Bringing Back Handmade - Are We Now Seeing the Appeal?

What has happened to our handmade culture? There have been many TV shows recently showcasing British talent, real handmade manufacturing done right here on our own soil, going back to something we appear to have left behind.

The biggest key change in our culture over recent years is wanting something for nothing. We are a nation willing to sacrifice quality for price. Our demand has increased, we want things "now" and at exceptionally low costs.

But are we also a changing culture? With the real love for Vintage fashions and accessorising, we have begun to recognise that in fact quality is worth a lot more and the days of real manufacturing should no longer be a thing of the past?

Recent TV personalities such as Mary Portas have certainly made a case for this. Mary's most recent TV show (The Bottom Line) aimed at kick starting the British manufacturing industry again, promoting home manufacturing rather than outsourcing and mass producing. She explains that this isn't about paying over the odds for goods, it is just anti the cheap products that compromises ethics, quality and values, "You know what the truth of this is: stop being so greedy. It's greed and gain that got us into the state this country's in today".

As a consumer we are seeing an increased awareness that perhaps cheaper mass produced products come at a cost. Consumers are now leaning towards quality goods, knowing that this is what we as a nation deserve and should strive for.

But how do we go about purchasing unique hand made products? It is true to say that finding little boutiques on the average high street is increasingly difficult. So how do we live out this ideal? It is a fact that online shopping is big news in the UK and gaining in popularity. With this shift in our purchasing habits we have been graced with some great websites where consumers are able to purchase such goods direct from the designers and hobby crafters (such as Etsy.com and Folksy.com).

A real trend has also seen the popularity of second hand shops particularly those that promote vintage style. This has really helped boost interest in an era of elegance and quality.

The popularity for vintage style has most certainly grown over recent years. More and more individuals are seeking an alternative way of defining their style and culture. Pushing the boundaries and taking their images back into "vintage decades" they think best reflect them.

The wedding stationery industry is also starting to realise this and where once there were very bland mass produced cards, there now seems to be a demand for something unique, something that reflects the couples style and individualism. Couples want to wow their guests announcing their wedding with style, making theirs stand out from the rest.

Again, the term "vintage" has been a great boost for this industry as more and more designers are beginning to realise that there is more to wedding stationery than just a printed piece of card.

Slowly we are beginning to see wedding stationery evolve into handmade products, where designers use elegant touches such as vintage styled jewelled embellishments, buttons, lace and pearls.

Our passion for an era gone-by has been a great boost to the design industry showcasing British talent and style, encouraging handmade luxury.

But will this passion be enough to take on the mass produced industry? Even if a new fad kicks in and the image of Vintage begins to fade for some, I would like to think that it has at least opened a gateway to peoples understanding of quality and beauty. The hope is that we encourage and promote the growth of handmade products. We should view such products as a way of growing our sense of individualism and reflecting our style in a way that mass produced goods just can't do.

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Are You Pinning Yet?

Images are everywhere. How many times has an image grabbed your attention and you just can't wait to share it with others?

Now you have an easy way to share all these images and videos with just a click of the mouse. At Pinterest, you can share the things you love with your friends and family by creating virtual boards. Pinning is addictive, is fun, is something anyone can do, and should do.

Who is pinning? Everyone, creating virtual pinboards spark the imagination, spread the things you love, and supercharge your creativity.

Why should you pin? First, it engages people and they stick around you more. Second, it allows everyone one a peek into the personal side of a pinner. Third, people share your pins, which get you more exposure, if that's what you are looking for.

How do you get to pinning? At Pinterest, you must request an invite to join the "pinning society." If you have a friend who has already gained entrance, they can send you an invite from the inside. Getting an invite from the inside or out doesn't take long, about 24-48 hours. When you do get your invite, and you will, you will start pinning within minutes.

When you get your invite, what do you do? Setting up your account is a three-step process, which Pinterest walks you through. You'll choose your interests. Next, Pinterest will suggest people for you to follow. Finally, you will create a board, and start pinning.

What are these boards? Once you have created an account you will set up your first board. The board should have a narrow focus. Start with a board on food, clothes, jewelry, toys, color, or your hobby. The board should only focus on one type of item. You can make many boards so don't clutter up one with all the foods you love. Create a board on each type of food you love.

Where do I find images? Images are all around the web. Most images are OK to use without concern, but do be cautious about copyright. Many sites today are "Pin friendly" they will have a "pin it" button somewhere on the site. When you click the button it will bring up all the images from the site, you choose the image you want to pin, and then you go back to Pinterest to pin on a board of your choice.

