Posted by Carl on Jul 10, 2009 in
Good Going
Introduction
Swimwear is the term used for garments designated for swimming and beach wear. It has gradually evolved over the years from the bulky garments used to completely cover the body into the selection of brief pieces of fabric arranged to expose as much as possible of the body.
Finding the right sort of swimwear is not always that easy particularly if you do not have a large budget. There is an enormous variety of body sizes and shapes for both men and women and correspondingly there are an enormous variety of outfits ranging from the very cheap to the very expensive.
Fashion Dictates
If it was just a case of having a bathing costume to wear when going swimming and replacing it when it had worn out, life would be relatively easy. But there is the matter of fashion. Every year the designers come up with a different style so that the previous year’s model suddenly looks old fashioned and we feel compelled to buy a new one. As purchasers we are confronted with one piece swimsuits, two piece swimwear, some with long tops, some with skimpy tops, high leg cut, high waist cut, different cup sizes, in a variety of fabrics, colours, patterns, two tone and so on. The choice is endless.
History of Swimwear
The earliest recorded bathing costume was in 350 BC in Greece which was a toga-like garment for bathing. During the 18th century people visited spa resorts for their health where they spent time in the spa waters. Naturally they needed something suitable to wear, other than their day clothes, when they were engaged in public bathing. Later the recreation of beach bathing demanded a specially made outfit to maintain decorum and decency, so the bathing suit was developed.
Initially the swimwear was rather like ordinary daywear, and the dresses worn by the women sometimes had lead weights sewn into the hems to prevent the skirts from floating up. As the expansion of the railways enabled the masses to spend time at the seaside a more practical type of outfit was required. By the early 1900′s the swimsuit consisted of bloomers with black stocking and shoes, and the top was like a jacket belted at the waist. Swimming was considered suitable for men, while women were assisted into the water for a short dip.
Over the century attitudes changed and swimming became an Olympic sport for both men and women. Gradually the swimming costume changed to adopt short capped sleeves and more ankle was exposed beneath the bloomers. As women became more active in the water the swimming costume needed to be less cumbersome so the neckline was lowered and the tops became sleeveless. Eventually the Princess cut was introduced which consisted of the trousers attached to a blouse in one piece.
In 1909 Annette Kellerman, the Australian swimmer, film star and author, was considered to be the first woman to wear swimwear consisting of only one piece resulting in her arrest for indecency! However, by 1910 “Annette Kellermans” became the new accepted ladies swimwear.
From then on the swimsuits became lighter and briefer. By the 1920′s the women wore figure hugging tank suits made from wool Jersey and by 1928 they had evolved into the swimsuit we would recognise today. In the 1930′s cotton was introduced for bathing suits sometimes with little overskirts to disguise bulky thighs, but film stars wore fashionable figure hugging costumes with higher cut legs sealing the fate of the fashionable swimwear.
The corset manufacturers in the 1940′s saw that women with less than perfect figures needed swimsuits to hide or control the bulges, so seeing a gap in the market they produced costumes which had control panels for the tummy and bra cups and bones to give support to the bust. Using the methods applied in corset making they introduced the stretch factor to bathing costumes so that they were more flattering than ever before.
With the development of synthetic fabrics, Nylon and Lycra became the fabric of choice for swimwear because of their stretch properties. This meant that the costume could be pulled on without openings or fastenings and gave a firmer cleaner line to the figure. Women continued to wear all in one swimsuits until the 1950′s when the bikini became popular.
Leisure Swimming or Sunbathing
Although certain costumes are called swimwear, in fact some never get near the water. They are solely for sunbathing which usually means they are as small as possible, just barely covering the essential bits so that the skin gets maximum exposure to the sun and such a design would be classed as a bikini.
Two Piece or Bikinis
Over two thousand years ago early mosaics and pottery from Greece depict what in fact looks like an early version of a bikini. These garments were used by women performers and acrobats and were in two pieces to cover the breasts and the lower part of the body, much like the current style of Bandeau tops. Modern day runners and athletes wear something very similar when competing. Paula Radcliffe when running the Marathon last year, wore a garment almost identical to those worn thousands of years ago!!
