10 Sexy Italian Bikini Swimsuits

Who doesn't love the beach? Sand, sun and beautiful water. The beaches of the Mediterranean are stunning. Italy is full of beach babes and what do those beach babes wear? Swimsuits, especially the barely-there bikinis. It's enough to make your head spin, right? Personally, I'm a swimsuit watcher. I love to see what the designers do with the flimsy fabric. It gets sexier all the time. In this article, we'll explore 10 of the sexiest and hottest Italian-made suits to ever hit the beach.

1) This bikini (left) comes to us from Roberto Cavalli, a master Italian fashion designer. It's green and has a fish-like scale print. It's just oh-so-sexy.

The piece has a triangle top that closes in a halter in the back and a bottom that gently cups the rear with string enclosures on the sides.

2) How can you not love this sexy black number from Giuseppe Mulier of the Bikini Company? It's little but provides enough coverage to leave something to the imagination. The starfish print is used in strategic places such as the left breast and the middle of the bottom front as an accent. This creates a very adult - and very sexy - look. This is great for swimming and for sunbathing.

3) Be a heart-breaker in this Heart Print triangle bikini from Malizia by La Perla Mare. The triangle halter top neck caresses the chest. A string holds the cups of the bikini bra together. The briefs are side-tie for easy on and easy off flexibility. In red, white and black, this suit may not make you the Queen of the Beach but it could make you the Queen of Hearts!

4) From the design geniuses of Dolce & Gabbana, we have this white one-piece suit with peek-a-boo front and criss-cross halter top. The D&G logo is strategically placed in the front bottom of the suit.

The high-cut legs and flattering design have a surprisingly-slimming effect too! It's D&G! It's fantastic! It's swimwear that will make anyone look hot, hot, hot!

5) Missoni Sport brings us this sexy little number that's practical and adorable. This is catwalk style that you can swim Olympic-type laps in. The cut-outs on the side flash some sexy, sexy skin and the stripe print which is a trademark of Missoni's helps to draw the eye to the exposed flesh. The shoulder straps are thin. The neckline plunges; and, the thigh slits are high cut. The material is 80% nylon and 20% spandex which makes it perfect for any swim-type activity you love to indulge in. On the right we have another elegant swimsuit outfit by Missoni.

6) This polyamide/lycra suit from Verde Veronica by La Perla has an innovative, metallic look with fantastic accents.

It'll make you the hottest thing on the beach, ladies. The bottom is cut at a generous angle in the back to skim your bottom and expose some sexy skin. The triangle halter top is just gorgeous. On the top of the bra and brief, we have stunning gold rings that add some bling to this bikini.

Ties enclose the piece from all sides. This is the perfect bikini to wear if you'd rather be noticed for your curves than your swimming ability. It's a piece of art.

7) Versace is known for its artistic and sexy creations. This bikini doesn't disappoint on either front. A double triangle-halter top string gives extra support for the breasts which are gently cupped in movable mostly-nylon fabric. The print is part floral but totally avant-garde. The colors are white, pink and black with a hint of yellow to draw the eye to specific points. This suit is a visual feast for the eyes.

Absolutely stunning!

8) This sexy gold-toned one piece from Blumarine is just a dream. It looks like it was made for a goddess. The fabric skims the curves every so gently, practically caressing them. The shiny, gold-tone insert is not only creative branding that says "Blumarine", it's also eye-catching and a great way to camouflage a wee bit of a tummy.
The generous high-cut thigh will make any leg appear longer and prettier. The bottom is cut to skim the derriere and meets in a "v" at the lowest point.

9) The apricot color of this Fendi bikini is best worn with tanned skin. It shoes an olive complexion off to its best advantage. I love this piece because it's sexy but not too over the top. The bust is almost a sports bra in appearance. It gives great coverage and provides just a tease of what lies beneath.
The bottoms of this piece are what is most striking. Of course, both pieces have the Fendi logo. The bottom has cut-outs on the side with just a string holding the piece together. The brief falls perfectly and flatters those with bottoms that nature already blessed. It's a stunning piece that is elegant, simple and very sexy.

10) Last, but not least, is this retro bikini inspired by Emilio Pucci. Step back in time to the 1950s with this sexy paisley print bikini with a colorful striped band underneath the bust that is almost like a color chart for the entire piece.
Ties on the back and neck of the top and sides of the panty ensure full coverage at all times. This piece is absolutely fantastic and a throw-back to a simple time. It's a shout out to one of the innovators of the bikini. Che cosa meravigliosa!
So, there you have it, ten of the hottest, sexiest, most beautiful swimsuits to ever hit the beach. Enjoy!