One of the most important things about pinning on Pinterest is to "repin, like, and comment." When you do one of these things, you are providing social approval to the board and board maker. It feels great to get noticed, and if enough of your pins get repined, commented on or liked your board might show up in the popularity boards for the world to see.

This article is sponsored by medical case study.

Evening And Formal Wear Recommendations For Black-Tie Events

It's hard to dress yourself up during a formal event and secure that "wow" factor when you walk into the room. Unlike celebrities who have personal stylists and access to the latest and most expensive evening wear, you have to make do with what your resources allow you to have. Nevertheless, it is not impossible to exude a certain level of elegance during a ball or formal function, even with a tight budget. All you have to do is choose the right kind of dress for you and find a boutique that has an extensive collection of evening and formal wear.

What you want to do is secure a few long gown choices as black-tie events usually call for their use. It's up to you whether or not you'd like to keep things simple with an all-black or grey selection or add a little bit of color into the mix. If you are feeling slightly more adventurous, prints are widely popular this year along with tailored silhouettes. But try not to lean towards shocking as it may force you to stand out in an awkward way. Steer clear of clothes that are too revealing since that would be inappropriate for the said event. If you'd like to secure some sex appeal with what you are donning, you can do so with asymmetrical shoulder straps, a tube top or a little peek-a-boo cut out in less sensitive parts of your body, like your back. You could also show a little of cleavage. But try not to be so overt because it may be misconstrued for tacky or trashy.

When shopping for an evening or formal wear, think more of classic beauty. But don't go so far as getting voluminous outfits with lots of pouf or those with long trains because that will only make you uncomfortable during the party. If you'd like something Victorian inspired, go for floor-length Empire cut dresses with a sleeve sewn shawl or a diamond brooch for effect.

Now, some of you may feel more comfortable wearing cocktail dresses to a black-tie event as they permit better movement. But you have to be careful about what you choose to put on. Remember that they are not standard garments for such occasions. So, at the very least, they should be well accessorized. If you are attending something fancy, you might want to keep them below the knee to maintain a certain level of classiness. And always see to it that aesthetics of your dress matches the theme established.

Don't even mistake the notion of evening and formal wear with work clothes. Not only will you embarrass yourself but also your date. And try not to wear a pant suit during the event, even if it is designer clothing. The last thing you want to do is put a damper to your femininity with a masculine ensemble.

If you still are having a hard time narrowing down you options through these tips, you could consult dress shops for the latest trends and styling recommendations. Or you could flip through magazines for samples and then show them to shop receptionists.

Evolution of Edwardian Fashion

Even though Edwardian fashion for women was cumbersome and restrictive, there can be no doubt that Edwardian women's clothing spawned some of the most elegant fashion in the history of female attire. However, in the advent of women's rights and the plights of the poor, it begs the question as to whether or not one should see Edwardian fashion for its beauty and grandeur while seeing women's fashion of this period as a simple veneer of beauty while remembering the fact that women's fashion of this period was very uncomfortable and were set according to male standards and ideals. The fashion of the period can be traced to the luxury of European society which had been made possible by the enslavement and subjugation of people around the world through colonialism and imperialism. The term Edwardian itself is very Ethnocentric, essentially labeling a time in world history according to the name of one King in England. There is no guilt in adoring such female beauty, but one must remember the context of the period and remember that life was not so glamorous for minorities, immigrants and the poor.

The grand extravagance came to an end at the beginning of World War One and the issue of the poor became a hot topic throughout European, intellectual circles. Because of the war effort and the highlight on those suffering in society, many elites chose not to flaunt such grand fashions in public and hence the grand fashions of old suddenly became unacceptable. From the 1920s onward, dress and fashion had become more subdued and tame. The 1920s also witnessed the women's movement for voting rights and more women were entering the workforce; therefore, the demand for practical and simplistic fashion grew popular because many women saw the fashions of their mothers and grandmothers as a repressive tool that was not practical for women and were tailored according to men's desires. A good example is the corset which was meant to exude the popular hourglass figure, a mostly male standard.

Grand fashion created a dream-life that many middle class women of the Victorian and Edwardian era had hoped to achieve. In today's society, it is easy for people in a post-modern world to sit back and gaze in awe of Edwardian fashion and there is nothing wrong with being attracted to such beauty. In a wider context, however, women who sported such royal fashions were very lucky given how tough life was for not only women of poorer classes, but people of different ethnicity around the world.

