Issey Miyake - Fashion Technology

Born on April 22, 1938 in Hiroshima, Japan, designer Issey Miyake is known for creating an eclectic mix of Eastern culture and the textile technology of the West. This blend stems from his early exposure to the Western culture during the World War II American occupation in Japan, when he was just aged 10. He is noted to be one of the most innovative fashion designers and the first Asian to be renowned globally as such.

He studied and majored in graphic design at the Tama Art University in Tokyo. As a student he was influenced by Richard Avendon, Hiro and Andy Warhol. He moved to Paris in 1964 where he learned haute couture by working as a design assistant for Guy Laroche and Givenchy. He moved to New York and created designs for Geoffrey Beene, until he finally returned to Tokyo in 1970 where he founded the Miyake Design Studio. He started to incorporate designs with Japanese elements, such as the kimono and sashiko coat.

In 1978, he published a book called "East Meets West" - a picturesque collection of his greatest designs. A year after, he opened a company in France, followed by another in the States in 1982. In the late 80s, Miyake tried to experiment with a technique that would let fabrics stay permanently pleated yet allow flexibility for the consumer. This turns out to be one of the most popular lines of Miyake's and is aptly named "Pleats Please". He collaborated with ballet productions such as "The Loss of Small Detail" and "Garden in the Setting" for the costumes. He also launched another popular line, A-POC (A Piece of Cloth), which showcases single, ready-to-wear clothes.

In 1992, Miyake's first fragrance, L'eau d'Issey (French for Issey's water) for women was launched. It was succeeded by L'eau d'Issey Pour Homme (for men) in 1994. In 1999 he temporarily turned over his collection to work associate Naoki Takizawa to re-focus on research. In 2004 he introduced yet another perfume, L'eau Bleue d'Issey Pour Homme, but production was recently cut off because of low sales.

Miyake received numerous recognitions for his creative ingenuity. In 2001 he was awarded by Toronto for being a world leader in innovative fashion. Then, he won the Arts and Philosophy Prize in Kyoto in 2006. He was also featured in an exhibit hosted by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London entitled "What is Radical Fashion".

Today, Issey Miyake has yet another new line of fragrance in the market, L'eau d'Issey Pour Homme Intense and has several stores in Tokyo, Paris, London and New York, where his flagship store in Tribeca showcases his complete collection. Aside from clothing and perfume, his label also features hosiery and home furnishings, a proof that Issey Miyake does not limit himself to the niche of a fashion designer, but also lends himself to life and art.

Best Baby Clothes

Buying baby clothes can be so much fun with loads of choice and so many wonderful and cute outfits. When you are starting out it is so easy to get distracted from what your baby needs and start buying baby clothes just on how they look.

For a newborn the rule is easy, keep your baby clothes simple. Avoid complicated baby clothes with lots of buttons, difficult clasps and little bows. Don’t buy newborn babies clothes with looks in mind, keep to comfortable and practical. Look for clothes that have been designed for ease of use, baby clothes with envelope necks that stretch and little stretch suits with easy fastenings up the legs.

With baby clothes think about comfort and warmth. ‘All in one’ body suits that fasten between your babies legs are brilliant for helping keep your baby warm.

It’s natural for you want your baby girl to look pretty in her clothes and buying cute little dresses is an obvious way to go but not what is best for your baby. Dresses just aren’t a practical item of clothing, they easily ride up your baby’s body leaving her cold, exposed and uncomfortable and when your baby starts to crawl, a dress will just get in the way. Keep to the rule, buy your baby clothes with comfort and practicality in mind and keep the cute dress for special occasions.

As your baby grows the type of baby clothes you buy will need to change. Body and stretch suits are fine before your baby starts to crawl but from three months you want to start thinking about little colourful romper suits (basically stretchsuits without feet) and dungarees. As your baby grows and embarks on each new stage of their life the type of baby clothes you buy need to change so that your baby is dressed in clothes fit for the job.

When you are buying baby clothes keep weather in mind. When it’s warm go for cool and comfortable cottons and don’t forget a sun hat for when you are out and about. In cooler weather clothes made of natural fabrics will help keep your baby warm.

Your baby won’t need proper shoes until his is starting to walk but making sure all-in-one suits, socks and bootees aren’t constricting your baby’s toes is very important. Regularly check that your baby always has enough room in his clothes to wriggle his toes.

The Model Checklist: What You Must Have to Succeed

(This post is for both freelance and agency represented models but I'm writing this mainly to address freelance models since they have the challenge of representing themselves.)

