Satin carriage dress, about 1889

This well-tailored dress (with a separate bodice and skirt) is made of dark red silk satin and cut velvet. With its high neck and long sleeves it would have been worn in the daytime and, in particular, for making afternoon visits or taking the air in a carriage.

The small puffs on the shoulders point the way to a fashionable enlargement of the sleeves in the early 1890s. By 1895 the very large, leg-of-mutton shape was back in fashion.










http://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/index.cfm?UUID=22AB901C-1FE2-4F95-B0D4D9317D2D617C

Pink and black silk dress, about 1893

This pink and black silk dress with half-sleeves of black lace came from La Samaritaine, a Paris department store.

Large department stores were a new way for women to buy their clothes in the later 19th century. Dresses could be ordered and made to measure in the dressmaking workrooms of these shops.









http://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/index.cfm?UUID=545A8E29-A8CD-45D8-948F9D9A0DDAAAEF

Crimson and black evening coat,1894

This dramatic evening coat from the late Victorian period looks as if it was made by one of the great French couture houses. In fact, it was bought from the London department store, Peter Robinson, and illustrates how splendid some of the ready-made clothes of this time could be.

A coat of this kind would be worn at night, to a ball, the opera or a very grand dinner. It is made of a rich crimson silk satin patterned with black and with jet trimmings. It has the extremely large, full sleeves fashionable in the mid 1890s.


http://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/index.cfm?UUID=AE5B82ED-D01C-4917-B972A35D5BD390B9

Woman's dress, late 1850s

A day dress of printed wool muslin, worn with patterned silk shawl, straw bonnet, kid leather gloves and a folding parasol.

Small parasols, with silk canopies (often trimmed with a deep silk fringe) and ivory handles were used when travelling in a carriage. The jointed handles allowed them to be folded up in an enclosed space.

Both parasols and deep-brimmed bonnets shielded the face from the sun – a suntan and freckles were not admired at this period.








http://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/index.cfm?UUID=D2E53E0A-6F39-4364-8624FCBA3D5BB51C

Women's day dresses, 1830s

The dress of printed wool, on the left, worn with a white embroidered cotton pelerine collar shows the full ‘gigot’ or leg-of-mutton sleeve fashionable in the mid 1830s.

By the end of the decade, sleeves were much more closely fitting as seen in the green and purple printed wool dress of about 1838, on the right. This is worn with a wide-brimmed bonnet of finely plaited straw trimmed with silk ribbon, and a printed wool shawl.

This was the style of dress fashionable when the young Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837.






http://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/index.cfm?UUID=90A90766-4E32-48A8-A7528F806FA8A081

Silk pelisse, 1810 - 1815

The pelisse was a type of light overcoat fashionable at this time. It was cut on similar lines to the dress, with a short waistline, long sleeves and a high neck. This pelisse is made of a soft twilled silk called ‘sarsenet’ (often mentioned by Jane Austen in her novels and letters of the same period). These coats were usually lined and were sometimes interlined with lambswool so they were probably warmer than they might appear.











http://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/index.cfm?UUID=9ADAC8A6-B163-4FED-86546933FB504D17

Women's dresses, 1870s

These three fashionable day dresses show how the bustle replaced the crinoline to create a new shape of skirt in the 1870s: flatter at the front and fuller at the back.

As the crinoline passed out of fashion in the late 1860s, a new type of support, known as the bustle, was worn under the skirt. The bustle could take several different forms, such as stiff frills of horsehair cloth or small wire frames.









http://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/index.cfm?UUID=7927D72B-003A-4D63-AEF13A3DEC487A90

Bridal Dresses

Marriage is the ultimate occasions for brides to dress up and look their best. Indian or western, a wedding is always a grand affair, with the bride clasping the center of attention with her magnificent clothes and elegant jewelery. The outfit of the bride is always the focal point at any wedding. A large part of the preparation revolves around the wedding dress - design, style, color and accessories. Hence making it utmost necessary for a bride to select a perfect bridal wear. It is not just fabrics, embroidery and prints that is important, make-up, jewelery and colors should all complement the bridal outfit.

Patterns & Colors
The rich Indian textile heritage, with stylistic cuts and combinations is poised to become the fashion statement of the coming century. A short-stature bride should avoid wearing heavy outfits like silks and prefer georgettes and crepe. Similarly, a tall bride should fancy heavy embroidered silks. Pinks, oranges, reds, saffrons and blues are a rage among the Indian brides. Bright reds, shades of dark pink also enhance the persona of a fair bride. Similarly, for a dusky bride, shades of peach, light brown would embellish her appearance.

Styles And Drapes
Nowadays many young brides favor the straight skirt lehengas because they don't want to be weighed down by the heavy gold and silver embroidery on full-skirted lehengas. The bride wanting the perfect style should smartly combine the conventional with the unconventional. A heavy embroidered dupatta can be teamed with the lehenga, amalgamating the conventional with the unconventional. Simple and elegant styles create more impact than fancy and heavy ones. For a traditional look, the ever-beautiful sari as a perfect outfit for a bride. A sari has the unique ability to make a woman look traditional and trendy adding a touch of glamor to the most awaited day.

Fabrics
Bridal wear should not consist of organzas and tissues since the garment is at a risk of getting damaged permanently in the long run. Crepe, heavy georgettes, silks, nets lend grace and poise to the bridal ensemble.




http://www.women-clothing-manufacturers.com/bridal-dresses.html

Kaftans

Kaftans are long flowing robes or gowns. Often they are garments with long sleeves, and plenty of space to move. The modern Kaftan has become an essential part of the beachwear wardrobe, sleek, fashionable and easy to wear. Comfortable yet elegant, these kaftans are specially designed as lounge wear for all-day comfort at home. Generally, embellished with intricate embroidered work in pleasing designs, they manage to look smart enough to be worn for casual family gatherings in the living room, or even for an afternoon tea session in the garden. Also called muumuus or house, these are specially suited for plus sized women.

Origin
Originally the Kaftan was worn by men in the Near East, for example Turkey, the word "kaftan" originates from the Turkish "q-aftan". The original kaftans would have been worn with sleeves longer than the hands and tied with a sash or belt. Today Kaftans are typically worn by women, practical and stylish the garment has evolved into an elegant member of the luxury resort wear collection.

Patterns & Colors
Caftans or Kaftans are beautiful evening gowns with delightful wraps and stoles. Distinctive and elegant in their appearance, most of the Caftan gowns are hand embroidered and easy on all body types. Designers work with a mix of fabrics, colors and embroidery patterns to create kaftans that reflect authenticity, sophistication, and fluid lines. Suitable for both formal and semi-formal occasions, Ladies Kaftans are available from Petite sizes to Plus sizes. The motifs are traditional and contemporary, abstract, geometric and floral. The cool combinations for the summer season & warm-color schemes for the winter are specially created to match the mood of the seasons.

Fabrics
The Caftan is woven in a large variety of colors and traditional styles, with intricate embroidery inherited from great fashionable civilizations. The fabrics used both for clothing and furnishing kaftans are woven by craftsmen according to designs prepared by artists. There are three main types of fabrics used to make ladies kaftans, woven, knitted and non-woven. Preference is given to embroidered fabrics, silk polyester fabrics, brocade fabrics, satin fabrics, nylon fabrics, crepe fabrics and cotton fabrics.



http://www.women-clothing-manufacturers.com/kaftans.html

Long Dresses

Fashion is an art form, always changing, slightly elusive, extremely seductive and has the power to transform an image and make a social statement. Long dresses made of contemporary fabrics, possess timeless construction and are available in innovate styling that respects the traditions of design. The multitude of designs and styles in a long dress reflects a balance of modern comfort, impeccable craftsmanship and classic confidence. Long dresses are usually preferred by the full figured ladies as these are extremely versatile, comfortable and give a slimming effect. Long dresses are worn on special occasions such as weddings, and beach parties.

Patterns & Colors
Ladies long dresses include evening wear such as gowns & robes, long Sarongs, long Skirts, all these available in several patterns and solid colors. Fabric colors used are light aqua, dark aqua, lime, yellow, white, royal, navy, red, purple, black, brown, animal print, silver metallic and gold metallic. Other prints include red tulip, floral impressions, blue green fern, zebra and magnolia. Each dresses contain an assortment of sizes, styles and colors.

