The Origin of the Necktie

Neckties are long pieces of cloth in different colors wrapped around the neck that symbolize status and prosperity for men. This idea is widely acceptable and some people have wondered how it has arrived to that status. This question does not have easy answers. It is not because there are no records that can serve as an evidence or there are conflicting records. It's more about having varied opinions because the only answer to the question lies on how we define neckties.

Probably the oldest people using a necktie of some sort are the lovable prehistoric Saturday morning cartoon characters. They are not fact based, of course. But historically speaking, there were recent discoveries that show the antiquity of neckties. Within the ranks of the Chinese terracotta army unearthed during the 1970s showed several men who wore bands of cloth around their necks and its ends dangled in their chest. These clay warriors were molded around 220 BC! Interestingly enough, the ends of these pieces of cloth have pointed ends similar to those that we have right now.

But did neckties originated in China as evidenced by the tough terracotta men? It is doubtful since in Chinese history, there are no records of male neckwear similar to neckties. Or maybe, the fad did not last enough.

Some people have different opinions. Other argue on the perspective of trend originators basing solely on what one considers a necktie. Romans have neck warmers while European have ruffled scarves during the Middle Ages. On the other hand, Croatian soldiers during the 1600s sport the cravatta. These are some of the suggestions, even lacy ruffles were not spared as they were symbols of power and prestige before. The bigger the ruffle, the more powerful a man is.

Among those mentioned above, the Croatian army seemed to have been the one that created the most profound imprint in the history of worldwide fashion. Their hard fought battles and campaigned afforded them respect which European rules soon took notice. 20 years or so years passed when the French, foremost fashion trend setters, accepted the cravat as a formal attire. Ruffles were banned in a number of countries and they, too, started wearing a tie. Louis XIV of France was said to have developed an obsession with the new fashion trend and he was, as a matter of fact, was the one responsible for the world wide acceptance of the cravat.

From France, the public shifted their attention to Britain as a fashion leader in the 1800s. England's George IV and George V were credited for the transition of the traditional cravat towards the modern tie. Brummel, a British fashion icon who greatly influenced George IV, experimented with neckties and produced different necktie designs as well as ways on how to tie it.

Centuries thereafter, the neckties witnessed public acceptance when military regiments and schools required standards for color and design of their ties. The British, and later the Americans, progressed with their own regimental stripes, which eventually went mainstream. Designers produces ties with a wide range of colors and design.

And thus, the necktie era was born.

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Choosing Short Hair Styles for Women Over 40

Just because you are in your 40s doesn't mean you shouldn't care what your hair looks like. No matter what age you are in, you have to constantly make sure that your locks are health and they are styled really well. There are many short hair styles for women over 40 and you can easily choose a look that can make you 10 years younger. With the right hair, you don't have to over accessorize because you can be able to pull off different looks that are appropriate for different occasions.

So, what are the secrets to choosing the right short hair styles for women over 40? Here are some guidelines you must keep in mind in order to find a haircut that you can rock anytime of the day:

Though you don't have to settle for short hair at this age, they are appropriate because they would open your face. As a result, you would look younger and it would also highlight the best features in your face. Open your mind to the possibility of having shorter hair, but if you are still afraid to take this step, you can gradually shorten it from time to time.

Take your time in making a decision. Do your homework beforehand by looking at different pictures online or in magazines. Don't go for current trends if they would look awful on you. As you are browsing through the different resource materials you have, make sure to imagine how it would look on your face. You don't have to settle for one choice either. Bring a couple of pictures the next time you go to your favorite salon and ask for an expert's opinion.

In some beauty salons, the person who would shampoo your hair may be different to the one who will style it. If this is so, make sure to discuss your cut first before getting your hair wet. Doing so means you would have more chances of getting a cut that looks good whenever it is styled or not.

As much as possible, you have to think of your schedule when choosing an appropriate cut as well. Some shorter cuts are also time-consuming to style and this is not a good cut to have when you tend to rush in the morning.

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Teens Want Fashion Sneakers

If you want to be the cool mom then you need to know that the fastest way into teenagers' good graces is to give them something. Hey, teens are very materialistic, and who doesn't like surprises? When you choose fashion sneakers you're giving your teen something they will love and something they need. This makes them happy and gives you the peace of mind that you can only achieve by providing for your children's needs. Even when they are teens they are still your babies!

So what sort of sneakers are teens wearing these days? Let me just say that you could shop all day and not come across two pairs the same. Teens want sneakers that reflect their personal style so the better you know your teen the better equipped you are to shop for sneakers for them.