Modeling is a business and in order to be successful, you'll have to be responsible for making your career run as smoothly as possible. In my time and experience, I have come to rely on the following items to help me stay as organized as possible (I may update this list from time to time if needed):

Day Planner: Whether you have a fancy PDA or go with the old school hard copy day planner (like me), you will need to have your schedule organized. Be sure to mark down all events related to modeling such as castings, shoots and meetings with photographers, stylists, etc. You'll come to find yourself living by your day planner--having events recorded in this manner will keep you from double booking and also help you plan your agenda with stuff that's not related to modeling. Because I'm super organized and a bit of a nerd, I also have a wall calendar that I record everything on so I'm covered both ways. It also helps to color code each event so that you don't get confused. For example, I circle photoshoots in blue, box meetings in red, and circle castings and go-sees in yellow. If I know I'm going to get paid on the same day as a shoot, I'll box the event in green.

Stack of Printed Headshots: Not only does submitting yourself for modeling work include emailing a digital copy of your headshot but having a hard copy print as well. It is essential that you have a small pile of headshots printed out and ready to go when you are. Never go to a casting or go-see without your headshot--even if they end up not taking it, it is always better to bring one just in case. Be sure the photo reflects how you look now and not years ago. Remember, if you've changed anything drastically like your hairstyle or hair color, retake your headshot. Color is best...black and white isn't really in demand for headshots these days. You don't have to pay a ton of money to get your photos professionally printed. If you have a good photo printer at home you can easily print them out yourself and save a lot of money. Be sure to use photo paper with either matte or semi-gloss--you don't want your headshot to be super shiny. You'll find yourself going through your headshot pile pretty fast if you have a lot of castings scheduled so always be prepared. 8"x10" is ideal.

Stack of Printed Resumes: If your resume is only one page you can simply print it onto the back of your headshot. This is a common practice in the industry. If your resume is longer than one page, print it out separately and staple it to the back of your headshot so that it doesn't get separated when you turn them in to the casting office. Don't worry about putting your resume on fancy stationary or putting your picture on it since it will be with your headshot anyway. Keep the font easy to read and avoid font that is too large or too tiny. Always pair your headshot wth a resume when you go in for a casting or go-see. You can use your regular computer printer and plain computer paper to print your resume out on. Don't forget to update your resume as you book work and only turn in the most recent version. Be sure to put your contact info on your resume as well (email address and phone number).

Portfolio: I'm referring to the actual binder/case that you place your hard copy modeling photos in. Not all castings require a portfolio to be shown but it never hurts to bring it with you, especially since most casting people will want to take a look if they see you have one.

Comp/Zed Card: You'll want to have a good quality comp/zed card both in digital and printed format. Remember to stick to the standard sizes for comp cards (no larger than 5.5" x 8.5") and have a small stack of them printed out and ready to go as well. If you have an agent, they will supply you with your comp cards. Freelance models will have to be responsible for having their comp cards designed and printed.

Business Cards (Optional): I find having a modeling business card super helpful and I would personally and professionally suggest having one--especially if you aren't able to get comp cards done. Business cards are ideal for networking with potential clients and are easier to pass out than comp cards (unless you're at a casting of course). Basically modeling business cards are best for keeping in touch with people you've worked with or if you happen to meet someone outside of a shoot or casting environment that you want to network with. They are easy to design and have printed as well. Always carry your business cards with you, even if you're just out and about running errands--you never know who you will run into that could prove helpful to your modeling career down the line.

Makeup Products: Male or female, you'll need to have the ability to do your own makeup (and hair). This goes for castings and shoots alike. For castings and go-sees you will be responsible for your makeup anyway so be sure you know what you're doing. Women should stick to the basics: foundation, powder, lip color, gloss, mascara and eye shadow. Male models won't need the same makeup as a female model but I would encourage carrying around pressed powder in a compact if your complexion tends to get oily. Shine on your face is never good for castings. Having makeup products of your own for shoots where there is no makeup artist present will also help you look your best on matter the situation.

Email & Cell: These may be obvious but I want to make sure to add it anyway. Your email address should be businesslike and not something out of high school. Preferably having your name as your email address is best. Create a new email account if you have to so that you won't get your modeling emails confused with your other emails. Also be sure to check your spam folder regularly--I can't tell you how many times I've found important emails with details for shoots and events somehow relocated to the spam folder. When it comes to your cell phone, make sure your voicemail intro is also proper and businesslike. Be ready to answer calls from numbers you may not recognize or that are blocked--it may be a dreaded telemarketer but it could also very well be a client hoping to hire you for a modeling gig.

Notepad: I'm referring to the small ones you can easily keep in your purse, pocket or in your car. To be even more organized I like to keep a small notepad handy. I make sure to use it to write down driving directions to and from gigs, as a place to write down contact info for clients, photographers, casting directors and other people for networking, and for jotting down general notes in regards to wardrobe, parking situations and other tidbits of info that I feel I need to keep track of. So far I've filled up 2-3 such notebooks! And I don't throw them away. Many times castings take place in the same areas and so it helps to save all my driving directions that way I save paper and don't have to spend time Googling how to get from point A to point B.