_{...and Finally Pasquale's friend at the beach:}

by Domenica DiPiero

10 Terrific Italian-Made T-Shirts for Ladies

I love my t-shirts. They're young. Hip. Trendy. They can also be worn under a business suit to add some funk to an otherwise drab look. Of course, we know they can be worn with jeans. Whether casual, flirty, sexy or just plain old comfortable, t-shirts are a must-have in anyone's wardrobe. C'mon. Admit it. We all have them.
In this article, I'm going to focus on ten t-shirts from Italy's best and brightest fashion houses that show that t-shirts don't have to be grungy. They are often quite fashionable. And, as I firmly believe, they'll never go out of style!

1) Hey, who says a t-shirt has to look casual! Hmm? I know I didn't. This long-sleeve jersey from Blumarine has a boat-slit neckline. The fabric is smooth and looks almost silky. The piece is unlined and made of 100% rayon! I love the little shoe-string laces on the sides and the sexy peek-a-boo sleeves that show a hint of skin! You can pair this shirt with a skirt of any length, dressy or casual pants and; of course, jeans. It's so versatile you will probably want to buy more than one!

2) From the Armani Collezione, we get yet another gorgeous, designer t-shirt. This stretch jersey tee has a boat slit neck. Its sheer print gives the hint of skin while covering you up in complete comfort. The long sleeves are great for winter or spring.

The item is beautiful enough to be worn dressed up and can also look great with a pair of tight jeans and stiletto hills. This piece is hot!

3) Marni is a designer label that knows women. Just look at this t-shirt. This isn't your boyfriend's (or husband's) t-shirt, is it? It's soft and supple. The cowl-neck is loose and oh-so-feminine. It's comfortable and skims your curves without clinging to them too tightly. This is a piece that travels well whether you wear it on the plane or pack it in your best luggage. This cotton tee looks - and feels - fantastic!

4) Don't you just love Dolce & Gabbana? Yes, this is a D&G t-shirt! Can you believe it? Sleek. Sexy. Form-fitting. Curve-hugging - and with a touch of feminine lace. This may be the perfect t-shirt. It's almost dressy. However, the Elastane and Viscose combination make this tee one that will fit you like a second skin. It looks great with jeans as seen in this picture; but, could work well with a teeny-weeny black mini - what a perfect club outfit, right?

5) From Alberta Ferretti we have this classic t-shirt. The lines are simple as is the design, the cut and the fabric. This tee is smooth - made mostly of Rayon. It will glide over your curves. You can wear it with a business suit, a skirt or dress pants for work. You can pair it with jeans or capris for a casual, summery look. Do what you will with it - this t-shirt can take whatever you can dish out!

6) Who better than Versace to create a t-shirt fit for a rock goddess? This sleeveless piece is perfect to show off your toned arms. The metallic silver on the shoulder is picked up throughout the piece in the logo in the front and in chunks of color on the back. The color splashes vary between lighter purple and a deep, dark purple. This shirt oozes sex appeal and begs to be worn when you are sure to take center stage. It's an attention-grabber!

7) I loved the last tee so much that I stuck with Versace for this piece! I guess it's the little bit of rock n' roll that grabs me so. I really love the look and feel of this piece. It's just cool. Did you know that the t-shirt is encrusted with studs! How great is that? I love the long-sleeves and the color scheme. If you love the front, though - the back is even better. See the sexy cutouts. Aren't they awesome?

8) From Moschino Jeans we have this lovely turtleneck t-shirt. The heart-shaped design with the pretty pink embellishments is really what caught my eye. Of course, I also love the t-shirt turtleneck. It's comfortable and warm - great for a cold winter day or night. This t-shirt brings me back to my upbringing in Boston. I love the way it feels. I love its sleek look. The sassy design makes me feel like I'm wearing a painting. It looks great with a white wool skirt - or any a-line skirt you can find. I also love to wear it with jeans for a casual yet elegant look.

9) This turtle-neck t-shirt may be my favorite piece in this article. It comes to us from Daniela Vecchi. Daniela knows beauty. She's not afraid to shy away from it even with a t-shirt. Look at the lace accents with the sheer, wool/nylon jersey underneath! The high-color of the turtleneck is exquisite and the rear-zip enclosure is sexy and chic. The two-tone lace is a touch of design genius. I really can't say enough about this piece. I absolutely adore it!

