I love clothes. For me, clothing is a form of self-expression just like paint on a canvas is a form of expression for an artist. So, over the years Iâ??ve been known to scour the pages of fashion magazines for ideas. Sometimes I buy the magazines in the store, other times I subscribe to them for a year or more. Often times, when I flip through the pages, I get inspiration to combine colors, textures or styles in a way I hadnâ??t thought of in the past.

Iâ??ve known for years that fashion magazines are filled with unrealistic, computer-enhanced images. I know that many models have eating disorders and drug problems and I know that many young women aspire to look like models and therefore become victims of eating disorders, compulsive dieting, body dissatisfaction, drug use, smoking and more. I know because I was one of those girls.

But I figured since I â??know betterâ? now, since Iâ??m smart enough to see beneath the surface, that thereâ??s no harm in looking at the magazine for fashion ideas. It was only this past week, after the mailperson delivered a 500 page copy of one of my favorite fashion magazines that it all began to hit me. I sat at the table eating cereal and flipping through the pages one at a time.

I oogled a $500 purse and a $200 pair of shoes. I saw pictures of $1,000 dollar watches. Page after page was permeated with items that would break my bank if I were to purchase them. I realized that I was literally paying money out of my pocket to be advertised to. I was paying for a 500 page manual which might as well have been titled: 500 pages of things you will never be, do or have.

I realized I was paying to look at and read lies. Even though I â??know betterâ? on a conscious level, there was still a little girl part of me that wanted â??that purseâ?, â??those shoesâ? and â??that watch,â? even if they were all incredibly overpriced and sure to wreak havoc on my financial future and my self-esteem.

On this particular day, looking at the fashion magazine wasnâ??t enjoyable, it was infuriating. I suppose this fury has been working itâ??s way out over the past few months. There was the time when I saw the picture of Madonna in a Versace ad and it hit me: she doesnâ??t have a wrinkle or a smile line or crowâ??s feet. Not one sign of being a mother of two, over 40 and a woman with an incredibly demanding career that spanned several decades. I thought to myself, â??thatâ??s impossible.â? It wasnâ??t a jealous or envious thought, I meant it very literally. It is impossible. Computer enhancement and heavy duty make-up is the only logical explanation for the flawless face I saw.

I decided to put my emotions and judgments in check and get objective about what I saw. I performed an unofficial research project and scanned the pages of this 500 page magazine to get an accurate account of what I had been absorbing mindlessly month after month and year after year. Hereâ??s what I learned: of the 500 pages, 300 were full-page ads. 172 pages were ads that pretended to be fashion advice, party advice and editorial content. Letâ??s get real, when the fashion advice includes the name, phone number and website of the store and the price of the item, it truly is an ad. About 30 pages of the magazine were not technically ads but they were things like: â??This star likes thisâ? or, â??This star does that.â? Three of the pages were public service ads (I believe this is a requirement). So, there you have it, my 500 page contained 472 ads and approximately 30 pages of â??content.â? And Iâ??m the sucker who sent the check in to cover the yearly subscription fee.

Now after this informal research project, I was beginning to get a little steamed up. Then, my friend Cindy e-mails me a link to the Dove website (campaignforrealbeauty.com) I go there and watch a 30-second video that shows a sped up version of all that goes into your typical fashion photo shoot. The 30-second video clip encapsulates the hours of time spent on hair, make-up, lighting, professional photography techniques and computer enhancement that takes place before an ad is published or broadcast. When I say the magazine ads are unrealistic and unattainable, I mean it. Because not even the model looks like the model!

So, Iâ??ve made a decision. I am boycotting all fashion magazines. I will never purchase another one again. I will not spend my money on lies and images that lead to self-hatred, deadly behaviors and oppression for women. I know that money is power and I refuse to spend my money on harmful lies that destroy the lives of many women.

I know that my few dollars will not be a big loss to the mega-rich publishing industry but I think itâ??s important for all women to realize that in a very real way we do not have to buy the hype. I mean that in two ways. We do not have to buy the magazines with our money and we donâ??t have to buy the lies that reside within their pages. We can also decide to support designers and manufacturers that promote positive images for women. We can choose to withhold our dollars from companies that exploit women whether itâ??s the model or the sweat shop worker that sews the clothing.

If a full boycott of fashion magazines is not for you, you always have the power to write advertisers when you see images that are harmful or ridiculous. These letters do make a difference.

Now, as far as my fashion inspiration, I decided that if my clothes truly are to be a form of self-expression then I will decide for myself what textures, colors and styles I want to combine. Iâ??m a grown woman living in a free country. I donâ??t need a magazine to tell me how I should dress.