Spring Fashion 2006

‘The look’ for spring 2006 is a bit lighter than in seasons past. You may recall that last fall/winter marked a long overdue return to structure and basic black. Well, it’s time to move on! This spring is about mixing and matching. We’re not talking about the ‘boho chic’ of last spring, but of mixing the old with the new. Case in point: the Chloé 2006 collection combines 1960’s mod with 1940’s a-line proportions and chunky platforms. Gucci also looked back into the archives, finding older prints and patterns and reworking them with a modern eye. “We’ve come out of a long period of monochrome,” said new Gucci designer Frida Giannini, “And I love prints and colors. What I want to do is an intelligent kind of glamour for my generation. Mixing the 1940s’s and 1970’s has revived the brand yet again, just like Tom Ford did for the house almost a decade ago.”

Prada has moved to the other extreme, introducing fewer form-fitting pieces in favor of a looser-fitting silhouette with a focus on white and soft greys. Bamboo platforms and open toe boots were the collection highlights. Miu Miu, Prada’s sister label, presented disco-chic shoes in gold with wild patterns that really stood out. Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs drew on a refined 1980’s influence with an emphasis was on stylish embellishment. No shoulder pads (thankfully).

In men’s wear we are seeing more of the ‘well groomed, well dressed man.’ Skinny suits are the order of the day from Hedi Silimane for Dior men’s collection and Dolce and Gabbana men’s. Suit jackets and blazers have assumed smaller proportions, shorter sleeves, and shorter body length. John Varvatos is using sun washed fabrics and going for a softened military look. Burberry Prorsum made a trench coat comeback, modernizing the garment without changing its structure. Miu Miu men’s flashed back to the 1980’s with square shoulders, crew neck shirts, and pointy shoes reminiscent of Duran Duran a la ‘Planet Earth.’ Stefano Pilati, head designer for Yves Saint Laurent, built the YSL men’s collection on a foundation of Moroccan intrigue. Think less Marrakech (where Yves plays house) and more Paul Bowles, the American writer (in)famous for his lifelong artistic and cultural exile in Tangiers. Sharply tailored linen suits and military style shirts made for a look of casual sophistication.

Long locks and wavy, casual styles mark spring trends in hair. Natural, windblown, and air dried looks are replacing a more ‘styled’ finish. Do it yourself at home with a dab of Bumble and bumble Styling Balm, or mix a dollop of Leave-In Conditioner with a touch of Defrizz. Natlie Portman’s close crop and Sienna Miller’s short bob (hopefully) portend a comeback for shorter styles. These kinds of cuts look particularly good with dab or two of B&b Sumotech and a shot of Surf Spray – nice and tousled.

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Gender Neutral, Unisex Baby Clothes Are Hard to Find

Gender stereotyping starts even before a child is born. As friends and family buy gifts for an upcoming birth, color choices are often limited to pale green or yellow if the baby’s gender is to be a surprise. If the baby’s sex is known, or after the child is born, pale pinks and small flowers adorn newborn girls’ clothing, while light blue with trucks and sports insignia adorn newborn boys’ clothes.

An attempt to find gender neutral clothing, unisex, or bright colored clothes for babies and toddlers can result in frustration. The clothing exists and boutiques do carry them, but the selections are often limited. Children’s clothing should represent the spirit of childhood: fun and exciting, colorful and unique. Children’s clothing should not begin to stereotype children prior to their ability to determine their own likes and dislikes. This does not mean dressing boys in pink lace and girls in black, it means providing a range of colors and options.

There are some wonderful children’s boutique clothing with colorful, unisex designs. It can take some time and perseverance to find these clothes, but there are sources available for busy parents and shoppers.

Finding high quality, gender neutral and unique baby clothes can be a challenge, but hopefully not as difficult as it once was!

Breaking with the current trends, while still being fashionable, Polkadot Patch Boutique opened in April 2006. Online at polkadotpatch.com, parents looking for unique, whimsical and bright colors, as well as fun gender neutral clothing will find a growing selection at one, convenient location. While you will still find pink and blue, black and brown, unless it is bright, whimsical or unique, Polkadot Patch Boutique will not carry it.

For fun bright colored baby clothes see the Cow & Lizard line featuring turtles, fish, and caterpillars. For something a little more funky, take a look at the “Zoot” the Bee or “Algernon” the Fox on the long sleeve shirts, with matching striped pants and hats from Tiny Tyrants.

Buying Satin Bridesmaid Dresses Online

Choosing a satin bridesmaid dress that suits everyone in the bridal party can be a daunting task. It would be ideal to get all the attendants to get together and go on a shopping trip, but that is not always possible. Between jobs, family commitments and travel restraints, coordinating such an event can be impossible. That is why many brides are now choosing to buy their bridesmaids' dresses online. But how do you know what to look for and whether you are getting a good deal?

Why buy online?