10) I was going to include a basic white short-sleeved tee for the last item. Then, I spotted this Marni t-shirt and fell in love. Yes, I am a fickle, fickle girl when it comes to fashion. There is nothing basic about this t-shirt. It's short-sleeved and made of poplin. The neckline is asymmetrical. The cut is flowing - and flattering to most body types. The design is romantic and feminine. It's an exquisite piece that belongs in anyone's collection, really.

There you have it - ten terrific Italian-made t-shirts. They're not your mamma's or your boyfriend's t-shirts. They're feminine. Flirty. Fun - and fashionable. They work with jeans, skirts and more.

By Domenica DiPiero

Fashion Update February 2008

New Fashion Trends Revealed on High Fashion Week in New York

Head Band

High Fashion Week in New York revealed - the headband is the "hottest" hat! Fine vintage accessories help create a complete image. The headband is not as pretentious as a hat and can be combined with casual styles. However, it will look particularly striking with evening dresses.

_{Models from Left to Right: Sass & Bide, Alexander Wang and Erin Fetherston.}

Bows

Large bows at the neck visually enhances a small chest and attracts attention to your charming face.

_{Models: Charles Nolan, Doo Ri, Alexander Wang}

Purple

Purple is still the fashion's favorite color right now. All shades of purple swayed on the runway during the Fashion Week in New York: from the saturated bright purple (Abaete) to the delicate muted purple (Oscar de la Renta).

_{Models: Diane Von Furstenberg, Abaete and Oscar de la Renta.}

Fishnet

Sexy fishnet stockings is another trend of the Fashion Week in New York. In addition, mesh fabric is added into the blouses.

_{Models: Verrier, Baby Phat and Sass & Bide}

Whiter than White

Most men consider white the sexiest color. It seems like designers listened to their opinion. The abundance of white dresses was blinding at some shows.

_{Models: Abaete, Verrier, and Erin Fetherston.}

Maxi

"Evening dresses must be floor-length" - this is a mandate of the designers at the High Fashion Week in New York. Romantic maxi for a reception or a black-tie dinner? Why not!

_{Models: BCBG, Lela Rose, and Oscar de la Renta.}

Forest Nymphs

Juicy foliage color is still a designer's favorite. Pair it with deep brown and you won't go wrong!

_{Models: Catherine Malandrino, Cynthia Steffe and Doo Ri.}

What We Love from the 80's

Eighties are back. And so are all the consequences: shoulder pads, leggings, and pattern sweaters.

_{Models: Betsey Johnson, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Preen.}

By Daria Kozyr

_{Source for photos: http://omiru.com}

Italian Sexy Women: Italy's 10 Sexiest Women

Italy's sexiest women all come from the television business. In most cases, they started off their careers as showgirls/dancers in popular tv programmes. This phenomenon has become such a custom in Italy that these girls were given particular names after the programmes from veline to letterine, to schedine and so on. This was the necessary first step for these women to gain their popularity. Some of these lovely ladies became lingerie models. Most end up on the calendars of Max or GQ at some point. And nearly all of them end up marrying or going out with famous Italian footballers. Regardless, here are the most popular and beloved sexy Italian women.

Monica Bellucci In the lovely person of Monica Bellucci, sensuality meets professional acting. Since Monica Bellucci is by far Italy's most famous sex symbol, it's a pity she's moved to Paris with her husband Vincent Cassel.

This ex-model, who is now a full-time actress, she's is probably Italy's Italy's most popular show woman worldwide (and one of the most clicked names on the web too), thanks to her international career which also includes a part as Mary Magdalene in Mel Gibson's "The 'The The Passion of the Christ" Christ' Christ in 2004 and the two sequels to The Matrix with Keanu Reeves.

Elisabetta Canalis Born in 1978, Elisabetta Canalis started as velina for popular evening tv show "Striscia "Striscia Striscia La Notizia" - Notizia" Notizia a news programme with a funny slant. Thanks also to her love story with Inter footballer Christian "Bobo" Vieri, she then became a regular participant in football tv programmes - and the fantasy of many football tv fans. On top of that, her love story with Vieri has been an excellent matter for Italian gossip magazines, as the couple can be awarded a prize for their infinite number of break ups and "get backs" 'get backs' reconciliations.

Ilary Blasi Ilary Blasi is still in her twenties, just like Elisabetta Blasi's Canalis; but, her career began when she was still a kid. Her first famous television experiences included working for Passa Parola with Italian popular tv presenter Gerry Scotti. On this occasion, she was one of the "letterine". This was back in 2001. Ilary also had a similar showgirl role in Che Tempo Fa, a weather forecast show. She recently hit the news for her wedding with famous footballer Francesco Totti, who plays for AS Roma, and for deciding to give birth to their first child under water.

