves, gloves and mittens to help keep us warm. Most of us have a preference when it comes to the type of protection we choose for our hands. Children seem to be more inclined to wear mittens, while most adults opt for gloves. For those of us who enjoy either or there’s now an option that incorporates the two. Convertible glove mittens are a fashionable choice and can be worn by anyone of any age.
The main difference between the two traditional choices in winter hand protection is that gloves provide a space for each of the five fingers, while mittens provide one larger area and then an additional spot for the thumb. In the case of convertible glove mittens a flap of fabric can be pulled over the fingers to provide a mitten. When it’s folded back, individual spots for each finger are visible.
Many parents choose this type of option for their child for several reasons. Mittens do indeed keep a child’s hands very warm but they can be restrictive when it comes to doing things such as riding a bike or throwing a ball. With convertible glove mittens, the child can pull back the flap of fabric covering their fingers allowing them better control of their hands.
For kids who live in climates that include snow during winter they’ll love having the ability to pull the flap of material over their fingers when it comes time to make a snowman or throw a snowball. With convertible glove mittens they can quickly switch from gloves to mittens allowing them to get their hands right in the snow and mold the perfect snowball.
Teenagers often balk at the idea of wearing anything on their head or hands in the winter. If you are the parent of an adolescent you’ve probably been told that mittens and gloves aren’t cool. For some reason kids this age think that freezing is okay as long as they look good. With convertible glove mittens, teenagers have a choice which means they are more likely to actually wear them. One of the best things about convertible glove mittens is that many teenagers have started wearing them and with peer pressure being what it is, kids may actually ask for a pair.
They are available in many different color and fabric choices. For smaller kids fabrics that are machine washable are the best. Small children sometimes have trouble distinguishing snow and mud and their convertible glove mittens will get dirty often. Adults can find many different styles including leather ones that look great with just about any jacket or coat.
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The main difference between the two traditional choices in winter hand protection is that gloves provide a space for each of the five fingers, while mittens provide one larger area and then an additional spot for the thumb. In the case of convertible glove mittens a flap of fabric can be pulled over the fingers to provide a mitten. When it’s folded back, individual spots for each finger are visible.
Many parents choose this type of option for their child for several reasons. Mittens do indeed keep a child’s hands very warm but they can be restrictive when it comes to doing things such as riding a bike or throwing a ball. With convertible glove mittens, the child can pull back the flap of fabric covering their fingers allowing them better control of their hands.
For kids who live in climates that include snow during winter they’ll love having the ability to pull the flap of material over their fingers when it comes time to make a snowman or throw a snowball. With convertible glove mittens they can quickly switch from gloves to mittens allowing them to get their hands right in the snow and mold the perfect snowball.
Teenagers often balk at the idea of wearing anything on their head or hands in the winter. If you are the parent of an adolescent you’ve probably been told that mittens and gloves aren’t cool. For some reason kids this age think that freezing is okay as long as they look good. With convertible glove mittens, teenagers have a choice which means they are more likely to actually wear them. One of the best things about convertible glove mittens is that many teenagers have started wearing them and with peer pressure being what it is, kids may actually ask for a pair.
They are available in many different color and fabric choices. For smaller kids fabrics that are machine washable are the best. Small children sometimes have trouble distinguishing snow and mud and their convertible glove mittens will get dirty often. Adults can find many different styles including leather ones that look great with just about any jacket or coat.
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Cowboy Western Wear - What You Should Know!
Living in a place like Dallas or Houston affords for some great fashion looks. Just walking down the street in one of these southern cities gives you a glimpse into real cowboy western wear. Leather boots, blue jeans and ten-gallon hats dot the landscape in Texas. If you love the look but you live farther north, you might think dressing like a cowboy or cowgirl is off limits. That’s really not the case as anyone can pull of the western wear look with the right clothes.
The staple of any look like this is the blue jeans. Most of us have at least one pair of jeans we absolutely adore. For the cowboy western wear look, you need a pair that is going to fit either over or in a pair of cowboy boots. Darker denim is better and back pockets are really a must. A leather belt also adds to the look and provides a nice accessory piece regardless of gender.
Even though a belt is enough for most outfits, there’s another dimension to wearing one with cowboy gear. The belt buckle is as much a part of the finished look as the jeans are. You should choose a western themed buckle that is small enough that it won’t pinch your stomach when you sit, but is big enough to be noticed. Having a few buckles on hand adds to the variety of your look.