Jewelry of any kind makes a fashion statement. But the fashion statement can be made more interesting by the choice of jewelry. Through ages, jewelry has been a symbol fashion and romance. Wearing a beautiful piece of jewelry is always an addition that seems to complete the dressing for any special occasion. The choice of jewelry varies from person to person. Some like wearing diamonds, while others might like simple and elegant chain and pendant. Different people have different tastes and to meet the demands of the wide market, there are varieties of products today â?? some with semi-precious stones while others, equally ravishing.

Everybody wants to own some piece of jewelry. But nobody likes wearing a common ornament. Imagine buying a new exquisite jewelry for some special occasion and finding out that the same thing is being worn by five others on the day. So along with exquisite styles, the demand for uniqueness is also growing. Unique and personalized jewelry are often more in demand than its counterparts. Uniqueness has its own value and hence the demand for trendy, stylish yet one of a kind jewelry is huge.

To meet this demand, handcrafted jewelry is probably the perfect choice. These jewelries are often personalized and unique. They have a wide variety of styles and are best to meet the demands of different individuals with varied tastes and preferences. Be it rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants or bracelets, handcrafted jewelry adds a different touch. The special ones are those which have personalized messages and romantic poems engraved on them. These personalizations make the handcrafted jewelries unique and reflect individual styles. Irrespective of an individualâ??s choice for elegance and specific color combinations or something bright and sassy that will really draw a lot of attention, these original and unique pieces of jewelry are probably the best choice for anyone who loves to be different.

Once considered funky and targeted to a limited market, the handcrafted jewelry has come a long way to become the latest buzz in the fashion mainstream. It has been re-invented as artisan jewelry and it appeals to a broader market of affluent buyers attracted to its uniqueness and limited availability. As an article of ostentation or for sending across a message of love and passion, personalized handcrafted jewelry has no substitutes. It can even be easily available through online stores, customized with oneâ??s own message or poems and still highlight oneâ??s style statement in a way that would not go unnoticed. The arrival of handcrafted jewelry trends with all these exclusive benefits has really redefined fashion in the present day.

Psychologists conclude that color can account for 60% of the acceptance or rejection of anything someone sees and this includes the colors you wear.

In fact, the colors you wear can make you instantly look slimmer, healthier and create an image of confidence and much more â?? Lets find out how you can put this fashion idea into practice.

Color Impact

We react to color before ANYTHING else, and thatâ??s why itâ??s so critical itâ??s an instinctive response.

In many instances our responses to color can help us survive.

For example, if see a black small object near your face your not to worried but if it has yellowish stripes you want to get it away. You are warned by color if itâ??s a bee or a fly and react accordingly.

Colors and what we associate them with

As society has developed it has reinforced our association with certain colors to trigger a response.

Ever wondered why the uniforms of so many authority personnel are black or dark blue?

The reason is that these colors signify power and authority.

Go into a Hospital and you will often see green because of its calming and makes us relax.

Take a road sign, traffic light or warning of late bill you will notice and it contains red.

You know you probably need to be cautious or worried.

Color and you

You can of course can use color to our advantage and here are a few examples.

Consider this simple fact; around 60% of clothes sold in the UK and USA are black.

The reason for this is that black can be used both formally and informally to great effect.

Wearing black formally suggests elegance, strength, authority and power.

If you have to attend a business meeting black is always a great color.

On the other hand never consider wearing red to business meeting, as it can be viewed as over the top, in other peopleâ??s faces, and even confrontational.

When worn properly, in any situation, black clothing conveys neatness and simplicity.

Black may be seen as a safe color, but it is extremely effective if worn in the right way, to trigger a positive response.

It also makes you look slimmer

Letâ??s look at some other examples:

If you want to look slimmer

Go for one color only.

Why?

Because, if you have different colors top and bottom, you will instantly draw attention to the waste area.

If you use more than one color keep them dark.

If you want to look healthier

Consider you hair color and complexion.

If you are pale avoid light colors that give you a washed out look like grey or light green go for darker colors.

On the other hand, if you have dark olive skin, you can use light colors to draw attention to your skin.

If you donâ??t want to look a mess.

Donâ??t wear more than three colors and learn how to use a color wheel to match colors to give you a coordinated look.

There are plenty of free color wheels on the net to help you do this and you will soon be matching colors to make you look your best.

Donâ??t underestimate the impact of color

Many people donâ??t understand color but learning how colors impact compliment and match is a fashion idea that will always make sure you present a great image for all occasions and look healthier and slimmer at the same time.