Lets start by looking at the reasons to buy the dresses online. Firstly there is the convenience factor. Often bridesmaids can live in different states or even different countries and if you want their input it is easy to give them a url where they can all view the dresses. Cost also comes into consideration. Online stores have less overheads, meaning they can bring you the same dresses you see in the stores, but at a lower price.

How to get a good deal

Online stores have sales just like regular ones. Sometimes these are advertised on the main page, but other times you need to be subscribed to the mailing list to take advantage of "member only" sales. If you find a site that has styles you like have a look at what deals they are offering. Don't be afraid sign on for updates. A reputable store will always let you unsubscribe after the wedding is over.

How to ensure the dresses will fit

The thing that most people worry about with ordering online is will the dresses fit? There is one sure fire way to ensure that they will, read the sizing chart. Don't let you bridesmaids just tell you what size they are, make sure they measure. Occasionally they will find that they are different sizes in different parts of their body. If this is the case, always go for the largest size. It is much easier to take a dress in than try and let it out.

Is my money safe?

Whilst it is becoming more and more common, people still wonder if it is safe to shop online. The trick is to look which payment processors are being used and whether the site is secure. On top of that, most credit card companies now offer integrated fraud protection whenever you shop online. That means if you have a problem with your transaction, the credit card company will step in and refund your money. This does vary from card to card, so make sure you check your terms of service.

With all this in mind, you should be ready to start shopping! Remember, like normal bridal stores, it can take time for the dresses to be ready. Be prepared, order early and you will have on less thing to worry about as the big day draws closer.

Flower Girl Dresses for Spring

Soon Spring will be in the air - and with Spring comes weddings!

Flower girl dresses are one of the last things to be ordered for most weddings. The reason is simple - children grow rapidly and it is risky to order too early.

So how should a Bride plan her flower girl dresses to be in time for her wedding?

First, don't put it off until it is too late. We recommend ordering approximately 4 months before the wedding. Most dresses are available to deliver in 12 weeks or under, so if you order 4 months in advance you are allowing for any unforeseen problems and still get delivery in plenty of time to have them altered before your wedding date. Three months should still work in most cases.

And there is a LOT to be said for the ease of mind knowing that it has been done and all is well!

How to select the style(s)? That's purely a matter of personal preference - but we can help you with some guidelines here.

Flower Girls - typically young girls age 8 and younger - are always sweet and adorable with a classic ballgown style dress (frothy full skirt gathered to waistline). No matter what look you select for your adult attendants, flower girls will always look darling in this type of dress. But this isn't your only choice . . . .

Flower girl dresses can be coordinated to reflect the look of the bride or bride's maids in many ways without having to struggle to exactly match (which is rarely possible). What do we mean?

" Match the silhouette. For instance, if you have A-line dresses for the adults, you can select an A-line style for your flower girls.

" Coordinate features of the adult dresses such as selecting a similar neckline. If you and/or your adult attendants are wearing a V neckline, for instance, select a dress with a V neckline for your flower girls.

" Other features can be reflected in your flower girl dresses. For instance, the pick-up style skirts are VERY popular with brides; you can select flower girl dresses with pick up skirts too.

" Coordinate the colors. It's impossible to match colors if you are ordering dresses from different companies - or even from the same company if at different times - because every dye lot is different. However, you can coordinate the colors beautifully by selecting contrasting colors, different shades of similar colors (like pink to go with burgundy) or add a splash of color with a sash, with flower petals or with embroidery to a white or ivory flower girl dress.

" Length can be either tea or formal length - entirely your choice!

Older girls will likely prefer to be called "Jr. Brides Maids" and many will chafe at the thought of wearing a dress they consider to be "babyish". Care has to be taken to select a style that looks a bit older and yet is still age-appropriate (after all, she IS still a child attendant).

Some ballgown styles are very suitable for the Jr. Brides maid, but most older girls - especially age 10 and up - prefer the sleeker styling of an A-line gown. It helps make them feel more grown up. You can still incorporate coordinating features as we discussed above for flower girl dresses.

My Busy Schedule

You’ve probably noticed that I haven’t posted as much as I would like to—with the exception of answering reader questions and adding the poll to my blog—but that’s been because I’ve been so dang busy! Definitely not complaining…I’d rather take a hectic schedule over twiddling my thumbs any day! I was super busy for almost 2 weeks straight with various castings and shoots a while back (not to mention my other businesses and clients) and luckily I had a chance to relax for about a week at my parents’ house. But wouldn’t ya know it: once again, I’ve got another crazy couple of days ahead of me.

Thursday, August 27: Head to Redwood City to do an on-camera interview for the Filipino Channel’s “Adobo Nation,” where I’ll be talking about money saving tips for people that use Craig’s List to find, buy and sell items (I told ya I’m a jack of all trades outside of modeling!).

Friday, August 28: Head to Sacramento to Murphy Productions for a casting for a TV commercial to promote Frog Tape, a special painter’s tape.

Saturday, August 29: Relax…maybe? Probably not…I’ve got art projects to tackle. So much for a little R&R!