The bikini resembles women’s underwear and has been described as a scanty two piece bathing suit. The lower part may be two small triangles attached together with a string tie at either side, or even a thong. The upper part may also be two small triangles attached together with a string tie but arranged in a slightly different order. Louis Reard patented the new version of the bikini in 1946; his design was similar to the skimpy string 1970′s bikini and it shocked the world when it appeared on French beaches in 1947.
The very first bikini shown in the cinema was in the Bond film Dr No when Ursula Andress rises out of the sea in a white bikini. This created the iconic Bond girl and made her world famous. When being interviewed on television recently she revealed that the bikini had been constructed out of a bra covered with the fabric to give her the required lift of the bosom. This actual bikini sold at auction for £35,000 in 2001.
The fashion for getting a good tan peaked in the 80′s and 90′s resulting in bikinis becoming smaller and smaller.
Ultimately the top part of the bikini was abandoned altogether when topless sunbathing became the norm in some countries and the bottom was just a G-string or thong also called a Tanga. Oliver Saillard the fashion journalist states that the bikini is the most popular female beachwear in the world, and that the emancipation of swimwear is linked to the emancipation of women.
In the 1950′s there was a popular song entitled ‘In My little Itsy Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ that indicated the acceptance of the new style of swimwear. I remember my cousin persuading me to try on a bikini and I felt very exposed but she said how fantastic I looked in it because I was so slim.
Although the bikini is now an acceptable garment whatever the size, the one piece swimsuit is still the best for serious swimmers. Some businesses are well known for their skill at making swimwear and make all the garments for the Olympic team and other swimming competitions. Now swimwear is available in a wide range of bust sizes and the more expensive makes have control panels for the stomach combined with clever styling to create a good silhouette. Combined with a matching sarong, older ladies may feel more comfortable when walking around the beach area.
Helen Mirren was photographed on holiday in her substantial bikini last summer with the caption commenting on how good she looked for her age and that particular bikini was snapped up from the stores within days. Perhaps the buyers believed that they could look as good as Helen Mirren in a bikini if they had the same one.
Leg Line
Some two piece bathing suits are cut so that the waist is high and the matching leg line is also cut high. I believe the aim is to make the wearer look as though her legs are much longer than they are. However if you have less than the perfect shape for this style it can emphasise large hips so it’s not for all women.
Another fashion trend is the tankini where the bottoms look like little shorts and shows the lower curve of the bottom, which is fine if you are young with a nice pert bottom.
Tankinis are the most popular new style in swimwear clothes demonstrating that with just a tiny strip of bare midriff showing, less is more.
The classic bikini style is still as popular as ever though, with the cut of the leg line following the natural crease between the leg and the hip.
The most recent development in fabric is the ‘tan through’ swimwear. This allows the body to tan without exposing the body to the world. Some commentators on this style point to the effects of too much sun on the body and the occurrences of skin cancer of which the evidence indicates an alarming increase. However, the counter argument to that is if you are wearing a bikini anyway then the extra exposure to the sun through the top and bottom garments is hardly going to make much difference.
Conclusion
Swimwear is a term used these days to cover all types of beach wear and swimming gear. It is a bit of a misnomer in that many outfits never see the water and are not used for swimming. However there is a huge range of garments available for the buyer of different styles, sizes and fabrics. The one commonality of course is that everyone wants to look good once they don these garments. The main key to that is to make sure your new swimwear is the right fit and cut, for your body size and shape.
The importance of being properly measured for your swimwear is often overlooked but it is as important as being properly measured for your bra or other underwear, particularly if you do indeed intend to actually swim in your new swimwear! By wearing the right size and style swimwear for your body, will ensure you are really comfortable in it on the beach, in the pool or wherever else you choose to wear it.
Posted by Carl on Jul 10, 2009 in
Good Going
Nursery baby bedding is more than just functional; it is the cozy source of warmth and comfort for your newborn baby. Safety is also a function of your baby’s crib bedding. The comfort and warmth of the bedding is what separates your baby from the elements outside of the crib. Crib bumpers are not only colorful, but they help create a protective barrier for your baby. The risk of the arms or legs of a child getting stuck between rungs would greatly decrease if you used baby bumpers. They are needed because they offer more security to your child.
The purpose of crib sheets is to add more warmth to the crib. Crib sheets also separate the baby from the mattress protector (that is most often plastic) and keeps diaper leaks from damaging the mattress.