Boots are always something a real cowboy wears. Most cowboys cover their boots with their jeans, but that’s not always the case with cowgirls. For a woman wanting to incorporate the cowboy western wear look into her wardrobe, the design on the boot should be carefully considered. Go shopping at a western wear store and try on a selection of different boots. If you can’t find a pair you like, inquire about having them custom made. You’d be surprised by how reasonable the cost is and a pair made just for you are going to fit and look fantastic.
Next is the shirt. If you are going for a traditional look, a plaid shirt fits the bill. The color scheme isn’t as important as the fit. You want it to fit properly across the shoulders as well as over the chest. For men, leaving a button or two open of their cowboy western wear shirt is preferable. Also, tuck your shirt in when you are getting dressed because you want to show-off that belt buckle you bought.
Last but obviously not least is the hat. What would a cowboy be without their hat? There are many different styles and types of cowboy hats available. The key to finding the right one is the size. You don’t want one that is too big or too small. If you visit a cowboy western wear store, they’ll measure your head and help you pick out a hat that is perfect for you. Once you do that your new look will be complete and you’ll be ready to wow the world.
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The staple of any look like this is the blue jeans. Most of us have at least one pair of jeans we absolutely adore. For the cowboy western wear look, you need a pair that is going to fit either over or in a pair of cowboy boots. Darker denim is better and back pockets are really a must. A leather belt also adds to the look and provides a nice accessory piece regardless of gender.
Even though a belt is enough for most outfits, there’s another dimension to wearing one with cowboy gear. The belt buckle is as much a part of the finished look as the jeans are. You should choose a western themed buckle that is small enough that it won’t pinch your stomach when you sit, but is big enough to be noticed. Having a few buckles on hand adds to the variety of your look.
Boots are always something a real cowboy wears. Most cowboys cover their boots with their jeans, but that’s not always the case with cowgirls. For a woman wanting to incorporate the cowboy western wear look into her wardrobe, the design on the boot should be carefully considered. Go shopping at a western wear store and try on a selection of different boots. If you can’t find a pair you like, inquire about having them custom made. You’d be surprised by how reasonable the cost is and a pair made just for you are going to fit and look fantastic.
Next is the shirt. If you are going for a traditional look, a plaid shirt fits the bill. The color scheme isn’t as important as the fit. You want it to fit properly across the shoulders as well as over the chest. For men, leaving a button or two open of their cowboy western wear shirt is preferable. Also, tuck your shirt in when you are getting dressed because you want to show-off that belt buckle you bought.
Last but obviously not least is the hat. What would a cowboy be without their hat? There are many different styles and types of cowboy hats available. The key to finding the right one is the size. You don’t want one that is too big or too small. If you visit a cowboy western wear store, they’ll measure your head and help you pick out a hat that is perfect for you. Once you do that your new look will be complete and you’ll be ready to wow the world.
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Mens Fashion Clothing - Making A Statement
In some ways, I have always been a little bit jealous of girls. I like mens fashion clothing, but it can be so hard to express yourself. With women's clothing, there is such a great, broad variety of different bright things to express different moods. With mens clothing, however, everything is much more subdued. Two womens dresses can be as different as night and day, but mens suits almost always look about the same. With mens apparel, you can make a fashion statement, but you are always speaking in a quiet voice.
Nonetheless, this doesn't mean that you can't have fun with mens fashion clothes. Depending on what kind of statement you want to make, there is still quite a bit to do. Nowadays, with the popularity of hip-hop, mens fashion clothing is more bright and colorful than ever. Strong, bold, primary colors are where it's at. Then again, outdoor clothing is also very popular. Mens fashion clothing takes many forms, and what might look good to one group of people won't to another. If you really want to impress those hippie girls, wear some quiet earth tones, tan sandals, and cargo shorts. They will be fighting over you like you were tofu imitation breakfast sausage!
You have to be careful when you go to men's fashion stores. For some reason, clothing has gotten a lot more boring lately. I blame the aggressive advertising campaigns by Old Navy and The Gap, but whatever the reason, a lot of mens fashion clothing is just boring old T-shirts dressed up with logos. The logos aren't even interesting! If you are into this kind of mens fashion clothing, why not just buy packs of T-shirts cheap at the local JCPenney? You would save a good bit of money, and you would not look like an idiot spending money on generic looking brand-name clothing!