Retro and Vintage Teens

Teenagers who love all things from decades past are easy to outfit in the newest fashion sneakers. The 80's have come back into style with skinny jeans, slouch socks and of course neon colors. Set your teen up with a pair of neon high-tops for a brand new retro 80's look.

Sporty Teens

From basketball shoes to runners you can find a great pair of sneakers that will meet the demands of your sporty teen whether he is jumping hurdles or shooting baskets. Sporty sneakers are just as individual and unique as your teen with many different styles and colors. Alberto Cola the race car driver has designed a sneaker that many sporty teens will love, and several other sports and entertainment people are getting into the design side of promoting sneakers.

Street Style

If your teen likes to spit rhymes and rock beats then a pair of classy street style shoes that he can move in as he steps to the beat or slides across a stage are what he needs. Try some classic dark sneakers with a style that is unique and comfy to give your teen a hot style that he'll love.

Skater Teens

Skaters are a whole different breed of teen. They use words like fakie and goofy foot, they fly through the air on their boards and defy gravity to perform ollies and switches to make a mothers heart stop. They are confident and they are tough. They fall and they get up and try it again. Skater teens have a style all their own too. Their main requirement is shoes. Skate shoes fit well, they don't fly off easily but don't stop the teen from moving their foot by being too restraining

No matter what style your teen likes you can find a pair of sneakers that will go with her favorite skirt or his baggiest jeans, and you will be super cool mom for at least a few days until you do something mom-like and embarrass your teen.

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Luxury Dog Fashion 2011

Luxury dog fashion is more than just a trend or fad, it is the easiest way to express your love for your pet and feel proud of their appearance. There are a broad selection of outfits that are now available which would allow your dog to look like it belongs to a superstar. Many designers now specialize in creating apparel for canines, no matter what your personal tastes or breed, you can be certain that there are garments that would be perfect for your lovable pooch.

Some of the country's top celebrities are to thank for society's interest in doggy fashion. Stars such as Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton, and others have helped to bring dog fashion to a wide audience. If you want your pet to mimic the style of famous dogs, you do not need a huge bank account, there are designer outfits available that are extremely affordable.

When it comes to choosing the right garments for your pet, you should opt for a balance of style and practicality. Consider the breed and size, a small dog would require a different type of dress than those that are heavy and bulky. You can use the outfits to exaggerate your dogs own personality, or choose a style that would match your own apparel perfectly.

When it shopping for the latest canine accessory items, there are a number of avenues you could explore. If you live in one of the country's bigger cities, you may find that there is a special doggy boutique you can visit to pick up a selection of pieces.

Those of us who cannot so easily access a special pet clothing store may find it worthwhile exploring the option of shopping online. By sourcing garments over the net, you should have access to a greater variety of styles and designs.

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A Look at the Top Pakistani Wedding Fashion Designers

There is no doubt that the South Asian culture has the most celebrated version of weddings and wedding rituals. It is a at least a four to five day custom with modern weddings consisting of intense wedding planning and taking place in carefully managed hotels and elite event planners who charge a big fee. With so many traditions, the bride--unarguably the most important person in the wedding--has a huge task to pick what she believes is the most beautiful wedding dress in the world within her budget. This is a query not even the most prestigious wedding planners or event planners having the most elite and highly recognized wedding planning certification can easily solve. I have compiled a list of the best Pakistani designers (in my opinion) to make this tedious task of finding the perfect dress a bit easier on the bride, the bride's family, the groom's pockets, and of course the wedding planners. Especially for the wedding planners, I hope this list will make your job easier and not make you wonder why a wedding planning certification wasn't offered where you were chose to specialize only in bridezilla's dress finding fever! The most recognized bridal couture designers in Pakistani would be HSY, Maria B, Karma, and Nomi Ansari.

This is naming only a few personal favorites who all have distinctive styles so it might be easier to match a designer with the personal style of the bride based on these choices. For example, HSY is known for his modern bride. He carries unique color combinations and takes risks with the traditional red bridal color and matches it up with a bold yellow or purple underlining- a good choice for today's power woman who always stands out. Maria B is for the decent, traditional girl who wears royal styles in pastels. Karma is all about the detail of the handwork and goes well with the bride who gives a lot of attention to detailed quality. Nomi Ansari is simply for the fun girl- one who is not afraid to try something different and cute. These individual designers been mentioned, I would also like to tip the wedding planners on suggesting fashion labels to your brides that carry many names under one roof. This makes the choice a little easier as the bride can easily see what type of styles she is leaning towards most and then either buy that dress of the hook or go to the designer who's dress she liked under the fashion house and ask for something similar. Not an easy job, wedding planners, but if your bride is happy with the end results, you can celebrate the credit.