Manuela Arcuri

Manuela Arcuri was born in Anagni, not too far from Rome, and started as a model before becoming an actress and one of Italy's favourite calendar women. She's perhaps the most typical of Italy's sexy women - what with the television appearances, a footballer as an ex-boyfriend and plenty of work as a lingerie model! Manuela is a real beauty. Perhaps, a few more years at an acting school would have done the trick.

A video of Manuela Arcuri on the job. Hilarious video! and one Of Elisabetta Canalis Click Sexy Women Video

Martina Colombari


Her first step into the hall of fame was winning Italy's most important beauty contest, Miss Italia in 1991. She was then 16; and, it is said her parents covered the walls of their family-run pizzeria in Riccione with photos of her. Since thenshe's then she's appeared as co-presenter and guest in numerous tv shows, had photos taken for many calendars, and was perhaps one of the first young women in Italy's show business to have a footballer as boyfriend, AC Milan's Billy Costacurta.

A special mention should be made for Elenoire Casalegno. Yet another calendar girl, sport tv showgirl and beauty contest winner - The Look of the Year (1994). For a change, however, she's not the face of a line of lingerie; but rather, a confectionary firm in Piedmont. Not that this has in any way harmed her ex-volleyball player's perfect body! Other show girls who deserve a special mention in this italian sexy woman article include lingerie stars and show girls Federica Fontana, Flavia Vento, Alessia Mertz and Paola Barale. For pictures of other sexy Italian women, just look below!

_{Debora Salvalaggio}

_{Federica Felini}

_{Federica Ridolfi}

Shot Shorts - Hot, Hot at Fashion Week

Miley Cyrus wears them.

So does Jenna Dewan.

In fact, a lot of celebrities are wearing them spring, summer or fall.

So it's no wonder that short shorts are features in so many of the designer Spring 2009 shows.

Bright or Plain - Short Shorts Rule at Miss Sixty

Bright yellow short shorts with black patterns can brighten up any gloomy day.

Blue Short Shorts - Miss Sixy Collection

Reyes See Through Short Shorts

The Miss Sixty short shorts really look sexy with knee high horizontal striped stocks and horizontal striped top.

Paired with an oversized belt, these short shorts really draw attention to your legs.

Bright, sexy and easily paired with tops to create boundless hot looks.

More sedate, yet equally hot and sexy were a pair of bronze short shorts worn with a t-shirt and jacket.

Ruffian Bronze Velvet Short Shorts

Ruffian White Short Shorts

Angle high open toe boots added to this hot look.

Short shorts under a low cut "V" shaped top and colorful yellow print designer toreadors jacket looks great day or night.

The outfit was offset with a large tie; horizontal striped knee high stock and more open toed ankle high boots.

Reyes See Through Short Shorts

Reyes collection featured a black and white netted see through pantsuit with underlying black shorts and bra.

Complementing the look was an oversized floppy hat in checkerboard style.

Fashion Tips : Skin Disorders

The skin is subject to various problems - blemishes, infections and growth due to internal or external causes. It occurs equally among men and women.

Some of the skin disorders are

Lesion - Change in tissue formation.

Papule - A firm raised lesion

Pustule - Similar to papule but contains puss.

Seborrhea - Excessive secretion of disturbed quantity of sebum is collected upon the skin in the form of oily coating. This is known as seborrhea. Some times a burning sensation is felt

White heads - These are caused by pores getting clogged with hardened oil. Here the pores are not open. They therefore show up as tiny white pearly lumps beneath the surface of the skin. They usually form on oily skin.

Black heads - In this case the pores are open and clogged sebum is exposed to the air. Oxidation takes place turning it black in colour.

Acne - This is one of the most common skin disorders which primarily affects the adolescents as it can be caused by increase of sex hormones which takes place during puberty. This imbalance of sex hormones causes the sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum (Sebum is a semi-fluid oily substance which lubricates the skin). The pores of the skin enlarge and get blocked with hardened sebum. This result in black heads and pimples. Some of these develop into pustule which rupture and spread infection. Both men and women are affected by acne, but young men are more likely to have more severe, longer lasting forms of acne.

Acne should never be neglected as it causes extensive scarring. Clinical and professional treatment is necessary.