One safety measure that is sure to please a baby is a warm, snug safety blanket. The clearest benefit is that the baby will stay warm even when it is very cold outside. Babies love to be all wrapped up and cozy when swaddled as it reminds them of the comfort of the womb. Sometimes children find a great amount of comfort in their baby comforters. This brings to mind a well-known Charlie Brown character.
Safety, warmth, and comfort are the benefits of the baby crib bedding. One must always remember that economy bedding cannot match the production quality of more expensive bedding. This bedding usually is made with thicker material which has a higher thread count to keep your baby warmer, and is also colored with fewer pigments to increase your baby’s safety. As a child grows, they tend to wear out their bedding. Because of this, it is a good idea to make sure that the bedding you purchase is of high quality. The quality of cheaper made bedding will diminish fast, needing replacement more than once. Therefore, it would be wise to spend a little more for quality baby crib sets.
Parents want not only safety but also stylish decor to augment their babies’ nurseries. Today bedding companies focus on fashion and safety for your nursery design needs. Your baby will be happier and more secure in your house, if the decor in his bedroom matches that of the rest of the household. In a themed child’s room, which many parents choose, the crib should blend in nicely so it doesn’t stand out like an afterthought. Usually the crib is the first thing people see in the nursery. This is understandable because ultimately your household centers around your baby and his happiness. After doing some careful consideration you will see that this is an important area when it comes to ensuring that your baby is sleeping in safe and stylish crib bedding.
Posted by Carlson on Jul 10, 2009 in
Good Going
In these times of financial difficulty, people are looking for different options to handle their finances and cut down their spending. This is why prepaid Visa and Master cards have become popular today. These cards can be used like a regular plastic, but the principle it uses is that of a debit card. You need to deposit a certain amount in an account, after which you are issued a credit card. You may use the card for as long as there is money in the account and you may deposit extra money. Similar a regular credit card, you can use it anywhere a Visa or Mastercard is accepted.
The three major benefits that you get from using prepaid Visa and Master cards are efficiency, convenience and safety. It is more safer than having a lot of cash in your wallet and if you ever lose the card, you are covered by the liability policy of the card issuers. However, if you lose cash your chances are small to get it back, but a card could still be reissued with your balance intact. A prepaid card carries no interest with it so you don’t have to worry about spending more than the value of the product you are purchasing. And since it can be used like a regular card, it also comes with the convenience of a regular Visa or Mastercard.
In addition to this, having a prepaid card gives you the sense of peace that comes with knowing that you need not worry about running into debt and will therefore not be receiving any bills for using the card. There are no interest rates and balance transfers each month associated with the card as well. The fact that they can be used anywhere where you can pay or get access to cash makes this card perfect for your personal needs.
Prepaid Visa and Mastercard credit cards are ideal for those who are budget-conscious. It allows them to spend only money that they already have, thus avoiding debt. At the same time, they are only able to spend bucks up to the amount that they deposited in the card’s account and nothing more. These cards also include online tracking systems, so it is easy to track your leverages and be after your spending within your budget. Prepaid cards for teens are also an effective teaching tool for parents helping their student kids to spend their money wisely and to teach them responsibility. You are able to deposit your teens’ allowance in a prepaid card account and monitor their spending habits online. You may then discuss with them finding ways and options to maximize the usage of their card.
Students under the age of eighteen years who would like to learn the art of budgeting may also benefit from a prepaid credit card. It will allow them to keep an eye on their expenses and track the movement of their funds online. Again, prepaid credit cards are ideal for people who have bad credit standing. May be you need a credit card for certain transactions such as hotel or airline reservations, but you can no longer get approval for a regular card. A prepaid Visa or Mastercard could be the right choice for you.
Posted by Carl on Jul 10, 2009 in
Good Going
The ins and outs of sunglass selection
Fashion and image play a large role in sunglass selection and the advertising onslaught in TV and films that portray the celebrities in ‘cool’ sunshades have continued to increase their popularity as a fashion icon. Styles can range from conservative to outrageous, and come in every conceivable colour. There is a certain mystique when someone wears sunglasses. It is often said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, so it is no wonder that a device that hides them makes the wearer seem more provocative and mysterious says Fashion Designer Trends.