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Flat Iron Techniques That Produce Salon Quality Results

Typically when we think of a flat iron we think of only hair straightening. However, with the right technique a flat iron can also be used to flip and curl your hair. The key is to have a flat iron with plates that are as close to 1" inch as possible and if your hair is short then even smaller.

To begin you need to ensure that your flat iron is best suited for your hair type. If your hair is hard to straighten then a titanium product like the BabylissPro Nano Titanium might be the right choice. Alternatively, if your hair is finer and not as difficult to straighten then a tourmaline product may be the way to go. This however does not mean that you have to go out and buy a new flat iron if you already have one; instead try adjusting the heat with higher settings for thick hair and vice versa.

Next you need to apply a thermal heat styling product. This serves as a protective barrier between the hot plates and your hair. Without it you run the risk of damaging your hair, which can lead to drying and breakage. There are numerous products available so find one that you really like. If you are still looking then you might try the Miracle Leave-In product by 'It's a 10'. This is a great choice as it is a flat iron spray, thermal protector and stops breakage while adding shine.

Lastly before we get started a few important tips. You should never flat iron your hair when it is dirty. The best results come from freshly washed hair that is dry. Although, it does not make much difference whether you blow dry your hair or let it dry naturally. Yet, blow drying does have the risk of damaging your hair as well.

1. Hair Straightening

The first thing you need to do is brush or comb through your hair and then place it into sections. The easiest and fastest way is to grab the hair at the top of the head twist it around and place in a clip. Secondly, section across the upper part of your ears and again twist it around and place in a clip. This will leave all the hair from your ears down to the back of the neck out and ready for straightening. You should always start from the bottom working your way up so that you finish off with the top part of the head last.

Now comb through the section that is left out again. This is important because if there are tangles the hair will not be able to smoothly pass through the plates causing snagging and pulling. If your hair is very curly or frizzy you will need to comb each section prior to running the flat iron across it. Next grab a portion of the hair approximately 1" inch across and place the flat iron as close to the root as possible making sure that you do not burn your scalp. Generally, about a ¼ inch away from the scalp is best and try not to take too much hair through the flat iron at one time. Salon results come from smaller amounts of hair where each strand is able to glide evenly between the plates.

Now that you have a section of hair between the plates start pulling the flat iron through. You should not be squeezing the plates together really hard. The goal is to allow the hair to freely glide between the plates. If this is not happening you may have too much hair that you are trying to pull through at once - try dividing your section in half.

The next and most important part is the speed at which you are pulling the flat iron through your hair. If you are pulling too quickly you will not get the results that you want and if you are pulling too slowly you run the risk of damaging your hair. A good rule of thumb when you are first learning is to count out loud "one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three" and move the flat iron according to this speed. If your hair is extremely curly and harder to straighten then slow this speed down just a little. When you get to the end of the hair hold it just slightly longer. This will ensure that you get perfectly clean edges.

2. Flipping

Hair flipping, or sometimes referred to as flicking, is a great way to get some movement on the ends of the hair. Whether you flip the hair inward or outward does not change the technique only the rotation of the wrist.

To begin you follow all of the same steps as outlined in the straightening section. You want to ensure that you start at the root so that the rest of the hair is smooth and silky with the flip being only on the ends. Remember to pull through smaller sections and count out loud to maintain an adequate speed. When you get closer to the ends turn your wrist either inward or outward forcing the hair now to glide through the plates at an angle. Remember movement of the hair happens according to where the heated plates are; so the more you turn your wrist the stronger the flip.

The secret to a perfect flip is to slow the speed down slightly, while continuing to turn the wrist. The most important thing is to have continuous movement almost like you are walking through the hair, but don't let go of the tension between the plates at this will leave marks in the hair (they almost look like lines and you don't want that). The movement is steady with an even tension at a slow speed.

3. Curling

Curling the hair with a flat iron is probably the most difficult technique to master. However, once you get the hang of it you will see that it really isn't that hard. Again you will begin with the same steps as outlined in the straightening section. Then you need to decide where you would like to place the curls. Do you want tight curls starting from the top of the head or loose wavy curls that start about half way down. It is a good idea to begin at the root of the hair as this will ensure an overall polished look rather than just starting where you want the curl.