Fabrics
The choice of fabrics depend upon fashion trends and market demands. Mostly these pieces are made of soft georgette material and linen. But ladies long dress can be manufactured in woven fabrics like viscose and polyester, chiffons, silks, cottons, and they can be in the form of plain dyed fabrics, prints, checks, stripes, dobbins, tie and dye, shaded etc.


http://www.women-clothing-manufacturers.com/womens-long-dresses.html

Lachhaa

The traditional simple long skirt and blouse changed with time to Lachhaa. Now it is a favourite party ware. The embroidery and finery can make Lachha more expensive than any of the traditional costumes. It has become a popular bridal wear now a days.




http://www.webindia123.com/women/fashion/dress/dress1.htm

Indian Dresses

The salwar is a favorite dress among the younger generation. Indian salwaar kameez is comfortable & fashion clothing for women and so it is worn at home & even outdoors. In other words, it is used for formal and casual occasions. In the earlier days it had a long top and a simple bottom. With the change of time new trends have set in. The tops have gone short and the bottom is having a wide variety of stitching like parallel and divided slits.



http://www.webindia123.com/women/fashion/dress/

Boat Necklines

The straight sheath dress, harking back to the 1950s, is a hot autumn evening party dress choice. Necklines are primarily boat shaped, but sometimes can be square cut with wide or narrow straps or strapless bandeaus. These three evening party dresses have more tulip volume from the waistline and taper to a narrow hemline.

The plainer silhouette is used to show lush fabrics including satins, lace overlays, flocked fabrics and brocades to advantage. These evening party dresses and shown in the thumbnails above, are from left to right, the Christmas ranges of House of Fraser, Wallis, and Marks and Spencer. Images of these ladies party dresses are courtesy of the respective companies are available later in autumn.


http://www.fashion-era.com/trends_2007a/2007_fall_fashion_trends_ladies_party_dress_2006.htm#Dress_Selection

The Party Dress Necklines/ Silhouettes for Fall 2006

The black and white dress left and the deep purple dress above are both created by the much loved high street retailer Monsoon. Each is the perfect red-carpet short party dress for a woman who can carry off the pretty baby doll elements of the empire line designs.

Each ladies party dress is romantic, feminine, striking, yet tasteful.

Each is the sort of dress that should it suit your figure type and personality. This party dress will carry you through several seasons, because full skirts can only get fuller as we take on 'volume' fashion looks.

V necks are popular and are taking on more of a wide-set V shape rather than being the pure narrow plunge necklines of other years. Plunge necklines are still around, yet because of the more refined elements of the rest of a dress, seem to have left that old fashioned raunchy look behind.

Note how skirts in all four styles have become fuller and each skim the knee line. Soft chiffons and luxury silks are ultra feminine and ladylike. These two evening party dresses below are from high street retailers Laura Ashley and French Connection.

The Laura Ashley's pale silver grey dress is subtly understated, yet very glamorous with its cinched in waist.

The yellow lemon party dress from French Connection is Grecian in line and has that same soft feminine charge. The French Connection evening party dress also comes in dark charcoal grey shown in the centre, giving an almost classic little black dress version.

Lots of women hate showing their arms, especially if they have poor tone. A sleeveless dress can often be matched in the store with a cover up garment such as a shrug or other bolero jacket. Make friends with the assistant and ask what variety of cover-up items they have that match the dress you have selected.


http://www.fashion-era.com/trends_2007a/2007_fall_fashion_trends_ladies_party_dress_2006.htm#Dress_Selection

Diesel Chunky Knit Dress

Super chunky knits are filling the highstreet rails faster than ever and all the celebs are wearing them too. For a big statement look, its better to go for a bright colour or bold pattern. That’s why I’ve chosen this one from ASOS. The contrasting blue and red aztec stitching is an instant eye catcher.

It is made by Diesel and has a discreet metal branded disc on one of the cuffs. Knits are strictly for daywear only, so don’t try and pull one off for the evening. Now make sure you balance the oversized top with either skinny jeans or tights on the bottom, and for curvier girls, you should belt up with a waist clincher to create an instant shape. This chunky knit dress will set you back £120.


http://www.fashionchicks.co.uk/category/dresses/

Taffeta Cocktail Dress

A friend of mine wore this gorgeous dress to the National TV Awards yesterday evening and it looks so much better on than it does in this picture. The colour is stunning and the material silky, it has to be the ultimate dress of the season. The colour is more purple than how it appears in the image, much more vibrant and flattering.

The top of the dress is tight like a corset to hold you in firmly and the skirt puffs out slightly from the hips giving the illusion of a tiny waist. That’s what we all like to hear!

Try pairing with some black peep toes, a stylish black cardi and a clutch for that super sexy style. The dress is from Oasis and can be bought on line or in stores for £65 – not bad for such a beauty! Oasis has a fantastic range of purple designs this Autumn/Winter in the form of dresses, jumpers, tights, tops and jackets.



http://www.fashionchicks.co.uk/category/dresses/

Evening Dress

Obviously, none of the above mentioned clothing would be any good for a grand soiree or rout. For an important haut ton event, something truly special was required.

Unlike afternoon dress, for evening it was quite proper to show one's bosom. Indeed, some bodices were so low they were in danger of showing even more. Wide scoop necklines were popular for evening wear, as were low squared necklines and low bodices cut straight across. In some paintings of bodices of this type, it's hard to imagine how the sleeves even attached.

evening gown For evening wear, light fabrics were still favored, but they were richer. Very fine muslin, silk satin, duchesse silk and light taffetas were all popular. Braver, older or married women sometimes wore silk velvet. There was an unspoken dress code for debutantes, which applied as much to evening wear as afternoon dress. Young ladies were expected to wear pastels and white. The more sophisticated, darker colors were off-limits to unmarried misses just out of the schoolroom.

Of course, it's important to remember that dark colors would not show well by candlelight; if one wore black, one would likely disappear! To this end, many dresses utilized metallic trim and glass or crystal beading to catch the light. Short sleeves were often seen in evening dress, but long gloves were a necessity. Above-the-elbow was the preferred length. We often think of gloves as either white or black, but many different colors of kid leather were used, including yellow and blue.

Outerwear for the evening included cloaks, capes and shawls. To my knowledge, spencers and pelisses were never worn with evening dress.


http://www.rakehell.com/article.php?id=387&Title=Introduction-To-Regency-Dress

Afternoon Dress

The term “afternoon dress” can apply to many different types of gowns. In general, any afternoon dress is the opposite of a morning dress: it's meant to be seen. Other than that, the type of situation it was meant to be seen in would dictate its style. During the Regency, light muslins were very popular for afternoon dress. In the first few years of the 19th century, so many young women died after catching a chill or pneumonia due to wearing these light gowns in the winter that it was called “the muslin disease”!

During the day, one's bosom was entirely covered (well, unless one were beyond the pale). Even dresses with low scoop necklines were filled in with a chemisette (a dickey made of thin material) or fichu (a thin scarf tucked into a low neckline). Unlike today, cleaveage was NOT a daytime accessory.

A walking gown or promenade gown was meant for – you guessed it! – walking. It would be made in the most fashionable style, with beautiful trimmings, and worn while shopping or walking through the park. A walking dress could also be worn to pay calls on other families. The name is somewhat misleading, because nothing about it made it better for walking than any other dress. When trains were popular for daywear, walking dresses had them, and I can't imagine that would have been easy!

Another type of afternoon dress was a carriage dress or traveling dress. These were made out of slightly heavier fabrics, ones that would resist wrinkles more than a cotton muslin. Also, they tended not to have as many trimmings, which could become crushed during a long carriage ride.

Riding habits were also worn sometimes for traveling, but more often they were worn for (no, wait, don't tell me) riding. Made out of a sturdy material (like wool), a riding habit consisted of a dress with a very simple bodice and a jacket that was meant to cover it at all times. Imagine it as wearing a sportsbra under a blazer instead of a regular shirt. Sure, it's there, but you're not going to take off your blazer and let everyone see it.

The skirts of a riding habit were also longer and fuller than the skirts for a walking dress or carriage dress. They had to be in order to be draped over the ladies legs and protect her modesty while she rode sidesaddle. Riding habits took many details from men's clothing, the jackets being rather mannish in cut, and even the hats worn while riding were distinctly masculine. Riding habits also took many details from military uniforms, often being decorated with military-style piping or embroidery and epaulettes.

walking dress Outerwear was an important part of afternoon dress, especially if one didn't want to catch the muslin disease! Long hooded cloaks were always popular, as were many different styles of shawls. Some were decorated with classical Greek motifs, others with a paisley pattern (yes, paisley was around even then). The weights of shawls could vary from soft, heavy cashmere to light silk or even muslin in the spring and summer.

Another type of outerwear was the spencer. It was supposedly created by Earl Spencer (a great-great-great… ancestor of Princess Diana) when the bottom of his coat burned off after he'd had his back to the fire. Whether this is true or not, spencers were high-waisted jackets which could be worn over afternoon dresses of any type for warmth.