Treatment

1. Cleaning with medicated soap twice daily

2. Ozone treatment

3. Protective or soothing creams (sandal wood based)

4. Regulated diet

5. Drinking 6 to 8 glass water

6. Dandruff treatment

7. Exercise to improve normal bodily function

8. Adequate sleep

9. Avoid the use of strong cosmetics

Acne Vulgarise

Acne vulgarise is defined as the last and worst stage of acne and is accompanied by seborrhea, black heads, white heads, open pores, oily pigmentation, headless lumps and pustule.

Allergies

The cause of all allergies are not determined. Even herbal or natural products do cause allergic reactions. Allergies can occur from 4 main causes

1. Inhalants

2. Contacts

3. Infections

4. Particular food

Finding the particular cause for your allergy and avoiding it, is the only treatment. If it causes infection medication should be taken.

Dark Under Eye Circles

This is a very common problem which can result from many factors like lack of sleep, eye strain, improper bowel functions, diet deficiency, emotional stress, age etc.

Treatment more....

Adequate sleep, Applying cucumber pad or a mixture of Cucumber juice and rose water

Care & Exercises for the Eye

Vitamins A, B and C are very essential for the good care of the eyes. Milk, butter, cod liver oil, egg yolk, yellow and orange coloured vegetables such as pumpkin, carrot, tomato, mango, papaya, melon as well as green leafy vegetables such as celery, parsley, spinach etc contain a large amount of vitamin A. 8 to 10 hours of sleep is a must for bright eyes.

To avoid eye strain :

• Do not work in dim light

• Wear sunglasses whenever you step out in the sun

• Use face wash instead of soap because soap tends to darken the skin on the eyelids.

• Do not read continuously in moving vehicles.

• Do not stare too tong at anything without blinking the eyes. Blinking provides lubrication and relief from light.

• Do not rub the eyes too hard.

• To give momentary relief to the eyes, close the eyes with your palms so that no light can enter. Now open the eyes in the palm cup and stare into this darkness for a minute.

Exercises for eyes :

• Lift the eyes to the ceiling and then to the floor. Repeat it for 10 times. Rest the eyes either by blinking rapidly or rubbing your palms together and covering your eyes with them. Do not press the eyes. Palming reduces strain and gives relaxation to eyes.

• Look straight ahead at eye level, then slowly to left side at eye level and then to right side at eye level. Repeat it for 3 or 4 times.

• Make a circle, first clockwise and then anti-clockwise, with the eyes. Repeat for 5 times.

For eye care

Splash the eyes with cold water. Apply cotton wool pads, soaked in warm milk, witch hazel, weak tea solution or rose water on the eyes. Press gently and leave for 10 to 15 minutes.

Care for Eyebrows and Eyelashes :

• Eyebrows and Eyelashes should be brushed daily with a small brush.

• Rub eyebrows and eyelashes with olive oil or coconut oil or almond oil to encourage hair growth.

• For cleansing and nourishment of eyebrows, rub them with a little egg white and rinse it off after 10 minutes.

For eye makeup choose the correct colours and shades to complement your personality. The choice of the eyeliner and mascara should be compatible with the natural eyelash colour. A right touch and right colour is needed for beautiful, attractive eyes.

Fashion Tips : Colouring of Hair

Today colouring hair has become a common fashion and is dominating the fashion world. Some choose hair color for adding more beauty to the hair and some others choose hair color for gray coverage. Hair colouring is one of the quickest and most dramatic way to change your look. Hair colour come in different shades, forms and qualities for different hair textures.

Types Of Hair Colours

Colours are available today in all forms. Liquid, powder, oil, cream and gel, etc. For permanent colours, gel and other forms are used and for temporary and semi-permanent colours, hair mascaras, crayons and colour hair-sprays are usually used.

Hair Length

Expense increases in proportion to the length of hair. Shorter haircuts or medium hair cuts, look more attractive with hair colours.

Techniques Of Hair Colour

Highlighting, streaking, frosting, finger-painting etc are different techniques of colouring but teens today prefer highlighting and streaking.

Trendy Shades

Red and brown are the common trendy shades. Experts suggest that brown and golden are best for wheatish skin tones whereas reddish or purple shades are most suited for fair skinned people.

Tips for the Coloured Hair

*

Avoid direct bright sunlight, but little amount of sunrays accentuates the red tones.
*

Shampoos must have the same low pH level. Preference to special colour shampoo
*

Use hair conditioner after swimming to avoid dryness of hair.

Wipro to make life beautiful for men

BANGALORE: Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting (WCCL) has lined up a slew of launches and brands for the second half of this fiscal to push its personal care portfolio. WCCL is set to enter the market for men’s personal care products, extend its Santoor soap brand to more products and launch the brands of Unza, a Singapore-based FMCG firm it bought in 2007, in about 10 more countries by the end of this fiscal.