Fortunately, mens fashion clothing is much more interesting when it comes to formal wear. Mens formal wear never gets boring. Although there is not a lot of variety in suits, they continue to look good. It is good to know that, at least in some areas, classic ideas of design have not forever faded from the scene. Men's fashion clothing for a night out on the town continues to look as spiffy as ever. Sometimes I dress up in a suit just because I like how it looks on me!
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Nonetheless, this doesn't mean that you can't have fun with mens fashion clothes. Depending on what kind of statement you want to make, there is still quite a bit to do. Nowadays, with the popularity of hip-hop, mens fashion clothing is more bright and colorful than ever. Strong, bold, primary colors are where it's at. Then again, outdoor clothing is also very popular. Mens fashion clothing takes many forms, and what might look good to one group of people won't to another. If you really want to impress those hippie girls, wear some quiet earth tones, tan sandals, and cargo shorts. They will be fighting over you like you were tofu imitation breakfast sausage!
You have to be careful when you go to men's fashion stores. For some reason, clothing has gotten a lot more boring lately. I blame the aggressive advertising campaigns by Old Navy and The Gap, but whatever the reason, a lot of mens fashion clothing is just boring old T-shirts dressed up with logos. The logos aren't even interesting! If you are into this kind of mens fashion clothing, why not just buy packs of T-shirts cheap at the local JCPenney? You would save a good bit of money, and you would not look like an idiot spending money on generic looking brand-name clothing!
Fortunately, mens fashion clothing is much more interesting when it comes to formal wear. Mens formal wear never gets boring. Although there is not a lot of variety in suits, they continue to look good. It is good to know that, at least in some areas, classic ideas of design have not forever faded from the scene. Men's fashion clothing for a night out on the town continues to look as spiffy as ever. Sometimes I dress up in a suit just because I like how it looks on me!
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Summer Fashion - Keep It Simple And Cool
Although it is still technically winter, it is already time to start thinking about spring and summer fashion. If you want to look good, you have to stay well ahead of the summer fashion trends, and to do that, you need to be attentive all year. The stores will start to stock summer dresses and summer clothes by February or March, and if you watch them early on, you can see what is selling and what isn't and figure out what look works for you.
Summer fashions are kind of a mixed blessing. On the one hand, you don't really have as much leeway as you do with fall fashion. Fall fashions have always been my favorite personally. You see, the temperature is just right for clothes fashions. You can wear several layers of clothing without having to really bundle up. This gives you a lot of leeway, so you can dress anywhere from casual to formal and still be comfortable. Unlike winter fashions, you don't spend all of your time covered by a jacket that obscures your good taste in clothing.
Although summer fashions lack this feature of fall, they do have some obvious advantages. If you have a good body and are young, you can use summer fashion to accentuate your good looks. Most summer fashions, in fact, start not with a trip to the store, but a trip for the gym – or maybe 20 trips to the gym. In order for summer fashion to look good on you, you have to look good yourself. The less you have to cover up, the more leeway you will have in picking out your summer clothing. If you really want to look good by summer, you have to start working towards it by winter.
Another great thing about summer fashion is how light and comfortable it is. You don't have to go to great lengths to look good – at least in terms of picking out your clothing. Usually you can get by with either a T-shirt and pants or a summer dress. Summer fashion is much simpler then fashion for other times of year. Instead of requiring heavy handbags as accessories, you can get by with a small, pretty necklace. This isn't to say that summer clothing trends require no work at all. Both women's and mens Summer fashion require some effort to pick out. The difference is that there are fewer pieces. Less things can go wrong, which makes summer fashions easier and more comfortable.
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Summer fashions are kind of a mixed blessing. On the one hand, you don't really have as much leeway as you do with fall fashion. Fall fashions have always been my favorite personally. You see, the temperature is just right for clothes fashions. You can wear several layers of clothing without having to really bundle up. This gives you a lot of leeway, so you can dress anywhere from casual to formal and still be comfortable. Unlike winter fashions, you don't spend all of your time covered by a jacket that obscures your good taste in clothing.