A close relative of the spencer was the pelisse. pelisse Most pelisses were basically spencers with an attached skirt. They provided more warmth than a spencer, because it would also keep one's ankles toasty. Some pelisses looked a bit more like shorter robes, ending at the knee or so, but to me these seem to defeat the purpose. One's ankles would freeze! Both spencers and pelisses took many details from men's clothing, and often had a military theme. Because of the War with Napoleon, military details were extremely popular for most of the Regency.

Other must-have afternoon dress accessories were gloves, muffs, bonnets, caps or hats, and of course appropriate footwear. But that is a story for another day



http://www.rakehell.com/article.php?id=387&Title=Introduction-To-Regency-Dress

Morning Dress

The modern equivalent of a Regency morning dress would be the ratty sweats and old college T-shirt you wear while dying your hair. Fine for around the house, but you'd NEVER wear them in front of anyone. A morning gown worked on the same principle. It was a plain, generally unadorned gown that was never worn out of the house.

Because it was never worn outside, morning dresses were usually made of thin material and had no trimmings. Sometimes, they were made from older fabric, the kind with large flower prints that had been so popular in the last few decades of the 18th century. Most families would have had fabric like this lying around, either in remnants or old dresses. It made sense to reuse this fabric for dresses that would never be seen by anyone outside of family. Why, with all the money they saved in this way, they could buy more fashionable dresses for public viewing!

Other than that, they were pretty much indistinguishable from any other type of dress. They were made in the same style, certainly, with a high waist and long or short sleeves. But again, because it was never worn out of the house, a morning dress wouldn't necessarily be in the first stare of fashion. Morning dresses didn't always have long trains, for instance, even when they were popular. It wasn't unusual for a Regency miss to salvage the trim from a gone-out-of-style dress, use the trim on a new dress, and keep the old one as a morning dress. The modern equivalent of a Regency morning dress would be the ratty sweats and old college T-shirt you wear while dying your hair. Fine for around the house, but you'd NEVER wear them in front of anyone. A morning gown worked on the same principle. It was a plain, generally unadorned gown that was never worn out of the house.

Because it was never worn outside, morning dresses were usually made of thin material and had no trimmings. Sometimes, they were made from older fabric, the kind with large flower prints that had been so popular in the last few decades of the 18th century. Most families would have had fabric like this lying around, either in remnants or old dresses. It made sense to reuse this fabric for dresses that would never be seen by anyone outside of family. Why, with all the money they saved in this way, they could buy more fashionable dresses for public viewing!

Other than that, they were pretty much indistinguishable from any other type of dress. They were made in the same style, certainly, with a high waist and long or short sleeves. But again, because it was never worn out of the house, a morning dress wouldn't necessarily be in the first stare of fashion. Morning dresses didn't always have long trains, for instance, even when they were popular. It wasn't unusual for a Regency miss to salvage the trim from a gone-out-of-style dress, use the trim on a new dress, and keep the old one as a morning dress.


http://www.rakehell.com/article.php?id=387&Title=Introduction-To-Regency-Dress

How To Choose The Proper Exercise Apparel For Your Workouts

One of the most important aspects of working out is choosing the appropriate workout attire that will be comfortable during the exercise you are doing. A lot of this is personal preference depending upon what is comfortable to you. You can’t just look at your workout buddy’s gym attire and then buy the same things they have unless you truly know that those same garments will be okay for you. There are a few things that will help you keep from having to go through the hassle of returns.

One of the first things you want to look at is fabrics that will move moisture out away from your body which will keep you dry and comfortable for long and sweaty workouts. If you are doing high impact aerobics or running you will want a fabric that will remove moisture as well so that you will stay as dry as possible. This type of apparel will be more expensive but it will be well worth it. If you aren’t going to be working out so hard that you sweat a lot then you can go with a blend of polyester, cotton, and spandex.

The next thing we want to look at now that we know the appropriate fabrics is how to choose the right cuts that will be good for the activities you are doing. If you live in an area where it is cool and you will be exercising outdoors you will want to buy the exercise apparel in layers that you can remove as you heat up and tie them around your waist or place in a light backpack. The clothing layer that is next to your skin should be either long sleeve or a tank top depending upon the weather and temperature. You may choose to wear a sweatshirt over the first layer which can then be topped off with an all weather jacket if you are going to be in rain, sleet, or snow.

As far as pants go there are a great number of choices in pants that wick moisture and some of them even come in thermal styles to help keep you warm which can be worn by themselves or with another layer. If you are training in the cold be sure to wear a cap or hat to keep your head warm, much of our body heat is lost through the head when it is cold.

If you are training or exercising in a commercial gym or in your own home it is also smart to dress in layers so that you can remove clothing as you warm up. When weightlifting or doing aerobics especially a t-shirt can become tight and rigid due to being wet and will give you some skin irritation. If you dress in layers you will always be comfortable no matter what climate you are in.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about exercise apparel as well as casual wear at http://www.dressandcasualwear.com



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

Wide Collection of Mature Ladies Dresses

There are wide collections of mature ladies dresses in market. Women are just like fine wine. As they get older, more mature, and more beautiful, their inner woman seems to gain a sense of assured confidence, brought on by the years of experience in life. As women get older their sense of fashion seems to mature along with them.

We have to take care on certain points while purchasing mature ladies dresses. We need to keep in mind the fact that as we get older some part of our body tends to surrender to gravity. We need to choose dresses with good support to our body. Full evening dress, or white tie, the most formal civilian dress code, especially in the United Kingdom. An evening gown, the standard mature lady attire for black tie events.

We need to wear dresses with a classic style. Classic styles are called classic because they remain in style year after year. Because they look good on so many bodies! Sheathes, A-line skirts, flat front pants — all tend to flatter a variety of shapes. Covering appropriately is the key to aging gracefully. If your upper arms, thighs, and décolletage have all seen better days, it's time to cover them up a bit instead of sharing the wear-and-tear with the world. Add a beautiful necklace and draw envious glances from women of all ages.

There are enormous range of clothing for ladies aged 50 years and upward, ranging from casual attire through to smart semi-formal and eveningwear and underwear. We need to choose the right size to fit our body. Don’t go for items which fit too tightly. At the same times items which are too loose should also be avoided.

Indu Nair is the article writer for Looking Good. Looking Good is an independent, family run mail order business which has supplied senior ladies with quality merchandise for over 25 years. For more details, please our mature lady dresses online store.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Indu_Nair

Below, you'll find extensive information on leading wholesale apparel articles and products to help you on your way to success.

Julie Ann Apparel To Exhibit Wholesale Women's Fashions At Off-price Specialist Show
(ContentDesk) August 23, 2005 -- Julie Ann Apparel, a market leader in women's wholesale apparel fashions, will exhibit over 2,000 samples of in-stock merchandise at the Off-Price Specialist Show, Aug. 26-30, 2005, at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas. Julie Ann Apparel's 1,000 sq. ft. salon exhibit booth will display current, major label merchandise that distinguishes Julie Ann as a leading women's wholesale apparel fashion company."Julie Ann Apparel is known for the quality of its merchandise.

We're in style and in-stock, with no minimums per style," said Jonathan Gordon, Vice President of Julie Ann Apparel. With over 12,000 buyers shopping the Off-Price Specialist Show, Julie Ann Apparel has a great opportunity to showcase some of its most popular fashions."One of the highlights of the Julie Ann exhibit will be our own Julie Gordon private label blouses. We also will offer Redd Jeans, a popular brand, as a distributor," Jonathan Gordon said. Julie Ann


http://www.simplewaytoearn.com/wholesale-apparel/wholesale-apparel.php

Tips for Christian Ladies New to Plain and Simple Dressing

Many of you will be coming to this Web site as a “newbie” (someone new to plain and simple dressing.) It is very helpful to have a starting point as throwing out everything you own and buying all new clothes can be a bit overwhelming! What you may want to do is start with just a few pieces and add on bit by bit as you discover what works for you.

As a kind of “head to toe” makeover, I will give you a few tips on dressing simply.





Head Coverings: Many ladies tend to buy a bunch of different styles to try out and waste a great deal of money on coverings that they will never wear. If you are new to covering, it is best to start with something simple that you will not feel too conspicuous in, such as a kerchief or scarf. You may find that you like this style enough to stay with it. After you have been covering for a while and begin to feel more comfortable, you may want to try some of the other styles.


Be prepared though—certain styles are going to generate more questions and comments from friends, family, and the general public. I’ve been asked if
I was a nun, why I was wearing “that thing” on my head, and if I was Amish. Although these questions can be a great opportunity to share your faith, it can be traumatic for the shy sister. Many a sister has stopped dressing the way they wanted due to unwanted social interactions. For those that are maybe a bit bolder, there are many different styles available, from a very Amish type prayer capp to a cute little fabric cap reminiscent of the early pilgrims.