“We are launching a new men’s personal care brand Romano from the Unza portfolio in India this month. This will be an end-to-end brand, including shaving products, perfumes, body-and-face washes and hair-care products. This will be a premium brand, targeted mostly at the young executive,” senior vice-president Anil Chugh said.

Earlier this year, WCCL launched the women’s personal care brand Enchanteur from Unza. Mr Chugh was of the view that Romano may not face much competition because of the fragmented nature of the market and the fact that no men’s brand is present across the personal care segment.

The men’s grooming market is pegged at around Rs 800 crore. The Wipro arm, which posted sales of Rs 1,520 crore in 2007-08, will also leverage Unza product formulations to grow the Santoor brand. “Santoor is already very strong brand in the country and we will be introducing new products for skin care—shower gels and head-and-toe lotions,” Mr Chugh said.

Where Do Human Hair Extensions Really Come From?

Hair extensions have become huge of the last few years and we all love to add a little length to glam up our look for a big night out- but have you ever wondered where that hair really comes from?

"It's horse hair," swears my friend, "Or from dead people. Honestly who would really cut off all their own hair if it was that long?" Well he's wrong. There are in fact thousands of people around the world who do just that every day and they don't always get paid for it.

The best quality hair comes from Asian or Eastern European countries where poverty is high and work is poorly paid. These women often see selling their hair as the best way to make money and feed their families.

The 'hair factories' are very serious when they sign women into a contract to grow their hair a certain length and have strict conditions under which the hair must grow.

The women- and sometimes whole families- must keep their hair away from any contact with pollutants and make sure it is kept in top condition while to grows. Sometimes the factories even provide food for it's workers to ensure that the hair grows to a good enough standard.

When the time comes for the hair to be harvested the women line up at the factory before their heads are shaved completely bald and they are sent out to start the whole process again.

This may seem like a girl's worst nightmare to you but for many of these women it is the easiest and most effective way of providing for their family and the alternatives are much much worse.

However not all hair 'donors' benefit financially from such a huge sacrfice. In some parts of India women are conned out of their precious locks without even knowing they are then being sold to beef up the hair of beauty conscious women around the world.

In 2006 the Daily Mail reported how in the hills of Tirupati, in India, a Hindu temple has become the second richest religious site in the world- due mostly to it's sale of human hair.

The newspaper reported how every day, up to 4,000 women visit the temple to take part in a religious ceremony, called tonsuring, during which they shave off their hair as a sacrifice to the god Vishnu.

These women believe that taking part in the ceremony is a sign that they are willing to give up their pride and vanity, and to thank the gods or ask them for health and happiness in the future- but what they don't know is they are also making a lot of money for those who run the temple.

After the ceremony all the hair that is collected is combed, sorted into lengths and dyed before being shipped to Western countries to sell as wigs and hair extentions.

So while we see our extensions as a great way to give us a beauty boost and make us feel great as we hit the town- there is in fact a much bigger human story behind every lock of hair.

Courtesy : http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/lifestyle-fashion/styletrends/extensions-5192.html

Create the right impression with embroidered workwear

Embroidered work wear is an integral part of your corporate image strategy. For many people work wear is summed up by ill-fitting clothes in corporate colours made in hardwearing polyester or scratchy wool. The new work wear is a change from the yellow denims that have became so familiar to us all down the years. From a safety standpoint not to mention from a legal and liability standpoint, it is in your best interest to ensure your hi-visibility work wear is ANSI compliant as well as being comfortable and stylish. The thing to remember about casual work wear is that you don't want what you wear to undo all the hard work you've put in to establish yourself as a professional, mature and valued member of the team. Choosing the right work wear is important because it conveys a message about you to the client.

Whether your business is involved in retail or business to business wearing embroidered work wear is without doubt a must for you. It is hard to under estimate the value of quality embroidered work wear. If your staff have embroidered work wear they will:

Present a uniform appearance Create a professional "brand image" Add to your advertising campaigns Make your company look professional and serious about what you do.

We know that embroidered work wear is a key means of presenting your business and it has to be done correctly. Items you can have embroidered include t-shirts jackets office wear safety clothing fleeces polo shirts hats work wear rugby shirts sweat shirts as well as boots shoes and trainers. The recent launch of Miss Players with its range of trendy fashion wear for young women in the workplace has been a successful addition to the youth portfolio. Carhartt work wear and outerwear are designed to take you from season to season, providing exceptional comfort and warmth.