Although summer fashions lack this feature of fall, they do have some obvious advantages. If you have a good body and are young, you can use summer fashion to accentuate your good looks. Most summer fashions, in fact, start not with a trip to the store, but a trip for the gym – or maybe 20 trips to the gym. In order for summer fashion to look good on you, you have to look good yourself. The less you have to cover up, the more leeway you will have in picking out your summer clothing. If you really want to look good by summer, you have to start working towards it by winter.
Another great thing about summer fashion is how light and comfortable it is. You don't have to go to great lengths to look good – at least in terms of picking out your clothing. Usually you can get by with either a T-shirt and pants or a summer dress. Summer fashion is much simpler then fashion for other times of year. Instead of requiring heavy handbags as accessories, you can get by with a small, pretty necklace. This isn't to say that summer clothing trends require no work at all. Both women's and mens Summer fashion require some effort to pick out. The difference is that there are fewer pieces. Less things can go wrong, which makes summer fashions easier and more comfortable.
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Fashionable Travel Clothing Choices
I used to be absolutely obsessed with my appearance. In general, this wasn't really a problem. You see, I had plenty of free time, and would make sure to get up early enough to get ready for work. I would look great every day, and it made me feel great. Unfortunately, it was a problem when I traveled.
You see, the same clothes that might make you look stunning at home make terrible travel clothing. Travel apparel demands certain sacrifices for those of us who are more formal. For example, if you insist on dressing up every day, it can make things rather difficult. Unless you use wrinkle free travel clothes, you have to pack an iron. Your clothing, no matter how carefully packet, will get wrinkled. You might also have to take it travel garment bag with you to keep things from getting too messed up.
More to the point, insisting on dressing well all the time means that you have to bring more clothing for travel than you would otherwise. A casual dresser only has to bring enough outfits to have a new one for each day of the trip, or at least every other day. If you are a snappy dresser, however, you'll need to get two sets of travel clothing: your formal one, and a relaxed one for outdoor activities.
When I was planning my first extended trip to Europe, I decided that enough was enough. This time, I resolved I would be more practical with my travel clothing. I brought one nice outfit in case I wanted to go to a fancy restaurant, but the rest was casual. I have never had such a relaxing vacation before! I packed good outdoor clothing – comfortable, durable, and compact. Rather than my usual three pieces of luggage, I only had to take one! Although I admit that I missed my nice clothes on the trip from time to time, in general I was happy without them. It was certainly worth the increased convenience.
Of course, once I switched to good travel clothing, I had to go a step further. As silly as my expensive clothes were, my fancy luggage was even more ridiculous. I bought myself a hiking backpack to take on all my trips in the future. I don't know why more people don't use them – they are so much more convenient than suitcases. It is liberating to finally understand how to make traveling easy for myself.
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You see, the same clothes that might make you look stunning at home make terrible travel clothing. Travel apparel demands certain sacrifices for those of us who are more formal. For example, if you insist on dressing up every day, it can make things rather difficult. Unless you use wrinkle free travel clothes, you have to pack an iron. Your clothing, no matter how carefully packet, will get wrinkled. You might also have to take it travel garment bag with you to keep things from getting too messed up.
More to the point, insisting on dressing well all the time means that you have to bring more clothing for travel than you would otherwise. A casual dresser only has to bring enough outfits to have a new one for each day of the trip, or at least every other day. If you are a snappy dresser, however, you'll need to get two sets of travel clothing: your formal one, and a relaxed one for outdoor activities.
When I was planning my first extended trip to Europe, I decided that enough was enough. This time, I resolved I would be more practical with my travel clothing. I brought one nice outfit in case I wanted to go to a fancy restaurant, but the rest was casual. I have never had such a relaxing vacation before! I packed good outdoor clothing – comfortable, durable, and compact. Rather than my usual three pieces of luggage, I only had to take one! Although I admit that I missed my nice clothes on the trip from time to time, in general I was happy without them. It was certainly worth the increased convenience.
Of course, once I switched to good travel clothing, I had to go a step further. As silly as my expensive clothes were, my fancy luggage was even more ridiculous. I bought myself a hiking backpack to take on all my trips in the future. I don't know why more people don't use them – they are so much more convenient than suitcases. It is liberating to finally understand how to make traveling easy for myself.
Joules
Joules Sale
Joules Polos
Friday 14 September 2007
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