Summer Head Coverings: Head coverings should be made of a light fabric that “breathes,” such as batiste or cotton. The new sister may find at first that covering one’s head makes you feel much hotter. However, once you get used to it, you won’t notice the covering and will feel “naked” without it. Many coverings are available in lace, but, depending upon your beliefs, that may or may not be an alternative.

Winter Head Coverings: Many ladies like bonnets in flannel or wool and wool or fleece shawls for keeping warm. Most coverings can be worn under a bonnet so that you don’t have to keep changing headgear when going in or out. Fleece hoods or mantles are wonderful for winter as well, and many will go over your covering with ease.

Dresses and Undergarments: You will find that most stores don’t carry anything that you can wear. Most of the clothing in stores is too worldly for the simply dressing sister. While it is certainly your own choice to buy from a store, most women prefer to have fewer garments that are made to their specifications by a seamstress. I have several very plain cotton dresses that were custom-made, and I’ve worn them until they’re so faded so you can’t tell the original color anymore! With custom-sewn clothing, you can have your hemlines done long, the dresses done looser, and you can choose what you do or don’t want on your clothes. The Web, and this Web site in particular, is a wonderful resource for finding seamstresses that specialize in simple clothing.

Summer Dressing: For summer, you may want to start out with just a few cotton dresses. Blends work best, as they are less apt to need ironing and are cool. Many women prefer knits, but one has to be cautious that they’re not too clingy revealing too much of the figure! A cotton or muslin slip and a few pairs of muslin bloomers are good to have as well. Broomstick skirts are an excellent choice for summer and go well with T-shirts, polos, and more formal blouses. Cape dresses and vest dresses are very modest and comfortable as well, but they are not available in stores. Jumpers are a great alternative for either summer or winter (or both) as the style and warmth can be changed just by changing tops. There are a good many seamstresses listed on the Web that sew cape and vest dresses and jumpers to your specifications.

With the warmer weather, many women prefer to go without stockings, while others prefer to wear knee-high nylons. With the longer hemlines of plain dresses, knee-highs are a cool and comfortable alternative to full hosiery.

Winter Dressing: In the winter, warmth is a big consideration, especially if you live in a cold climate. Flannel bloomers or pantalettes are great, but be sure to wear a nylon slip over them as you will find that the fabric from your skirt or dress will tend to creep up. Tights are very warm, as are long underwear bottoms. Generally, microfiber is the warmest and most comfortable, and again, you will need a nylon slip to keep your skirt from riding up.



http://www.modestclothes.com/simple/articles/tips-for-christian-ladies-new-to-plain-and-simple-dressing.html

Plus Size Ladies - Dress to Impress

Do you want some advice and tips that will give you a great confidence boost? Of course you do!!

Well here are a few tips to ensure you know that you are looking your best that will give you that confidence boost! The following tips show how we larger ladies can make the most of our fantastic and sexy figures as we dress to impress.

It really sounds so obvious, but it is really important to make sure that you are wearing the right size bra, so that you get excellent support and a impressive flattering shape.

Firstly, you need to think about which bra is appropriate for what you are wearing, as remember that your underwear provides the foundations for your outerwear. Try to stick to smooth bras for wearing underneath fitted or sheer tops. If you are wearing a white or sheer top choose a flesh tone bra as these are best for not showing through these coloured tops.

Loose, baggy clothes can often give the impression that you are big all over, as opposed to simply big busted. The key to flattering big boobs is to wear fitted or streamline shapes, as these are much more flattering than shapless, baggy clothes. Look for fitted tops with darts or seams under the bust as these will make you look instantly slimmer as they will define your waist.

Stretch fabrics like knits and cotton Lycra are great if you want to emphasise your shape, but remember to wear a plain or smooth bra underneath tighter tops to obtain the smooth finish.

It is important to choose round, scooped and V-necklines as they tend to be more flattering for bigger boobs than high necklines.

Also, beware of shapes that cut you in half as these can make you look like you have no waistline, unless you have a long waistline. Be careful with box jackets and wide belts – look for jackets that follow the contours of your body (whether short or long). If you are short waisted, do not tuck tops in with a belt – wearing tops on the outside of your trousers or skirt, level with your hipbone, will lengthen your torso.

As a rule, it is much better to keep it simple from the neck to the waist by avoiding too much detail and choosing plain colours. Be careful with large prints, busy designs, and patch pockets over the bust as these patterns can draw a lot of attention to the bust area,.

Generally light coloured tops and dark bottoms will emphasise your boobs and dark tops and light bottoms will draw attention away from your bust area dark bottoms. Us larger girls should stick to the latter.

Most ladies love to wear jewellery and if chosen correctly can add the perfect finishing touches to any outfit. Necklaces - it is much more flattering to wear them above your bust. Beware – stay clear of necklaces that hang over your boobs.

If you follow the tips above you will look and feel gorgeous and boost your confidence. Come on you sexy ladies - it is time to dress to impress!!



http://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/Plus-Size-Ladies---Dress-to-Impress/69456

Ladies Pageant Dresses - Different Rules Apply!

Choosing the right pageant dress for the many various kinds of pageants such as Miss Universe, Miss Teen USA, Miss USA, Miss World and Miss Universe, is not only fun for these young ladies, they have to be very creative in choosing a dress which would complement their personalities. In some instances like the Miss Universe for instance, their dress would determine whether they were eligible to compete to the next level of the competition or be eliminated.

Some of these competitions require the contestants to wear a dress designed in a certain style and this form of competition is even harder, because it depends on how the individual wears the dress, the manner in which she carries herself and of course her posture. Just imagine a room full of around say forty women all wearing the same dress and you have to choose whom it looks best on.

There are many pageants that allow you to choose your own dress design, so this is much easier than having to wear the same style dress as all the other contestants, you get to choose a dress that gives you personality and complements all your natural inner beauty. Make sure to choose a color that would complement your complexion and would accentuate the color of your eyes. You want to look like you have already won the competition. Be sure to choose a material that is comfortable to the touch because it is very important that you and the dress you are wearing must look as though they are designed for each other.

When choosing a pageant dress, another rule that is important is to choose a dress to suit your particular figure and since we can assume that most of these contestants will have very petite figures, they should select a fitted dress that would show off their figure. Choose a dress with plain dark colors which will give you a streamlined effect. Some helpful guidelines that you should consider are when wearing prints be sure to keep them in proportion if they are too big it will make you look lopsided, if you decided to go with a layered dress make sure that the material is lightweight like silk, linen or cotton, if you choose a two piece skirt and top, try to avoid using contrasting colors such as light blue top with dark skirt, choose an all in one color. Remember the more fitted the dress the more flattering it will look.

Find more great tips and ideas on dressing at http://www.allaboutdresses.net/ a website offering tips, advice and resources on topics such as teen fashion, dresses by Jennifer Lopez, shopping for a mini dress and even modern prom dresses.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_H

Tips for Finding Stylish Ladies Dresses

It seems that at times far too many people experience difficulties while choosing clothes that are appropriate for them? Is it so hard to find clothes that suit the occasion and the age? Why do so many people find it so difficult to dress him or herself adequately?

Lately, I visited a shareholder's dinner for the local hospital. I cannot even describe what I saw there! I was amazed by the clothes all people were wearing!

The shareholder's meeting included a dinner and an annual report of the hospital's financial situation. Over two hundred people were present at the shareholder's meeting. I was astonished to see that only about a half of them was wearing clothes, which are appropriate for the occasion. I even met women who were dressed as young girls. Probably, they have no mirrors at home!

Now, I'm going to read to all you women a short lecture about how to search for ladies dresses in a store. The regular stores are separated in sections. Lady's clothes are separated in two groups: there are a juniors' section which is meant for girls 19 years of age and under and then the misses' section that is meant for woman older than 19. All women that are under 19 years old must look for their ladies dresses in the misses' section.

Ladies dresses often follow the latest fashion, which changes from season to season. However, ladies dresses more often than not are in more classic styles. Ladies dresses usually have a simple design that suits many occasions. Ladies dresses must be modest and stylish in order to match a variety of events.

At the shareholder's meeting, I met women I met many women who were dresses excessively for that occasion. They probably had not realized that they were wearing ladies dresses, which were made to be worn at very formal or special occasions such as a wedding, opera or formal ball.

On the contrary, there were women who were dressed in their everyday clothes, sweaters, and jeans. What was going on there? I even saw people wearing blue jeans and T-shits. I appreciate people who try to express their personality through clothes but anyway I believe clothes have to fit the occasion.

Up to me, the ladies dresses that fitted the shareholder's meeting were those ladies dresses with stylish and simple design, which were complemented with refined accessories. The women who were wearing such ladies dresses had found a way to demonstrate their tasteful choice. They seemed to be self-assured and proud.