Section the hair as indicated previously taking approximately 1" inch and placing it in between the plates. Now when you want to begin the curl turn the flat iron either inward or outward, depending on the direction of the curl that you want, and start rolling it with the hair loosely around it. Remember you want the flat iron to be constantly moving so you are rolling it in the palm of your hand, while the hair is evenly going through the plates. The tighter you hold the hair and roll the flat iron the tighter the curls. Do not pull on the hair or hold it between the plates for a long period of time. If your hair is harder to curl you will need to hold it slightly longer, but not more than two seconds.

In closing, remember to always use a thermal protector on your hair. This is imperative to ensure that no damage is done during this process. Also, try to match the flat iron to your specific hair type or work with the heat setting to get optimal results. These techniques take a little bit of time to master, but once you get it you will have beautiful salon quality styles that last.

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Women, Weight and Hoarding

In working with my female clients, there is one commonality that I have found whatever the degree of hoarding or clutter that cannot go uncommented upon. Women's closets are always filled with clothing of various sizes from very small to very large despite their current size. This is a curiosity to me and one which I instantly realized must be tread upon quite carefully.

I first noticed this phenomena when working with one client who's primary hoard is books. Though the rest of the apartment is seriously cluttered it was her closet, so chock full of clothing, that caught my attention. When I asked what percentage of clothing she actually wore she replied "about 5%". I couldn't help but compute and respond, "so 95% of your closet is filled with things you will not be wearing in the foreseeable future". She was forced to agree. We have not approached the closet yet in our work together.

Another client decided that she wanted to start with her closets which are filled with clothing ranging from size 8 to 14. It was quite an emotional experience for her and she is not able to tolerate more than 40 minutes of work before leaving the room to take solace elsewhere in the apartment. I always give her a little alone time after she leaves; I finish putting things in their proper places while she consoles herself. But I do try and talk to her about this reaction. "It's all about weight you know", she tells me. Well, maybe for the clothes, but not for the rest of the clutter. But I also can't ignore her substantial consternation about her weight. She is an attractive woman who does not fit our ideal for body shape for women of today.

Though I am not a woman with weight issues (in fact, I'm an underweight man) I do know that I have hit on something here of which I have no understanding. I'm very aware that we live in a society that values slender women, verging on anorexia. In fact, given what I've heard about weight loss groups where perfectly on target women claim to be "fat" I'm cognizant that we devalue women who don't fit these unreasonable ideals. I've read about anorexic teenagers and the ravages of that disease.

I'm curious about my female readers experience with weight and clothes and what you can tell men about this that we don't know. Any answers to my many questions?

This article is brought to you by SINGLES.

Fashion and Sustainability

The universe of textiles is globally complex and extremely polluting. Converting fibres to fabrics requires a massive amount of energy, water, chemicals and land. There is also a considerable amount of waste and emissions in the life cycle stages of production. The pollution is often unregulated and the impact is felt globally. These impacts start at the factory and continue as the garment is shipped, used and finally thrown away. Understanding the sustainability of fabric manufacturing is critical to protect our wonderful planet Earth.

In order to be truly sustainable, designers must take into account the social and economic factors that impact the cultural diversity of a given society in the region where they are working and reawaken a new respect for clothing. The manufacturers and the people who make our clothes are often underpaid and victims of social injustice. They are the precious threads of culture that could unravel if not considered.

There has been a shift in our society from mindless to mindful consumption Consumers across the globe are becoming more concerned about how their purchases affect the overall health and environment of our precious planet Earth and the people who inhabit it.

Building a new vision for fashion where sustainability is the highest priority is critical to our understanding of awareness and responsibility to our environment. Provoke, nurture and inspire people in a radically new and different direction. Re-imagine new ways to do business through a series of ground breaking collaborations. Imagine an industry using eco-clothing and textiles.

Eco-clothing textiles are those that inspire and communicate with the environment. We should mend, make do and repair. Remix and transform unwanted and obsolete garments through customization. Dismantle and reuse textiles from unused clothing. Explore the future of fashion by embracing repair and re-engaging communities in collaborations for repair. I believe fashion of the future will have an emotional resonance. Few of us really need more of anything, so we will be looking for items that will touch us in some way. These are the deeply rooted vehicles of our identity. Progressive consumers that are passionate towards sustainable solutions are our thread towards a cleaner and less toxic environment for our future.

Designers fashion is more then just clothes, it reflects the way we choose to live our lives. Clothes are signs, symbols and expressions of our culture. They represent the way we feel about politics, activism and pleasure. Help build a new vision where fashion and clothing are fused with awareness and responsibility.

This article is brought to you by MATCHMAKING.