Sunday, August 30 (Rescheduled--free day, Yay!): Photoshoot in San Jose for a classic pin-up calendar project. Not sure how the distribution is going to work but I believe they will be shipped and sold to soldiers in Iraq—a percentage of the proceeds will also be donated to a charity to support the troops and vets. It’s for a great cause and everyone involved will also make a commission from each calendar sold. Not bad!

Monday, August 31: Head to Berkeley to do an on-camera narration piece for an online ESL program.

Another project I’m super excited about isn’t slated to go into production until mid-January but I figured why not blog about it before my hectic schedule gets underway? I’ve been working with a film director on a soon-to-be released documentary doing on-camera narration involving a teleprompter and green screen. It’s been a lot of fun and the director is awesome. Well, he contacted me and offered me the position as a TV host for a new travel guide show that will require me to travel for 2 weeks to either Hawaii or South America to talk about the best resorts, beaches, real estate and spotlight the locals—pretty exciting stuff for sure! He is the casting director and won’t have the actual shooting schedule put together for another month but so far mid-January seems to work for the crew involved. He’s already got things underway with producers from Los Angeles so it’ll just be a matter of time and finalizing the details before I have to make travel plans. Needless to say, I can’t wait!

I've also got more posts coming up to highlight recent shoots I've done, including a leg wear shoot for The Sock Boutique and a Microsoft product shoot. Stick around!

Answering a Reader Question #55

Anonymous Wrote:

I have dark skin and it is uneven. I've tried glycolic peels and Retin-A for quite some time now. I am very self conscious about this because everything I do to reverse the problem skin isn't working such as eating healthy, staying out of the sun when possible and wearing sunblock. my question is will my uneven skin be a problem when submitting snap shots to agencies? in addition I don't really have acne just uneven skin light and dark spots on my face and neck. so how clear does ones skin have to be when trying to find an agency. because my skin is holding me back from even submitting because i'm afraid it's not descent enough for an agency. so i just need some advice please:).

Anonymous, I feel your pain, I really do and I am sorry that traditional treatments have not helped your situation. In regards to the state of your skin when it comes to submitting to agencies, your skin does not need to be "perfect" but it does need to be "good" or "healthy." Extensive discoloration that is highly noticeable, especially on the face isn't very desirable to agencies. While there is Photoshop, agencies would prefer a model with skin that needs as little retouching as possible. It's just about time and money on their end--after all, it is a business.

When submitting photos to agencies they definitely should not be touched up, which I know is very scary for you since you feel your complexion currently may not be what they want. Have you thought about attending an open call instead of just sending in your photos via online or snail mail? The reason I suggest this is because the only way you will know if your skin would be an issue for an agency is to hear it from the agency itself. And more than just one...the more agencies you are able to see, the better your odds that you will find one that likes you. Talking to more agencies will also help you compare notes on their feedback to you concerning your skin. As much as you may not want to hear their feedback, I would highly suggest doing this and face the music sooner than later. By sending in your pictures via email or snail mail you won't get a direct answer from an agency--either they'll like you and contact you or you just won't hear from them at all and if your results are the latter, then you'll never know for sure if it was your skin they didn't care for or if it was something else. Do yourself that justice and attend the castings--if they're available--and see what the different agencies say.

As a side note, have you tried using special cover-up? Many models with skin discoloration issues (myself included) and those with the skin condition vitiligo (a skin disorder that causes loss of pigmentation of the skin, resulting in white patches) have turned to body makeup such as Dermablend and similar cosmetic products to help create the appearance of uniformly colored skin. Such makeup is easy to apply, especially on the face and neck. If you can manage to consult with a professional makeup artist at a makeup counter like Sephora or MAC, they can test different shades on you to hopefully find the right one. If you can find the right shade and learn to apply it, you may be able to pursue modeling without anyone being the wiser. Of course if you wear the makeup to an agency I would recommend still being honest with them about using the product to cover up your discoloration. If the agency likes you enough they may be willing to work around your skin issue, especially if the body makeup successfully evens out your skin tone.

I hope that helps somewhat and I definitely wish you luck in pursuing modeling. Even if an agency doesn't sign you, look into freelance. Always create opportunities for yourself when you can, even if there are others that close such opportunities to you.

Evening Dresses - Dress Up For An Evening Party

Evening Dresses are meant to be worn strictly for special occasions held only in the evening. Evening parties are always special no matter for what occasion and so it definitely demands a special eye-catching dress. Dressing up very well for an evening party is the most important thing for women as it adds a special feeling of elation for every woman.

Style and colour is the most important feature of an evening dress. Not every dress works for all body types. So the right colour, style and the size is very important. Evening dresses can be of various types depending on the kind of party that needs to be attended. For occasions like a birthday party, wedding or a New Years party the dress can be either classic or sophisticated, while for a discothèque the dress will be more glamorous.