Contrariwise, women who were overdressed gave a sense of being unsure of themselves. Women who were trying show a youthful appearance were in fact leaving the impression of not caring.

I believe these women were not aware of how strong impression they may leave with their ladies dresses. I draw myself many conclusions. Based on ladies dresses choice, I can guess what a woman's character is. For example, if I see a woman dressed in her daughter's clothes, I think to myself that may be she is very desperate of losing her youth.

I will try to make her understand that if she had chosen an appropriate dress in the ladies dresses, she would convince everyone as well as herself that she is proud of what she had achieved. She may meet some very important people at this shareholder's dinner. They may judge her by her clothes. First impression is lasts long. Ladies dresses can help her leave a positive one.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning fashion. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Stylish Ladies Dresses



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton

Party Dress Selection

The party season is always with us, but somehow the season leading up to Christmas makes women panic before they find that special evening party dress. The reaction is just the same if the search is for a prom dress.

This page includes a mixed range of dresses suitable for a variety of age groups. Mostly the available dresses in shops are sleeveless and this is a concern for many older women including myself. Once the tone in the arms goes, opt for little top arm cover-ups for these dresses. Somewhere there will be a jacket or shrug that makes a dress you might initially refuse to consider turn into a wearable option with a small top layer. See below and a bolero jacket here.

If you are younger then you can wear short evening party dresses that are totally feminine and show legs and plenty of bare shoulder.

Above Left - short dress from Matalan.

Right - A very pretty dress called the Bo Party Dress in dark purple at £135 and from Monsoon. It would also make a great short prom dress.

The time to get away with the skimpier look is when you are young and much lovelier than you will ever realise. One day it dawns on you that if only you had known how good you looked at 21, you would have had more confidence to wear clothes that really are difficult to wear wisely when you advance in years!

http://www.fashion-era.com/trends_2007a/2007_fall_fashion_trends_ladies_party_dress_2006.htm

Tall Women's Fashion

Women who were blessed with grace & stature once had to travel far to find the fashions best suited to them. Most had to settle for shopping the big & tall men's stores - simply in order to find jeans and weekend wear for lounging around the house!

No more.

Thanks to a growing number of shops specializing in tall women's fashion, today's elegant formal and casual dresses, stylish business suits, and even tall women's shoes and swimwear are increasingly available ...online.

Take the tour of top sites offering the best value-for-the-money in tall women's fashions offering excellent customer service and return policies, along with consumer guides and online communities addressing the special needs of tall women of style ...



Tall Etc. - One-stop browsing at the digital home of the U.S. chain wth career and casual clothes in missy, junior and contemporary sizes 4T - 20T including pants, dresses, shoes, business suits, swimwear, and lots more. Return policy, U.S. and international shipping.

Long Elegant Legs - With the focus on hot and sexy fashions for tall women featuring tops, pant sets, jeans, suits, jackets and blazers, dresses & skirts, shoes & sandals. With sizing chart, toll-free customer support, return policy, U.S. shipping only.

Tall Couture - Check out a huge selection of hot & trendy tall women's fashions and casual everyday wear. U.S. and international shipping.

Extreme Heights - Focusing on style and comfort with a variety of sizes and colors in tall pants, tops, skirts, casual wear. Return policy.

Soft Surroundings - Shop the online Tall Women's catalogue for a great selection of stylish dresses, skirts, pants, tops, sleepwear and robes.

Tall Clothing - Land's End - Rely on this famous online retailer for value, comfort and style in tall women's fashion with a great selection of tall jackets & blazers, tops and tees, dress pants, jeans, and swimsuits. Return policy, U.S. and international shippiing, order tracking.

Big and Beautiful Shoes - Elegant selection of women's dress shoes, sandals, boots, hot pumps & evening wear. Extra wides available with sizes up to 17. U.S., Canada and international shipping.

Vertically Blessed - Australian online store with a great selection of dresses, jeans, tops & blouses, maternity wear and more, with international shipping, currency converter.

Jake and Me - The place to go for affordable tall women's maternity clothes including tops, shorts, pants and capris up to 5XL, with sizing chart and related tall women's resources. No returns, exchange policy only. U.S. & internatonal shipping.



http://www.chiff.com/fashion/tall-womens-clothing.htm

Fabulous frocks

Designer Carmen Marc Valvo zips into Austin from Dallas, where he spent part of the previous evening riding a mechanical bull at Neiman Marcus' 100th anniversary event.

Valvo, dressed in black jeans, a white button-down and short boots, might not be a familiar face in women's wear in the same way that other New York designers such as Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan are recognizable. But since he started his label in 1989, Valvo, who turns 54 next week, has become known as the go-to guy for women's evening wear.

His designer frocks from his couture and ready-to-wear collections have been worn by A-listers such as actress and singer Queen Latifah (he simply calls her "Queen"), "Ugly Betty" co-star Vanessa Williams and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson.

He's about to expand his line, which includes swimwear, coats and furs, with lingerie and women's and men's eyewear.

He's a favorite of Austin women, and if you go to any of the many galas scheduled to happen over the next few months, you're sure to see his creations. As we talked, I asked him to share some style tips for a holiday gala, wedding or other big event. What follows are some of the highlights:

How to stand out, Part One

"The best way to do it is with color," Valvo says. "Here in Texas it's probably more color. In New York and San Francisco and really any urban setting, people find wearing black is a safer kind of color or a dark brown or midnight. If you really want to make an entrance, wear something that's bright red or hot pink."

How to stand out, Part Two

"One color that I think is amazing for balls is winter white," he says. "It's so unexpected in that sea of black or dark jewel tones. That white will make it go whhhhaaaa. I suggest that the chairwoman (of an event or ball) should wear ivory for that very reason."

Go beyond the mirror

"Take a camera and take a picture of yourself in the gown you're thinking of probably purchasing or take a picture of the three options that you have" in your closet, he says. "A photograph never lies."

Trust your judgment

"Don't go shopping with friends," he says. "Sometimes they say, 'Oh, that looks terrible on you' because they think it looks too good. Sometimes they are not as honest as you think they are."

Why the empire rules

"Usually the goal of every designer is to make someone look taller and thinner," he says. "An empire silhouette gives a really nice appearance of tallness. You're changing the proportions so it's just under the bust. It looks like you have incredibly long legs even if your legs are really short. It works if you're petite and it works if you're a bigger girl."

Behold the halter dress

"The other silhouette that I think is always flawless and elongating for a woman is a halter, a deep plunging halter," he says. "You elongate the neck. A halter empire — that's a home-run. It's an amazing dress. I put that dress on Claire Danes, on Vanessa Williams. I'm doing a version of it for Jennifer Hudson."

Battle of the bulge

"Layering with a little fur shrug to cover yourself, a chiffon stole or a wrap would be nice," he says. "I always suggest a woman not to wear it over the shoulders but to double wrap and drop. If you wear it over the shoulders, you're adding girth and width. If you drape it on one side and let it hang on the other, it makes the woman's appearance smaller."

Mother of the bride, Part One

"I always say it has to be youthful," Valvo says. "Gowns are easy and you can have a shawl for some comfort. A lot of times because it's a mom, they feel like they want a little more coverage. If that's the case, a little chic jacket or a soft jacket and a long skirt. We offer a lot of options actually for those occasions. With evening separates that we do within the collection, we can get anything for any body shape or type."

Mother of the bride, Part Two

"You can be feminine and sensual," Valvo says. "But not overtly sexy. These days with the changing family dynamic — sometimes there are three and four mothers involved in a wedding — I always say err on the side of conservative. Don't get too overtly sexual. It's not their day. It's their daughter's day or their son's day."

Mother of the bride, Part Three

"Pick a color that looks good on you," he says. "In the photograph that's going on the piano, it's you and your child, not the other mother and not the bridal party. Make yourself look gorgeous for yourself and your child and don't worry about the color. Even midnight in the summer is fine. It's a year-round color like black, and gold's a year-round color."

Evening separates

"You can get a lot of looks out of them and really maximize your options," Valvo says. "For someone who is very social it gives them a way to mix and match their pieces so it looks like they are wearing something new and different."

Bedazzle, bejeweled

"I always think the attention should be brought to the face," Valvo says. "If you wanted something, I would do bracelets, and a bag and ears as opposed to a necklace. I know a lot of women love their necklaces and they have beautiful, beautiful pieces, but sometimes in a photograph it becomes too, too much."

Jewelry,night and day

"You can never go too wrong with adding another layer with a scarf or adding another five or six bangles," Valvo says. "That always works. For evening you should pare it down more. It's 'less is better' for evening."