We will look at more ideas in further articles in this series.

In the glittering world of jewelry, handcrafted jewelry enjoys a very special status. This specialty can be attributed to the fact that handcrafted jewelry is often perceived as a piece of creation that bears the influence of the designer to the maximum extent. A piece of handcrafted jewelry, as the name itself suggests, is made by meticulously designing and crafting it with human hands. As such, it reflects the passion of the designer and the skills of all the hands that gave it its form and shape. Indeed, handcrafted jewelry is truly special.

Handcrafted jewelry has been around for quite a long time. It has evolved from a crude and somewhat unsophisticated past to its modern dazzling forms over the years. Today, handcrafted jewelry offers a wide array of choices. One of the latest trends to be noticed is the vogue of wearing handcrafted jewelry with engravings. Line of poetry, or simply a few golden words of wisdom that inspire and motivate, are being hand engraved on beautiful pieces of jewelry to great effect. This practice has lent a whole new dimension to the intrinsic beauty and status of handcrafted jewelry. Let’s take a closer look.

Everybody has a favorite line of poetry. With engraved handcrafted jewelry, now they can choose to immortalize it by having it etched on precious metal. If the prospect of â??wearingâ?? poetry on your body thrills you, you will find such engraved handcrafted jewelry simply irresistible. Just think about it, you could have Ralph Waldo Emerson wrapped around your arms, or Lau Tzu around your neck. How about keeping Walt Whitman close to your heart by having his poetry etched on a pendant on a necklace around your neck?

One of the best names in this exclusive world of engraved handcrafted jewelry is that of Jeanine Payer. Poetry hand-engraved onto precious metals is how this San Francisco-based jewelry designer creates her collections of emotionally engaging yet subtle hand inscribed jewelry. Take the Alene bracelet from her creations, for example. It’s a brushed, sterling silver cuff accented with an 18k high polish gold face plate with a hand-textured look on both the interior and exterior surfaces. It carries Emersonâ??s immortal lines engraved on the gold face, â??What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.â? Some of her popular creations bear such unforgettable words as “The journey is the reward”; “The soul is here for its own joy” and “Everything is waiting for you”. Indeed, there are few things as intimate as wearing poetry against your skin!

The fascination for handcrafted jewelry is shared by many around the globe. Some of its celebrity admirers include Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon, Mick Jagger, Johnny Depp, Meg Ryan, Seal, Sheryl Crow, Debra Missing and many others.

Handcrafted jewelry makes a wonderful gift for any occasion. If you are wondering about that perfect gift for your mother on Mother’s Day, or a ‘special’ gift for someone ‘special’ in your life on Christmas, or just a simple gift to celebrate your friendship with someone, consider gifting a piece of handcrafted jewelry. Your choice will be appreciated and the gift will be cherished by the recipient for a very long time.

So what are you waiting for? Take a plunge into the enchanting world of handcrafted jewelry and discover some of the finest creations in jewelry ever made to adorn the human body. ]]> http://www.innofonelab.com/handcraft-jewelry/handcrafted-jewelry-a-making-you-fall-in-love-with-jewelry-all-over-again-2/index.html/feed 0 http://www.innofonelab.com/fashion-idea/fashion-idea-a-use-color-to-look-better-healthier-slimmer-part-1/index.html http://www.innofonelab.com/fashion-idea/fashion-idea-a-use-color-to-look-better-healthier-slimmer-part-1/index.html#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:13:36 +0000 admin http://innofonelab.com/?p=206

Psychologists conclude that color can account for 60% of the acceptance or rejection of anything someone sees and this includes the colors you wear.

In fact, the colors you wear can make you instantly look slimmer, healthier and create an image of confidence and much more â?? Lets find out how you can put this fashion idea into practice.

Color Impact

We react to color before ANYTHING else, and thatâ??s why itâ??s so critical itâ??s an instinctive response.

In many instances our responses to color can help us survive.

For example, if see a black small object near your face your not to worried but if it has yellowish stripes you want to get it away. You are warned by color if itâ??s a bee or a fly and react accordingly.

Colors and what we associate them with

As society has developed it has reinforced our association with certain colors to trigger a response.

Ever wondered why the uniforms of so many authority personnel are black or dark blue?

The reason is that these colors signify power and authority.

Go into a Hospital and you will often see green because of its calming and makes us relax.

Take a road sign, traffic light or warning of late bill you will notice and it contains red.

You know you probably need to be cautious or worried.

Color and you

You can of course can use color to our advantage and here are a few examples.