Evening dresses are usually bright in colour, but black has always been the most commonly worn colour in the evening. These black dresses can also be accessorized with shimmer, embroidery, very simple jewellery to give a more gorgeous look. However, depending on the season, the type of dress can also vary. In the winter season people usually pay more attention on the colour and style of overcoats or shawls that they would wear for their evening party, while in summers people usually dress-up in bright and light clothes.

Another import aspect for evening dresses are how comfortable they are, since parties in the evening are usually light events meant for having a leisure time. Also, the difference between morning and evening dress should be distinctly marked. The perfect evening attire helps in elating a woman's confidence and has a way of making her feel special. There are many different kinds of evening dresses that can be worn for different occasions. Some of them include Evening Gowns, Ball gowns, Prom Dress, Wedding dress, Cocktail party dresses and many more. Cocktail party dresses are short, while long dresses are reserved for the other evening dresses. The little black dress is the most common look for cocktail parties.

Semi-Casual Dresses - Emerging Hot Office Trends

The long-preserved and strict rules of wearing only formal dresses seem to be dying out. They are slowly giving way to once "unacceptable" semi-casual dresses. These dresses are no longer taboo on the office premises.

Interestingly, they are being approved by those who hold the high ranks. They don't seem to raise their eyebrows any longer on this changing trend. This "just in" semi-casual attitude has added many colors and spices to a very formal (read colorless) environment of the offices.

The office goers, around the world, are shedding their full sleeve shirts and formal pants with a distinct enthusiasm. Even, the neckties have become pretty optional ones. The professionals at all places are not reluctant, even slightly, to join this latest bandwagon.

On office days, a polo neck t-shirt coupled with a well-fit pant is a common rage. Many are putting on jeans with stylish striped shirts. The ladies are showing a special liking for straight skirts along with some light colored semi-casual tops.

But amazingly, this "unconventional" norm too has got its "conventions". These rules help a wearer to remain on the right track of semi-formalism. Otherwise, the wearer may creep into the realm of extreme casual dress sense.

The plain colored shirts, not bright red, deep orange or printed ones, can be paired with jeans or chinos. The striped pants and flattering skirts must be avoided. They give a boring look. The excess of jewelry is bad. A light color pearled necklace will suffice.

The wearers profoundly explain the benefits of wearing semi-formals in the offices. They believe wearing semi-casuals make them comfortable, and allows them to look dashing.

But what they forcefully emphasize is that these dresses enhance their productivity. They accept that they seem to be more active in semi-casual apparel.

Trends in Modern Bra Wear

History of the Bra

The history of the bra is extensive. Almost since the dawn of time women have worn bra's either to enhance or minimize their figure. Bust-lines have been increased and decreased, rounded and stretched and even spread out throughout time following society's trends and fashions.

Bra's have been worn by women the world over since 2000 BC, when the first corset, created of leather was worn to support and outline the breasts. The ancient Greeks wore a type of bra that pushed the breasts upwards but left the breast itself naked.

During the 13th century, the practice of minimizing the breasts became very popular. Women often wore short bodices that flattened rather than enhanced a woman's bodice. This changed however during the 15th century when a women's chest became the focal point of her garments... it was popular for the upper portion of the breast to be pushed above the garments worn by a woman in order to give the appearance of full cleavage and a rounded bodice.

Trends in Modern Bra Wear

Bras are in. Today bras can be fashioned to meet any persons unique style and comfort preferences. In recent years plus and full size bras have become the norm, as more and more women turn to plastic surgery to enhance their bust line. In some cities it isn't uncommon to see women who might be categorized as DD's, EE's and even FF's thanks to modern technology.

Fortunately, there is a bra available to fit almost any woman anywhere. There are even bras that are fashioned as "outer wear". Celebrities are among the more common members of society to tout such bold and daring styles.

For the bold but slightly less daring, sheer and see through bras are a great option. Bras, whether made with or without under wires, are made from silk, cotton, Lycra, spandex and even flannel.

Style has as much to do with what's available and "hot" as what a woman finds comfortable and supportive.

The first formal "bras" were patented in the US in the mid 1800s, as tortuous corsets began to fall out of style with more comfort seeking women.

Different Bra Types

Many different bra types have been created since the early days of it's existence. No longer do women have to struggle to fit their upper body and chest into contraptions made of whalebone and steel (the common materials used to fashion early corsets). Rather, today's traditional bras are made of a variety of luxurious fabrics, meant to support, uplift, enhance and show off a woman's breasts (though you can still find some that minimize, which for many women is a bonus).

See through and sheer bras, specialty bras, nursing and maternity bras, sports bras and even strapless and backless bras are all the rage in modern times. There is a bra available to fit any bust size and any individual style preference available. You can even have a bra custom made if you like. Though the corset is not completely banned from existence, new designs make wearing the contraption or similar ones much more feasible, and women no longer have to suffer pain and discomfort from wearing them.