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Girls Spring and Summer Fashion 2011

Spring is closing in and it is time to start preparing for the 2011 spring fashion season. Recent fashion shows indicate a lot of new and fun girls 2011 spring and summer fashion trends. Whether it is a sleek retro dress or short spring jacket, it is time to start talking seasonal fashion.

I scanned the Internet and compiled a list of some of the most popular spring 2011 and summer fashion trends for girls and women. Most of these came from fashion shows this past fall while some come from bloggers who have their fingers on the pulse of fashion.

One popular spring 2011 trend is floral patterns. Floral patterns on girls dresses, pants, jackets, blouses, and fitted blouses are sure to be popping up everywhere over the spring and summer. A lot of these floral patterned short dresses and long dresses look like something out of a late 1960s movie. Think retro/hippy flower wear and you are talking 2011 trends.

Another trend is denim. Don't go crazy on the denim but fashionable denim shorts for women will be very popular this spring and summer. In addition to the denim, stripes with little graphics will be a popular girls tee as well this season. The bolder the better with your denim selection as far as colors go.

Sleek and slinky dresses with a 1970s look are also back in style this spring and summer. Satin dance dresses which look like they can be worn for parties, galas, events, or dinner parties are back in style. Ink emerald and sapphire are the preferred dress colors for these simple or special occasion dresses.

Full skirts are back in style for 2011. Once again think retro 1970s era and you will be dressing for 2011. These full skirts were popular in the 70s and have made a return to pop fashion. These short skirts are also popular among men who love checking out women in full skirts. They are sexy and leave a little to the imagination which is perfect if you are trying to turn heads. Choose from long, sheer, short, or fuller full skirts.

Wide pants are also a popular fashion statement this spring and summer. 2011 is looking more like 1971 with these trends, so go through your mother's attic and you may find a stylish outfit. These pants have a high trouser with a wide leg. These wide pants are surely spring/summer 2011 fashion trend that will turn heads.

These are just a few of the hot trends for spring/summer 2011 girls fashion. Happy summer!

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Summer Fashion for Plus Size Women 2011

Are you feeling the heat yet? Summer is pretty much with us, so now is the perfect time to get in the know about the latest trends in plus size fashion for the upcoming season.

Most stores have already launched their Spring and Summer collections and are adding new items to their shops, both online and in stores around malls. So now is the perfect time to update yourself about the latest trends to update your closet in time for the Summer months.

So here are the top Summer plus size fashion trends you need to know about.

1. Animal Prints

The animal magnetism trend is back this year, and it is back with a vengeance because you can see animal prints everywhere! Front dresses, to top, tunic tops, and even leggings can be found in animal prints. Whether you're looking for leopard or tiger prints you can find there in various different shades too not just the regular shades. Don't worry if you're not too daring to go for an animal print dress, you can incorporate this trend by wearing an animal print clutch-bag with a little black dress for example.

2. Wide Stripes

Stripes were very much in fashion last year, and this Summer they are back, but with a twist. Last year we were used to seeing thin stripes, but the ones hitting the catwalk this season are wide. So watch out for tops with wide stripes, in various colors.

3. Floral Prints

Whilst the animal prints trend exudes a woman's strong side, the floral prints trend of course brings out a woman's fragility and femininity. So although quite opposing trends, both of these will be big this Summer season. Look out for floral print tops and dresses. Some are all over prints, whereas other styles just have a touch of floral pattern. Again if you are not very comfortable with wearing prints, add on this trend to your outfits with patterned bags, shoes and scarves.

4. Bright, Vibrant Colors

It's only fair that after Fall and Winter's toned down colors, we transition into more fun, fresh and vibrant Summer colors. This season's colors will be truly bright: watch out for highlighter style greens, pinks, oranges and yellows. Of course play this trend well and make sure not to overdo it. For example, you can wear a bright colored tunic top with a pair of denim leggings. Again do no forget you can play up with trend with accessories as well!

5. Lace

Similarly to the floral trend, lace is very feminine. Lace was quite popular over the cold winter months, we saw it in various collections. This trend will carry on in Summer! So do look out for lace dresses, and lace accented tops and leggings.

6. Gladiator Sandals

The gladiator sandals style of shoe was immensely popular last Summer, so everyone who loved these sandals can rejoice! These sandals are back this season. We might see variations in style of course, with different twists given to it, though they are still in.

So there you have it, these are the top plus size fashion trends for Summer 2011 you need to be aware of!. Take ton these trends and apply them to your personal style, to make sure you are stylish this summer season.

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