The Sunglass lens Lenses come in various shades and a ranges of colours. They are also made in solid tints and in gradient tints, where the top of the lens is darker than the bottom. However, the two most important aspects to bear in mind are the transmittance properties and optical properties
Colour Tinting The colour of the tint determines the parts of the light spectrum that are absorbed by the lenses. Manufacturers use different colours to produce specific results. Gray tints are great all-purpose tints that reduce the overall amount of brightness with the least amount of colour distortion. Gray lenses offer good protection against glare, making them a good choice for driving and general use. Yellow or Orange tints reduce the amount of blue light while allowing a larger percentage of other frequencies through. Since blue light tends to bounce and scatter off a lot of things, it can create a kind of glare known as blue haze. The yellow tint virtually eliminates the blue part of the spectrum and has the effect of making everything bright and sharp, that’s why snow glasses are usually yellow or orange colour. This tint really distorts colour perception, which makes it inappropriate for any activity that relies on accurate colour. Amber and brownish tints are also good general purpose tints. They have the added benefit of reducing glare and have molecules that absorb higher frequency colours, such as blue, in addition to UV rays. There has been research that suggests that near-UV light frequencies such as blue and violet can contribute to the formation of cataracts over time. These tints also distort colours similar to yellow lenses, but increase contrast and clarity. Green tints filter some blue light and reduce glare but because green tints offer the highest contrast, clarity and greatest visual acuity of all the tints, they are the most popular. Purple and rose tints offer the best contrast of objects against a green or blue background. They make a good choice for hunting or water skiing. Dark Rose/red tints are good sports lenses that increase visual efficiency and the degree of image definition in poor visibility, and flat light conditions. They cut back the reaction time in situations improving both sports performance and safety such as Golf Sunglasses.
Gradient Colour Tinting A coloured coating is applied as a gradient that gradually changes shades from top to bottom. This provides additional protection from light coming from above while allowing more light to come in from below or straight ahead. The Gradient lens is THE preferred choice of military and commercial aviators. The top gradient acts to block the sun’s glare at the top of the lens, while providing a clear view of the dashboard and instruments at the bottom. Gradient lenses allow easy reading of charts and instruments inside an aircraft or a car while protecting your eyes from UV rays outside. Aircraft pilots choose thin light frames to house these lenses because frames with thin, strong arms are comfortable while wearing headsets. Police officers who work outside use these Sunglasses because they are very durable and resist scratching while providing the best possible protection from UV rays – a must for pilots and drivers alike!
Transmittance properties. The “luminous transmittance” value denotes the amount of light that the lens lets pass through. The higher its value, the more light the lens absorbs and the less light it lets pass through. The other main objective is to make sure that our lenses have good optical quality and give accurate, sharp vision without distortion.
We also ensure tha the lenses give protection against UV radiation, good clarity of vision and colour fidelity and are suitable for driving. Some sports glasses are not suitable for driving because they distort colour -.Lenses that distort colours for long periods of time can cause headaches, eyestrain and fatigue. As well as being uncomfortable, the inability to distinguish colours can be dangerous- for example if you were unable to recognise the colour red at traffic signals! For simplicity many manufacturers use a numbering system to denote the darkness of the lens using a scale of 1 to 3. This helps you choose sunglasses by providing a system of filter categories that describe the darkness of the tint (luminous transmittance) such as Discount Sunglasses.
There are 3 filter categories
1 Light Tint from 43% to 80% luminous transmittance. 2 Medium Tint from 18% to 43% luminous transmittance. 3 Dark Tint from 8% to 18% luminous transmittance.
However other lenses such as Polarised lenses, Photo Chromatic lenses and Gradient tinted lenses don’t always adhere strictly to these guides. In summary:
Filter No 1 has little shade and used mainly to make a fashion statement. Filter No 2 is in between very light and dark and used mainly for outdoors. Filter No 3 is dark and used when lots of time is spent in the Sun. (Note: some American brands of sunglasses use different numbers for filtering e.g. Rayban’s aviation glasses are G15 which means green with 15% transmittance that is equivalent to our No 3)
The rest is down to styling, finishing, detail and personal preference
Mirror Coating can be added to the outside of your sunglass lenses to give that “cool” look!
Reflective sunglasses sometimes have a mirrored look. We call these “reflective lenses” and they have a reflective coating applied in a very thin, sparse layer — so thin that it’s called a half-silvered surface.
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