Evening wear splurge

"Women usually spend a lot of money on their day attire but not for evening for some strange reason," he says. "They probably only will wear it once or twice. If you're buying a gown and you wear it once, put it in the back of the closet and, like an old friend, bring it out in five or six years."

The must-haves

"The little black dress is what they should have," Valvo says. "It should be special enough that it can go black tie but classic enough to go cocktail, especially if you're traveling and you're not too sure what the attire requires. And the black strapless evening gown would be a big evening staple."



http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/style/10/25/1025marques.html

Yoga clothes need to move with you, your favorite jeans will not do it!

A pair of jeans and a button up shirt and the full lotus position is not a pretty picture and worse still, if you do get there, getting back to your start position could be worse. Your normal street clothes are not what you want when practicing the art of yoga. Your body builds up in flexibility while you are doing yoga and so must your clothes. They must be able to move with your body and the more advanced you get with your yoga positions, the more movement you need in your clothes. To start, you don't need to go out and buy yoga specific clothes, you could even have suitable pieces in your wardrobe already. It is so important that you practice your yoga in something that you are comfortable in when performing the various positions. Your yoga clothes need to support, move with the body, not ride up leaving bare skin exposed to the elements.

You will probably find there are clothes in your wardrobe that will suffice for the first few weeks and then when you decide you are going to continue with the yoga lessons, with some guidance from your instructor, you should seek the yoga clothes that will be suitable.

What To Look For When Shopping For Yoga Clothes.

When you are looking for yoga clothes, keep in mind the primary purpose of what you will need the yoga clothes to achieve for you. You will need the clothes to move with you in a myriad of positions and poses so the fabric will need to have a softness and flow to it, with body.

There are many fabrics on the market today that would be suitable, there is French terry, which is like a soft knit and not at all like terry toweling, many of the knits are suitable as long as they are not too heavy and some of the micro fibers would be excellent too.

You also want a fabric that doesn't crease and is low maintenance. Hand washing is a big no-no, you need to be able to wash your yoga clothes in your washing machine. Make sure they can be tumbled dried too. That way if you are practicing yoga every day, you will not need so many yoga clothes to get you through the week.

We are really spoilt for choice these days. With the specialist sporting stores and so many wonderful brands available for all types of sport, finding suitable yoga clothing will not be a problem, finding what you are happy with, should also be easier. You don't need to just look at the clothes made especially for yoga practicing, the gym clothing can be excellent. The sports back tee shirts are excellent for yoga clothes, as they don't restrict your arm movements. These are the things to look for and don't be shy about doing some stretches and bends when trying on the various styles, you won't know if they will work for you if you don't.

With the new technologies today, fabrics will keep the body cooler while exercising, there are fabrics actually keeps the body dry by absorbing the perspiration and keeping it away from the body. You may not think yoga will bring up a sweat, maybe not as much as an aerobic workout, but yoga still works the body.

There is another consideration for your yoga clothing. If you are handy with the sewing machine, you could make your own. Try on a few yoga outfits, find the style of yoga clothes that suit you then source out your fabric, pattern and a few hours later you will have a new wardrobe of yoga clothes.

There is also the Internet to check out. Online yoga stores will give you a good guide as to what to look for and if you are not near a suitable local store, then the online stores are a great option. They are also a good place to find what is available and what to look for when you do go shopping.

As nothing is cast in stone, you basically need yoga clothes that, move with you to the yoga poses, postures and positions when practicing your yoga.



http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/1/50/yoga-clothes-need-to-move-with-you1.asp

Paul Smith Fashion - Including Paul Smith Women And Paul Smith Jeans

There are only a handful of household names in the fashion world and Paul Smith is one of them, having built up his company on an international stage. He was born in 1946 in Nottingham, England and opened his first shop there in 1970, later opening others in London. The shops gave him the opportunity to showcase his designs and his label became much sought after.

Currently, the company retails twelve different collections, including Paul Smith Women and Paul Smith Jeans. The R.Newbold line is exclusive to Japan, where the designer is very popular. Other collections are for shoes, watches, pens, furniture and perfume. The company is firmly rooted in Europe with manufacturing operating in the UK and Italy. Fabrics are of the highest standard and are mostly sourced from suppliers in Britain, France and Italy.

The range of men and women's fashion is noted for its blend of traditional and modern design. One of his most popular designs is a pinstripe accompanied by colored stripes. In fact, stripes are a common sight on Smith's clothes and his line of multi-colored socks are a favorite item with his customers. His other, more controversial, feature is the use of an image of a nude woman concealed on cuff links etc. The menswear is marketed at the men who are fortunate enough to be tall and of slender build.

The shops bearing the Smith name include locations in Moscow, Milan, Paris, Los Angeles and New York City. There are also stores in the Middle East and Asia, including numerous sites in Japan. The label is made available to over thirty countries.

The designer likes to bring his individual vision to many things and he has produced a range of items for the home. His China Collection includes two full dinner services named White and Stripe. There is also a tea set called Tartan. The rug collection is typically bold with brightly colored patterns. The Paul Smith soft furnishings borrow from the clothing line in the use of the multi colored, mixed with white, pinstripe motif. This range is called Bespoke Stripe and the fabric is 100% wool with six color ways available.

All the hard work and innovative design was recognized by the country when Paul Smith was knighted by the Queen in 2001. He has flown the flag for British fashion for many years and contributed to the economy. His fans like the irreverent style wrapped up in tradition and quality.


http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article50956.html

Indian women clothing - The epitome of elegance!

Perhaps the most endearing quality of an Indian woman is the range of comely apparels that she adorns. Indian clothing, especially Indian women clothing, is famous the world over for its elegant, ostentatious and exquisite styles. Not only that, Indian clothing has also become popular for its elegant cuts and comfort. Moreover, with the popularity of Indian clothing gaining strength in western countries, various Indian designers have now launched ranges of westernized Indian clothing lines to suit the western palette. This has led to Indian clothing gaining wider popularity throughout the world.

Even though women living in different regions of India adorn different styles of clothing, there are certain styles of women apparels that are more popular than the others. The more popular Indian women apparels are saris, salwar kameez and kurtis. These apparels have wide appeal both among working women and housewives. Considering the tropical climate of India, these apparels have wider appeal in lighter fabrics such as cotton. However, there is no dearth of the variety of fabrics in which these apparels are available. For the western reader, a 'salwar kameez' can be described as a long shirt worn with loose pants, with or without a scarf and the 'kurti' can be described as a top that can be worn over jeans or formal trousers.

Indian women clothing for everyday wear-the combination of unmatched comfort and unequaled style! With more and more styles of Indian salwar kameez and kurtis invading the market, this apparel is now available in very comfortable designs that can be worn to work, to parties or even as casual wear at home. So, you can choose from a wide variety of these dresses made out of cotton, crepe, silk and various other materials. Depending on the occasion for which you wish to pick this dress, you may choose a salwar kameez or kurti with embroidery, stone work, sequins and so on. The range, truly, is mind boggling.

Truly a comfort wear, most women love to wear a comfortable Indian dress or an elegant kurti with western trousers to work. The dress looks classy, stylish and very contemporary, especially the Indian dresses that are now available in western cuts.

Shopping for this comfort wear is now easier than ever For those of you who don't live in India, buying Indian clothing is now easier than ever. No longer do Indian clothing enthusiasts have to make a trip to India to buy Indian clothes. They can now buy the Indian clothes of their choice over the net. There are numerous websites who now cater to the huge western demand for Indian clothes. So, you can now sit in the comfort of your home and order an exquisite Indian salwar kameez of your choice to impress your friends at a get together.

For hottest Indian & Ethnic clothes around visit Sulbha.com, where you can get the latest Salwar-Kameez, Kurtis and other accessories sent straight to your door. To keep up with the latest Indian fashion trends, visit Sulbha.com.



http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/3/260/indian-women-clothing1.asp

History of the ladies polo shirt

For many women, where their clothing comes from is not nearly as important as what it looks like when they put it on. But knowing where your favorite t-shirt or polo shirt first originated can give a better sense of how this piece of clothing might fit into your wardrobe. The ladies polo shirt, for example, actually has its roots in sports and athletic activities played by men - and of course, this tradition has continued to endure over the centuries, finally assimilating into women's style and fashion.


What you might not realize is that the polo shirt can be called by many names - a tennis shirt or a golf shirt is commonly used in everyday conversations, for example. Though the names might change, all refer to the idea of a lightly constructed shirt that has a collar, a few buttons (no more than three) in front of the neck with the ability to be buttoned up or left open as well as two narrow slits in the sides of the shirt at the bottom for better movement. While the material may change depending on your use for the polo shirt, many can be found in a wide range of colors and patterns in cotton, though the texture is created by using knitted cloth and not a woven material. Dressier versions of the polo shirt design can also be found, often in materials like wool, silk, or other manmade materials.