Interestingly, the bra did not gain popularity until about the 1920s during the time of the flappers when a flat chest was suddenly in, and women looked to minimize their bust line rather than enhance it.

Among the first companies to jump on the bra making bandwagon during this time was the Maidenform Company, who created bra sizes in different bust size categories. As the breast minimizing trend of the early 20s faded and society entered the 30s, the idea of shape as acceptable became popular again, and Maidenform made an effort to make bras that would meet every woman's needs, including plus and full size bras.

Warner's was among the first to create a cup sizing system that ranged from size A to size D, which are still standard sizes.

At no time does a bra prove more useful than during exercise or during pregnancy/maternity. You can rest assured that sports bra's which provide support during intense physical activity are most appreciated by women with large chests. Can you imagine what it is like to run without one?

Pregnant women now have nursing and maternity bras available to them, which make breastfeeding in public a much more easily accomplished task. New designs enable discreet feeding and offer comfortable support at a time when a woman's breast size may change or fluctuate in a time span of weeks or months. Some of the more popular varieties are fashioned after the sports bra style, that allow for fluctuations in size.

Finding the Right Fit

Fit is EVERYTHING when it comes to wearing a bra. More than 90% of the female population at one time or another buys a bra that doesn't fit properly. Fortunately you can easily measure yourself to ensure that you get a proper fit.

Finding the right bra size depends on two things: band size and cup size. Band size is usually measured in numbers, and generally ranges from 32 to 40+ (even numbers only). Cup size is alphabetical, and as discussed can range from an A to an EE or more.

To measure your chest you'll need a tape measure. Wrap the tap lightly around your rib cage just below your bust line. You should then add five inches to this measurement, and that is your band size.

To measure your cup size, loosely wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of the bust. For most women this is about where the nipple falls, or about mid-breast. You should then subtract the measurement you get from your band size. The difference measured equates to your cup size and runs as follows:

• 1 inch – A cup
• 2 inches – B cup
• 3 inches – C cup
• 4 inches – D cup

There are many thoughts on which bras are best. Some women prefer under wire bras because they believe they offer the best support. For some women, including nursing women however, under wire versions can be uncomfortable. Fortunately there is an incredibly broad selection of no wire bras that are flattering and just as supportive as their wire counterparts.

If you are not sure which you prefer, I recommend trying one of each. It won't take long before you decide which works best for you.

Clown Costumes - Clowning Around At Halloween

Clown costumes. Some kids love them. Others hate them and are frightened by them. (Perhaps they've seen a clown show that frightened them, or had a bad experience with a real life clown.) But to those who do love clowns, their lives are filled with joy when they see a clown perform.

In order to wear clown costumes professionally, a lot of people choose to go to clown school. In clown school individuals learn how to conduct themselves, how to make people laugh, and fun extras like face painting and balloon animals.

Clown costumes also make a good choice for costume parties and as a child's Halloween costume. Babies especially look adorable in clown costumes and they also photograph well because they are so colorful.

Types of Clown Costumes

Clowns come in all different styles and sizes, if you do decide that you need clown costumes, it is important to keep this in mind. There are happy clowns, loud clowns, and silent clowns. Some are bald and some are more colorful than others. What kind of costume do you need? Do you need the costume simply because you want to play dress-up or will it have a more defined purpose?

Finding Clown Costumes

Clown costumes are fairly popular so you should be able to find them pretty easily year ëround. Check online and in the classifieds. Also, call costume shops and ask if they have costumes for sale or rent. You can also borrow clown costumes form those who've purchased them before. Also, your local theater company may have clown costumes they'd be willing to let you borrow or rent.

Using the Clown Costumes

What do you need the clown costumes for? There are some choices. Perhaps you've decided to become a professional clown. Or maybe you want to dress up as a clown for a child's birthday party. Maybe you've decided to be a clown for Halloween or to wear it to a costume party. Since there are so many different kinds of clown costumes, your use for it may dictate what kind of costume you end up with.

Answering a Reader Question #54

Caroline Wrote:

Hey, My name's Caroline and it's been my dream to become a VS model. I'm only 12 but my measurements are : 33"24"35 and I'm already 5'7". I've been planning to go to an open call at Ford. One problem (besides my age): My parents are a tad protective to say the least, and would probably disinherit me or something if they knew what I wanted to do. Do you have any suggestions as to what I could do to convince them that maybe modeling isn't the worst thing in the world? Thanks so much!

Hi, Caroline, and thanks for your question. Your situation is one that many young, aspiring models are having to deal with these days. It is normal for parents to feel overprotective and chances are they've only heard about the negative side of modeling, which only adds to their concern about having their own child pursue the industry. In your case if you were to get signed to Ford, obviously you wouldn't be considered for VS until you were 18 but in the meantime you would be working on other modeling projects, which would not only build up your career and your portfolio, but it would mean getting a jump start on saving up money for college (all points that will help build your case once you are ready to tell your parents of your modeling plans). At this point in time you may not want to mention your desire to do VS modeling at all--just stick to saying you want to model in general. If you happen to get offered a VS opportunity, you'd be 18 by that time anyway so the decision alone would be yours.