Consider this simple fact; around 60% of clothes sold in the UK and USA are black.

The reason for this is that black can be used both formally and informally to great effect.

Wearing black formally suggests elegance, strength, authority and power.

If you have to attend a business meeting black is always a great color.

On the other hand never consider wearing red to business meeting, as it can be viewed as over the top, in other peopleâ??s faces, and even confrontational.

When worn properly, in any situation, black clothing conveys neatness and simplicity.

Black may be seen as a safe color, but it is extremely effective if worn in the right way, to trigger a positive response.

It also makes you look slimmer

Letâ??s look at some other examples:

If you want to look slimmer

Go for one color only.

Why?

Because, if you have different colors top and bottom, you will instantly draw attention to the waste area.

If you use more than one color keep them dark.

If you want to look healthier

Consider you hair color and complexion.

If you are pale avoid light colors that give you a washed out look like grey or light green go for darker colors.

On the other hand, if you have dark olive skin, you can use light colors to draw attention to your skin.

If you donâ??t want to look a mess.

Donâ??t wear more than three colors and learn how to use a color wheel to match colors to give you a coordinated look.

There are plenty of free color wheels on the net to help you do this and you will soon be matching colors to make you look your best.

Donâ??t underestimate the impact of color

Many people donâ??t understand color but learning how colors impact compliment and match is a fashion idea that will always make sure you present a great image for all occasions and look healthier and slimmer at the same time.

We will look at more ideas in further articles in this series.

In the glittering world of jewelry, handcrafted jewelry enjoys a very special status. This specialty can be attributed to the fact that handcrafted jewelry is often perceived as a piece of creation that bears the influence of the designer to the maximum extent. A piece of handcrafted jewelry, as the name itself suggests, is made by meticulously designing and crafting it with human hands. As such, it reflects the passion of the designer and the skills of all the hands that gave it its form and shape. Indeed, handcrafted jewelry is truly special.

Handcrafted jewelry has been around for quite a long time. It has evolved from a crude and somewhat unsophisticated past to its modern dazzling forms over the years. Today, handcrafted jewelry offers a wide array of choices. One of the latest trends to be noticed is the vogue of wearing handcrafted jewelry with engravings. Line of poetry, or simply a few golden words of wisdom that inspire and motivate, are being hand engraved on beautiful pieces of jewelry to great effect. This practice has lent a whole new dimension to the intrinsic beauty and status of handcrafted jewelry. Let’s take a closer look.

Everybody has a favorite line of poetry. With engraved handcrafted jewelry, now they can choose to immortalize it by having it etched on precious metal. If the prospect of â??wearingâ?? poetry on your body thrills you, you will find such engraved handcrafted jewelry simply irresistible. Just think about it, you could have Ralph Waldo Emerson wrapped around your arms, or Lau Tzu around your neck. How about keeping Walt Whitman close to your heart by having his poetry etched on a pendant on a necklace around your neck?

One of the best names in this exclusive world of engraved handcrafted jewelry is that of Jeanine Payer. Poetry hand-engraved onto precious metals is how this San Francisco-based jewelry designer creates her collections of emotionally engaging yet subtle hand inscribed jewelry. Take the Alene bracelet from her creations, for example. It’s a brushed, sterling silver cuff accented with an 18k high polish gold face plate with a hand-textured look on both the interior and exterior surfaces. It carries Emersonâ??s immortal lines engraved on the gold face, â??What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.â? Some of her popular creations bear such unforgettable words as “The journey is the reward”; “The soul is here for its own joy” and “Everything is waiting for you”. Indeed, there are few things as intimate as wearing poetry against your skin!

The fascination for handcrafted jewelry is shared by many around the globe. Some of its celebrity admirers include Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon, Mick Jagger, Johnny Depp, Meg Ryan, Seal, Sheryl Crow, Debra Missing and many others.

Handcrafted jewelry makes a wonderful gift for any occasion. If you are wondering about that perfect gift for your mother on Mother’s Day, or a ‘special’ gift for someone ‘special’ in your life on Christmas, or just a simple gift to celebrate your friendship with someone, consider gifting a piece of handcrafted jewelry. Your choice will be appreciated and the gift will be cherished by the recipient for a very long time.

So what are you waiting for? Take a plunge into the enchanting world of handcrafted jewelry and discover some of the finest creations in jewelry ever made to adorn the human body. ]]> http://www.innofonelab.com/handcraft-jewelry/handcrafted-jewelry-a-making-you-fall-in-love-with-jewelry-all-over-again/index.html/feed 0