Lying or kneeling on a cold concrete floor in thin cotton trousers not only damaged your knees, it also did nothing for the wearer's self-esteem. Today, many have come to realise the advantages and benefits of investing in proper work wear that both protects the body from premature wear and tear and injury, and makes the job easier and more efficient. The new work wear is a change from the yellow denims that have became so familiar to us all down the years.

Clothing Brands

Contemporary branded fabrics offer a great range of comfort and performance benefits and Arco's clothing range offers you a choice of some of the best. Be sure that work wear needs to suit many requirements, in spite of individual differences among those who will ultimately wear the clothing. The clothing made by Dickies stands for being hard wearing as well as functional meeting the requirements of the hardest conditions of washing and wearing. A range of personal protection equipment from them also includes high visibility clothing, helmets, gloves and safety glasses.

Why Choose Dickies?

The clothing made by Dickies stands for being hard wearing as well as functional meeting the requirements of the hardest conditions of washing and wearing.

Are there any other brands?

Carhartt basic work wear provides Best-In-Class apparel for the active worker. The range is characterized by very visually led knitwear styles with bright colour blockings and rainbow stripes in apparel, footwear (socks) and accessories. The fabrics chosen for the corporate apparel are tested to see if they match the requirements of the corporate identity. With ever-evolving trends in design, fabric and color,competing for work-apparel sales is becoming increasingly difficult and while not so good for the manufacturer this means bargains on offer for the buyer and tht can't be a bad thing can it.

Future of sportswear: Adidas, Reebok, Nike

As major sport brands are increasingly adding new functions to products, sportswear for kids and the fast -growing China market are expected to draw much of their attention.

Two of the biggest brand stories over the past 12 months have been the impact of sportswear sales as a result of the 2006 FIFA World Cup held in Germany, and the US$3.8 billion acquisition and integration of Reebok into the Adidas Group.

These events have left Adidas buoyant, recently announcing that it expects its net income in 2006 to approach 500 million euros from sales of 10 billion euros. For the first nine months of 2006, Adidas sales were up 52% and operating profit climbed 23%.

The group will further increase investment in Reebok in 2007, having allocated extra cash for advertising, new media, point-of-sale communication, product development and initiatives to grow the brand in emerging markets. "We have made significant progress in the Reebok integration so that today it is in much better shape than it was at the time of the acquisition in January 2006," says Chairman and CEO Herbert Hainer. "We intend to increase our investment in the brand in 2007. For the Adidas Group, 2007 will again be a year of record sales and earnings."

The 2006 FIFA World Cup was without doubt a gravy train for the German-headquartered group, which were the official sponsor, supplier and licensee of the event.

"We exceeded all of our football and business goals for the World Cup," said Mr Hainer.

In fact, a record three million replica Adidas football shirts were sold prior to the event, which included 1.5 million German national team shirts. By comparison, Adidas sold 1.5 million football shirts and 250,000 German shirts at the last World Cup held in Japan and South Korea in 2002.

"One trend confirmed at this year's World Cup is that the fans are going to the games in the shirts of their team," added Mr Hainer.

In addition, over one million pairs of Adidas+Predator Absolute football boots and 750,000 +F50Tunit football boots were sold.

Even following the integration of Reebok, however, the Adidas Group still lags behind Nike, which achieved 2006 sales of US$14.9 billion (11.3 billion euros) and profit of US$1.39 billion (just over 1 billion euros).

Recently Nike's President Charlie Denson announced an aggressive growth strategy with the goal of achieving clear brand dominance in football by 2010.

"In a little over a decade, we've built Nike football from nothing to a $1.5 billion business that saw 20% growth last year," he said. "Now we're ready to separate from the pack and create competitive distance. Everywhere in the world, we intend Nike to be the brand consumers think of when they think football."

Nike also currently sponsors many football clubs and players, including two-time FIFA Player of the Year Ronaldinho, and in November introduced its signature line of Ronaldinho footwear and apparel- the first signature collection Nike has ever introduced for the sport.

The untold story of ‘Zippers’ part2

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Making of the Metal Zippers:

The stringer is made by passing a wire through a rolling mill to form a Y shaped wire. This is then cut to make the tooth for the zipper. The tooth is then punched into a scoop with a die and is put in a slot on a rotating turntable. The turntable is rotated to 90 degrees and another tooth is fed into the slot. This tooth is clamped into a cloth tape. In a second method, the wire is passed through a head and pocket punch, to make scoops. A blanking punch cuts the scoops and makes the Y shape. The legs of the scoop are then clamped to a cloth tape. This method proved faster than the previous Sundbacks method. Yet another method is prevalent wherein a chain of teeth in molded and clamped around a cloth. This cloth is injected with molten zinc under pressure. The mold is cooled by the water and shapes the teeth. Residues are finally trimmed.