I would suggest checking out these blog posts I did about how to address the issue of modeling with your parents:

The Parents
http://amodelsdiary.blogspot.com/2007/02/parents.html

When You Get No Support for Modeling
http://amodelsdiary.blogspot.com/2007/11/when-you-get-no-support-for-modeling.html

If you'd like more assistance with your situation, feel free to drop me an email at daniadenise@gmail.com.

Gorgeous Updates For Traditional Ball Gowns

You love the look of traditional ball gowns. They are long, flowing gowns, often with layers and layers of fabric to make them amazingly beautiful not only to wear but to see. Today's dresses have seemed to lose a lot of that fabric. Still, if you want to look like Cinderella on your prom night, you can. You will also feel right at home because of all of the updates and transformations that have taken place in the last few years. As you look for that perfect dress, you need to know what to expect and where to look to find the very best.

Give yourself some time to search all of your options in ball gowns. You will likely find many to choose from but there is only one that you will totally love and have to have! If you want the traditional ball gown with a few modern touch ups, you will want to shop for your dress online. There are far more options available on the web, from some of today's top dress designers, too. Invest some time in finding the right dress by looking at a number of options. Do take some time to have the dress shipped to you, so buy in advance.

Some of the more modern touch ups to traditional ball gowns have to do with patterns and sequence. Many of these older dresses were designed to be very heavy, laden with jewels. Most dresses today have sequence to give off that shimmering look. You don't have to have sequence though to have an amazing look. Rather, look for a dress that offers the same sparkle by the fabric. Another update in the dresses are the patterns. There are far fewer patterns in these dresses. This modernized look of clean lines and sophistication doesn't take away from the cut of the ball gown.

In addition to these things, consider the actual cut of the dress. Many of the very best ball gowns are cut difference from those of yesteryear. You will find a lot more skin on top. Off the shoulder looks are a very important part of the process. You may also find that the traditional ball gowns are completely off the shoulder. The empire waist is particularly popular because of its forgiving style. It can hide a lot of tummy problems and still give that beautiful ball gown look.

Modernized ball gowns for prom are out there. Do invest time in finding one that matches the image you have. From sophisticated colors and minimized patterns, to the cut of the gown itself, there are some changes from the days of Cinderella, but they still look amazing. If you cannot find what you are looking for locally, you will find it available throughout various online retailers.

Petite Maternity Clothes That Make You look Adorable

Pregnant women who are less than 5'4" look out for petite maternity clothes that seem to be so hard to find! At one point there was not much of a market for clothes in their size and they had to make do with over-sized, ill fitting clothes. Women these days still find it hard to get petite maternity clothes or stylish maternity cloths in the local stores but they can find a great selection online.

Many stores offer a huge variety in petite maternity clothes at easy affordable prices making it possible for the elfin Venuses amongst us to look their best too! Expectant petite women need not worry about shopping for maternity clothes during the first trimester. They can wear pants and skirts that have adjustable elastic bands as well as their regular clothing initially. It is usually during the second trimester that their growing body requires clothes that are soft, stretchable and comfortable to wear. Most often clothes that are designed for pregnant women are made of 90% cotton and 10% Lycra as such clothes grow with the body i.e. are stretchable.

Select Trendy, Petite Maternity Clothes

Are you also petite and pregnant? Well, you can be fashionable, petite and pregnant at the same time by wearing trendy maternity clothes in petite sizes. There are boot cut maternity jeans, twill pants, capris, smart short maternity skirts, tops, shirts, halter neck, tank and tune tops and many such attractive casual and formal wear outfits available in petite sizes too. You can make those days when you feel queasy more bearable by looking your best, dressed in bright or soft colored clothes.

If you search hard you may get cheap maternity clothes of good quality in petite sizes too. If you are shopping online be sure to get the right size and if you are still in doubt contact customer service section of the stores as most of them offer excellent customer service.

Funny maternity clothes in petite sizes are also available in some stores. There are also maternity swim and active wear available in petite sizes. Some fashionable evening and part wear in clingy, breathable fabrics to stylish and formal petite maternity clothes are available too. In case you need a petite maternity wedding gown a search online can make your shopping much easier and more cost effective. Affordable maternity clothes are a reality thanks to the sales offered by various stores as well as the variety available at the discount stores.

Petite maternity clothes are available in wide variety to suit all budgets from exclusive designer wear to affordable off the rack clothes. Make sure you stick to a planned budget as you get to wear these clothes only for a short duration. Small is beautiful especially if you are pregnant! You can also look adorable wearing attractive and stylish petite maternity clothes.