Most fashion history will point out that the ladies polo shirt originated as a piece in the tennis attire of men. Dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s, male tennis players would wear polo shirts to give them better ease of movement without sacrificing good looks during their matches. Instead of their traditional long sleeve shirts and ties, the players were able to move about the court more quickly when they added this more casual shirt to their wardrobe.


So, the development of the ladies polo shirt came from a need for comfort, rather than for a new style or statement. By realizing this, Rene Lacoste became the first person to design what we now know as the polo shirt. Having been a tennis player and champion himself, he knew the common problems with the stuffier outfits and realized that changes were necessary.


Of course the name 'polo' shirt seems to indicate that there was some relevance to the sport of polo as well - and this is an accurate assessment. As the popularity of the polo shirt increased in the sport of tennis, polo players saw the new design as advantageous to their sport as well and began to adopt this shirt for their playtime.

It's also interesting to note that while the shirt is worn in a number of settings and activities, the name 'polo shirt' is the one that has stuck around to generally apply to all of these types of shirts. There are some companies that will label these shirts according to their purpose (tennis or golf, for example), but asking for a polo shirt will also lead you to the right style.


The popularity of this style began to extend to women as a general trend of more casual wear began to come into vogue. Women were able to still look attractive in a polo shirt and dressier trousers instead of having to wear a traditional dress or skirt. Women also adopted this look for the sheer ruggedness of the design and its ability to keep up with their busy lives - even outside of the tennis court or golf course.


Ladies polo shirts may have their origins in men's history, but their appeal for women is remarkable. You can find polo shirts in every women's department from infants to misses.




http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/4/329/history-of-the-ladies-polo-shirt1.asp

| Shalwar Kameez

What is Salwar / Shalwar & what is Kameez?

Following definitions will explain you all about salwar kameez and embroidery, workmanship used in shalwar kameez.

Kameez - A three-quarter-length tunic for women, usually knee-length or longer. Plural is also "kameez

Salwar or Shalwar - Loose pants, broad at the top and narrower at the ankles

Sharara - A very full, flowing pants which look like a long skirt, worn under a short tunic and with a dupatta.

Churidar - Closely fitted pants, with bunches of folds at the ankles looking like a stack of bangles

Dupatta - An unstitched length of material for the upper body traditionally worn by both sexes, but now mainly worn by women as part of a salwar kameez (paijama and tunic) ensemble.

Kurti or Tunic - A short kurta usually worn by women a type of grass fiber)

Zari or Jari - metal wrapped yarn used for zardozi embroidery

Badla - Flattened gold or silver wire

A question of culture

The sari is, without argument, the most graceful form of attire invented by homo sapiens. That is why the Begums Jinnah and Bhutto wore it on formal occasions. They were also wearing Salwar Kameez in other occassions. Over time, however, the salwar came to replace the sari even in public. Was there a larger significance in this? The respected Pakistani columnist M.B. Naqvi thought so. Fascinating piece by him on how Pakistani society was torn between identifying with West Asia or South Asia. Naqvi suggested that a woman's choice of Pakistani dress intimately embodied this dilemma; thus to wear a sari was to see oneself as part of a wider subcontinental culture, while to don a salwar was to place oneself in an Islamic world alone.

The sari was once viewed as something that could be owned by all Indian women, Hindu or Muslim, Christian or Parsi. The salwar kameez , on the other hand, was viewed by some as a dress worn exclusively by Muslims. Hindu and Sikh women knew often wore the salwar kameez. Salwar Kameez is also called Shalwar Kameez in countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc.

Salwar Kameez Islamic, Sari Hindu?

After Jemima Goldsmith married Imran Khan and went to live in Lahore, she was visited by her close friend, Diana, Princess of Wales. Soon afterwards, Jemima and Diana were photographed wearing the shalwar kameez. Surely it must be a hard job teaching Lady Diana how to get into shalwar kameez.

Earlier in 60s & 70s Salwar Kameez or Salwar were seen as Pakistani dress or Punjabi dress (also known as Punjabi suit), the sari as an Indian dress or Hindu dress. But in recent decades the salwar kameez has spread to parts of India. Same is the case with saree, it has become very famous fashion attire around the world. Shalwar kameez fashion has not only taken India by storm but it's becoming famous around the world. Salwar has now become very famount Indian Fashion.

The victory of the salwar kameez (shalwar kameez)

Salwar Kameez has now become so famous as Indian dress that in the smallest town of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Hariyana, Andhra Pradesh, etc. school going girls wear salwar. Earlier in 60s they wore the pavade, a kind of long skirt sometimes called the half-sari. Yet within one generation they had so easily, and comprehensively, shed an older, so-to-say traditional, form of dress for a previously alien one.

Is it better to see the salwar kameez as a peasant dress, worn by women in the Punjab countryside because it made their work easier, rather than as a specifically Islamic dress? What is the significance of the Bengali term dhoti-panjabi? When did the shalwar kameez first come to rural South India? What has been the role of television and film in facilitating its spread? And how and why has it become so popular among young girls, regardless of caste or religion?

These questions call for serious investigation. Why has the salwar become so ubiquitous in a region where it was unknown only a generation before? The answer must be that this is a dress not seen as "Western" or immodest, and yet a dress that allows one to go to school or college, and to participate in the work force. Jeans and tops can be worn in cosmopolitan cities like Bombay, Delhi, Banglore, Madras. The salwar kameez is suitably "decent", yet it allows far more mobility than either the pavade or the sari. One can walk in it, one can bicycle in it, one can even run a 100-metre race in it.



http://www.salwarsuits.com/shalwar-kameez.htm

Lehenga Choli

It has many different names. Call it Lehnga or Lehenga or Lehngha. It's also known as Lehnga Choli.

As most of the modern world seems to be severing its link with the natural and organic processes of textile production, the Indian subcontinent still retains a hold on many of its ancient clothing traditions -- and choli / Lehenga is just one part of that.

The classicism of Indian textile lies not only in the sophisticated craftsmanship and quiet and simple elegance, but also in the emphasis on the drape of the garment, which is ready to wear straight from the loom, further enhanced by the personality of the wearer. Majority of Indian fashion designers are still continuing with the ancient tradition of ethnic Indian lehenga, presenting it with the new age look, embellished with embroidery and other works by highly skilled artisans of India. But not to forget that Lehenga choli originally came from Muslim empire. In muslik community, specially in Pakistan lehnga choli is a Indian wedding dress.

Indians have been very fashionable from the very ancient times. The sculptural evidences found so far depict that choli has always been worn in India by the women.

In different parts of India, brides wear different kinds of clothes, ornaments, and adornments. The bride's clothes are usually typical of the area. A Punjabi bride would wear a salwar-kameez, and a Maharashtrian bride would wear a nine-yard saree and a Rajasthani bride would wear a lehenga.

The lehnga-choli is representative of the traditional Rajasthan/Gujarat style of dressing. The rich colors which they use are symbolic of festivity/fertility. Metallic yarn is traditionally used on these garments. During the actual wedding ceremony, conducted in front of the fire, the motifs and the colors of the ensemble glow.

In Gujarat they call it ghagra choli. During navaratri festival, women wear gagra choli for navaratri dandia raas.

The lehenga-cholis with their glittering mirror-work look most attractive. The blouses have elaborate mirror-work and patch-work on them and are very colorful. It is designed to leave the back and midrib bare. These type of dresses are mainly worn by women in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat.

Saree is also interesting Indian costume.