Making of the Plastic Zippers:

Stringers for plastic zippers are made similar to metal ones. Two methods are prevalent to make plastic zippers. In the first method, a round plastic wire is fed in between two heated screws. One screw rotates clockwise, and the other one counter-clockwise. This rotation forms loops in the wire. A head maker presses the loops into a round knob. It is then cooled. Left and right spirals are made simultaneously from two different machines, so that they match with each other. Under the second method both left and right spirals are made from the same machine. A piece of wire is looped twice between notches on a rotating forming wheel. A pusher and head maker works at the same time to form the notch and the head at a time. This process makes a zipper that is already linked together in a cloth tape. Superior quality of plastic zippers is

made by weaving them directly into the cloth like weaving.

Quality Testing:

A zipper should meet the textile quality standards. Once manufactured, the zipper is tested for its flatness by passing a gauge set at a certain height. If the gauge touches the zip many times, it means the zipper is defective. It is then tested for its straightness by laying it across a straight edge and is scrutinized for any curving. Zippers are tested with small steel balls to test coating for abrasion. They are also tested for shrinkage. Two marks are made in the tape, and they are measured before and after washing or heating, to check if there is any shrinkage in its length. Normally light weight zippers will have one to four percent shrinkage and heavy weight zippers will not have any.

Leading Global Companies:

Japan is the leading producer of zipper and manufactures 68 percent of the zippers manufactured around the world. Major zipper manufacturing countries of Southeast Asia are India, Bangladesh and China. Chinese made zippers are known for their inexpensive prices. Their zipper industry keeps growing on an average of 18 percent annually for the past five years.

Today zippers can be found everywhere; clothing, luggage, leather goods, and many other objects. They are successfully dominating the world of fasteners for more than a century. They are required and used by each and every person all around the world.

References:

1) http://inventors.about.com

2) http://www.madehow.com/

3) http://www.geocities.com

4) http://en.wikipedia.org/

Evolution of Zippers:

Zipper is the brain child of Mr. Whitcomb Judson. It was introduced in 1893 at the Chicago World's Fairthen with the name 'Clasp Locker'. Gideon Sundback, an electrical engineer, who was hired to work for the Company designed the modern zipper in 1913. This zip had ten or eleven fastening elements (old one had only four) for an inch, two facing tows of teeth that can be pulled into one piece by the slider and increased opening for the teeth. The infamous zip came into existence, when B. F. Goodrich Company, wanted to use it for their new product boots. They renamed it as zipper which is in practice till today. It took twenty long years for the fashion industry to get convinced and accept zippers as a part of the garment.

Initially, during 1930s zippers were featured in childrens clothing complementing them for helping children to dress up quickly and by themselves. Zippers came into limelight in 1937 through the French fashion designers who used them on mens trousers. Esquire magazine described the zippers as "Newest Tailoring Idea for Men" The next big boost for zippers came when they were used on jackets and could be opened on both ends.

Types of Zippers:

Coil Zippers: This is the most commonly used zipper. They run on two coils on either side. There are two types of coils. One is the spiral coil, with a cord running inside the coil. The second one is in the ladder form called Ruhrmann type and is used mainly in South Asia.

Invisible Zippers: They have their teeth behind the tape whose color matches exactly with the dress color and the slider and so gives an invisible appearance. They are usually coil zippers and are used mainly in skirts and other dresses.

Metallic Zippers: These types of zippers are mainly found in jeans today. They are made of stainless steel, aluminum, brass, zinc, or nickel alloy. Pieces of metal are molded into teeth and are set in a tape at regular intervals. They can be painted in any color to match with the dress.

Plastic molded Zippers: They are similar to metal zippers except the fact that they are made of plastic. They can be easily made in any color of plastic to go with the product. Polyethylene resins and mainly polyacetal resins are used to make plastic zippers.

Open-ended zippers: They are used mostly in jackets and have a box and pin" mechanism to lock the two sides of the zipper into place. They can be any of the above specified types

Closed-ended zippers: This type is used mostly in baggage and is closed at both ends.

Manufacturing Process:

The key elements required for making a zipper is a stringer which consists of a tape and teeth assembly, a slider to open and close the zipper, and a tab to pull the slider. A separating zipper has a box and a pin instead of a bottom stop. The tapes are made either of cotton or polyester or a blend of both.