Bollywood Lehenga All Embellished with Handcrafted Gold and Silver Zardosi, Dabka and Salma with Multi-Color Beadwork. Diya Mirza wore a Exquisite Golden Zardosi Onto Peach Pure Crepe Ghagra, Choli and Odhni in the movie 'Rehna hai tere Dil mein'

Bridal Lehenga Wearing of bridal lehenga chole is a fashion with lasting values and rich craftsmanship. Bridal lehengas are so much in fashion that in addition to wedding, they are worn even at beauty pageant contests at national as well as international level

Chaniya Choli The home of the chaniya-choli is no doubt Kutch, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The outfit is popular in the west and north of India. In the south, another more streamlined version known as the pavade is popular. Fabrics that are used for chaniya-cholis normally range from cotton, silk to khadi and at times chiffon

Designer Lehenga Designer lehenga with rich traditional chikan embroidery in colored thread all over and an equally enamoring dupatta to match makes for the most auspicious ceremony of your life. Designer Lehenga - choli sets are stitched in different types of fabric: Silk, raw silk, cotton prints, georgettes and so on

Embroidered Lehenga A embroidered lehenga or heavy lehenga have Embroidery, like every other art form, needs to be understood to be fully appreciated and enjoyed. Insight of the principles not only creates the urge to "paint" with needle and thread but gives one the knowledge that enables a more keen perception of the old masterpieces as well as modern day pieces Embroidered bridal lehengas are hot this wedding season

Ghagra Choli The Indian ghagra Cholis with their glittering mirror work is the most attractive. This comprises of long pleated skirts, known as Ghaghra or Lehenga, and is worn with twin blouses. The blouses have elaborate mirror work and patch work on them and are very colorful. It is designed to leave the back and midriff bare

Indian Cholis The Choli : It is the tightly fitted, short blouse that ends just below the bust worn under a sari. It is either long sleeved, short sleeved or sleeveless. Indian cholis as a form of garment are getting more famous and daring as dandiya festive garments

Indian Lehenga Choli The Indian lenghas with their glittering mirror work is the most attractive. This comprises of long pleated skirts, known as Lehenga, and is worn with twin blouses

Sharara Sharara is a short/ long blouse worn with matching pants fitted till the knee, with a big flare from the knee onwards. Sharara cholis are usually heavily embellished and worn with a matching long Chunnri

Traditional Lehenga or Trendy Lehenga Traditional lehengas include embroidered lehengas, traditional ghagra cholis, tremendous lehenga. Embroidered traditional Indian lehenga-choli is quite famous round the globe. The traditional lehanga-choli in soft pastel shades with light embroidery is an ideal outfit for the Sangeet ceremony

Indian Wedding Lenghas A wedding is an auspicious occasion when the attire demands keen attention, careful planning, elegant display because it is specially meant to make an individual look her /his best. During a modern wedding, appearance means almost everything. Today, the brides have a wide variety of bridal dresses to pick and choose from. Wedding lehengas is one of them

Zardosi Lehenga Zardosi lehenga is the traditional wear of Indian women since mughal time. Popular among royal family of olden days, Zardosi lehngas come in many different styles. The Zardosi lehnga-chole made up of a comfortable fabric, can be worn on festivals or other celebrations. Zardosi lehangas are glamorous and elaborate



http://www.salwarsuits.com/choli.htm

Dance Apparel - Dance Wear

Dance apparel has undergone a great change since the 1890’s, as the male dancers started wearing kilts or long pants which was a refreshing change from their traditional costume. The women wore embroidered dresses whereas the men wore kilts, jackets, ties and knee socks. Dance apparel can be wide ranging - theatre, opera and ballet. Dance apparel must be designed with comfort and elegance in mind.

Dance Apparel

Dance apparel made with 90% cotton content and 10% Lycra content stretches at all levels and offers comfort to the dancers. The dance wear made of cotton and Lycra is also durable, thick and opaque. It has a flat finish and absorbs perspiration. The cotton/lycra apparel can also be custom-dyed. Some dance apparel is also made of recycled products. Dance apparel in fabrics such as stretch velvets and spandex in solids, print and textures with glitter or holographic finish offer variety and choice. Colored and textured stones can be used to embellish dance wear.

The dancers are advised to opt for authentic looking, comfortable tights which fit them perfectly. Choose dance apparel made of material that is long lasting and durable. The dancers should see to it that dance apparel is cut larger in the feet and longer in the inseam so that the costume does not pinch the toe or the heel. Dance apparel that places more strain on the seams wont last for long.

Many shops stock dance apparel for recitals and performances. Some dance designers specialize in custom design ballroom and Latin dance wear whereas others specialize in opaque dance tights with a variety of colors and sizes. The tailor-made ballroom gowns look attractive with swarovski crystals. Dance apparel made of rhinestone and rhinestone accessories looks attractive.

• Metallics: It gives a shiny metallic look. It can be stretched well and provides a great deal of comfort.
• Nylon/lycra: It is moderately shiny and can be stretched in all directions.
• Stretch Vinyl: It is extremely shiny and stretches moderately. It is heavy and tight fitting.
• Micromesh: It is made of nylon and it is stretchable but not opaque. This fabric is used for stage costumes.
• Luxury Velvet: It looks like rayon velvet. It has a limited stretch but is soft and beautiful to the touch.

The manufacturers of the dance apparel charge an extra price if they have to apply custom dyes for the costumes. They also charge an additional amount for cutting the horizontal and the vertical panels in the apparel. If the customers require extensive revisions in their dance apparel, then they are charged accordingly. The following dresses and tights are available to the ballet dancers:

• Double Empire Camisole Dress: These dresses come in a variety of colors. The different colors help in enhancing the mood of the dance. Double-cascade chiffon skirt and small chiffon wings to the shoulders exude elegance and style to the dancer.
• Long Sleeve Single Empire Dress: These costumes are painted on polyester chiffon and are washable.
• Seamed Convertible Tights: These tights are made of soft, absorbent material and are also stretchable. Professional ballet dancers use them.
• Long Skirt Dance Dress: Such a dress is made of crepe or any such dreamy fabric that lends an ethereal look to the dancer.
• Footed Tights: These tights are ultra-soft and could be stretched. These tights are used by ballet dancers on stage.

Maintaining Dance Apparel

• Deep jewel tone colored dance apparel looks good if black or the silver color is incorporated in it.
• The trim could enhance the costume, so care should be taken while selecting the trim. But care should be taken to see that the end result is pleasing and aesthetic not chaotic and haphazard.
• The dancer should also avoid mixing metallic shades, as it tends to create chaos.
• The dancers are asked to avoid the ’all-black’ costumes, as such black costumes tend to hide the movements of the dancers.
• The circle skirt of the dancer should be hemmed in an appropriate manner. The hem in the circle skirt should be marked weeks before the performance.
• The dancers should ensure that their harem pants are neither too long nor too short. A long harem pant makes a person trip while the short harem pant makes him look strange.
• The edges of the dance fabric should be neatly hemmed and trimmed.

http://www.clearleadinc.com/site/dance-apparel.html

The Women?s Plus Size Clothing Revolution

Once upon a time, not too long ago, if you were a woman who wore clothes over a size 14 your clothing choices were limited to cheap looking, baggy and unattractive clothes that made you look old before your time.

My how times have changed! There has been a cultural shift in the acceptance of plussize women, particularly in the fashion industry. Women?s plus size clothing is no longer relegated to the back of the isle racks. Now days, it?s easy to find trendy plus size clothes such as: dresses, workout clothes, evening wear and swimwear.

Plus size celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Camryn Manheim, and Star Jones have also helped to usher in the era of plus size fashions. These women take pride in looking fashionable no matter how much their weight fluctuates. You can even see a once thin actress, Kirstie Alley, strut her stuff in her new cable show ?Fat Actress?. This would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

Even the high fashion industry has taken notice. Models such as Emme have become famous for modeling large size fashions for women. Agencies are also looking for aspiring plus size models. Women looking for designer plus size clothes online will not be disappointed.

In the past, clothing for large size women 22w to 44w was extremely difficult to find ? and forget about being fashionable. Now, companies are springing up like Making It Big, who cater exclusively to this fashion hungry niche of clothing for big women. If you are looking for big women clothing, you now have more choice than ever when it comes to large size clothes for women.

Another old taboo in full figured clothing was that plus size women didn?t look good in ladies intimate apparel. Oh, I?m not talking about women wearing a large size bra (which it?s now easier to find comfortable large size bras). Plus size bras have been available for a long time. No, I mean really sensual full figure intimate apparel.

Designers have discovered that any woman will look good in intimate apparel if it?s made right for her body. Now, even in this fashion segment, plus sized women?s clothing has grown leaps and bounds. Plus size intimate apparel comes in all colors, styles and sizes, so that you can show off your sensual side too, ladies!

Need nice clothes for work? You can find an array of plus size suits, including: plus size pants suits, and plus size women?s suits.

Going to the beach or pool? It?s now possible to find a wide selection of plus size swimming suits. Where plus size swim suits used to be mostly black and unattractive, they are now very colorful and figure flattering.

Getting married? Obtaining a wedding dress plus size is no longer a huge ordeal. If you are looking for a large size wedding dress, with all the frills, or a plus size informal wedding dress, you?ll be delighted at the selection you?ll find online and offline. No bride should have an ill-fitting wedding dress, or be denied beautiful style that their thinner sisters enjoy. Many wedding boutiques and some online outlets offer beautiful plus size wedding dresses, and be assured that your plus size wedding dress will fit and look beautiful.

Yes, my friends. The plus size women?s clothing revolution has arrived. Our plus size sisters can now have a closet full of great looking clothes and keep pace with the best fashionistas. Not only is this great for plus size women, it?s great for society as well. Everyone can now see that a woman?s inner and outer beauty has nothing to do with size.


http://www.advancingwomen.com/fashion/the-women-s-plus-size-clothing-revolution.html