Slimming Dresses Are In

If you want to look skinny then try wearing some of the slimming dresses that are on the market. Right now your fashion options are quite versatile when it comes to clothing that can make you look sleeker.
The first thing you need to do is take a good hard look at your figure and decide which body parts are your best features and what features you would like to hide a bit. Sometimes it helps to ask a friend what your best features are in order to gain perspective about what others might be looking at. For instance you might look better at the back then you think. A woman with a pot belly might have a really beautiful rear. A woman with less attractive legs might have beautiful shoulders that should be shown off in a strapless gown.
The first slimming idea is the A line dress. This type of dress has a full skirt with a fitted top. This is a better shape than a baggy dress which contrary to what you believe can actually make your figure look fatter. This is because a billowy dress can cling to less attractive figure features such as fatty hips.
An empire waist which features a skirt that drops from below the bust line is also very slimming. These draw attention to this slim area and provide good coverage of your hips and stomach. For evening a strapless dress with an A-line bottom is very flattering unless your arms are not that attractive.
You can also choose a fitted vest or jacket with an A-line or full dress. This is very flattering and slimming. This works even if you are quite heavy all over.
The seventies style that is back is also great for slimming particularly if you hare top heavy. Dresses with a loose blousy top provide slimming look. The peasant look is also quite slimming as well. Peasant clothing works best if you keep the tops baggier and looser than the bottoms which should be tighter and more fitted. On some figures a tight top looks best with a long flowing peasant skirt.
If you have beautiful legs you can show them off with a mini dress. If you have nice breasts then you can wear a lower cut top to show off your cleavage. This helps refocus attention from your less attractive feature to your more beguiling ones.

Fashion Fierce Slimming Ideas

Clothes that make you feel good are usually those that make you feel the slimmest. You should, however, always make sure that they fit. If they are too tight you can actually look heavier. If you find any items that you really love but it doesn’t quite fit, you can always take it to a tailor to have it adjusted.
It is also a good idea to wear tailored outfits if you want to look your thinnest. This gives the illusion that your figure is svelte. Tailored clothing also makes your posture look better. The straighter your spine seems the skinnier you will seem as well.
Wearing the right pair of pants can elegant your stature. This means wearing pants with vertical stripes because this draws the eye down. If you are overweight wearing knickers is the worst thing you can do. A straight leg or boot cut pair of jeans make you look the slimmest.
Pants that rest on the hips are the most stylish for women. If you wear them high on the waist you will look heavier. Let your pants hang low on the waist if you want to look skinny. Any belt you wear should also be at least an inch to two inches thick as these are the most slimming.
If you really want to look skinny wear all one color. The darker colors such as Navy blue and black are the most slimming. Avoid horizontal stripes or wild patterns. The darker colors are best but you can also look slim in all red, all purple or all green.
This can even apply to your shoes. The higher the heel is, the longer your leg will look. If the shoes are the same color as the pant your legs will also look more elegant. Still don’t go overboard with the height of the heel because if you do not keep things in proportion it will look like you are trying too hard. A big buckle on a shoe can make your legs appear slender.
Avoid shoes or tops that are too shiny. If these items gleam then you may look a lot heavier.
Finally many people think if they wear a shirt outside of their pants they will look slim. It is simply not true. It makes them look fatter. Instead try wearing a V Neck shirt which does a better job of elongating your torso.

Worst Spring Fashion Trends

There are some distressing looking fashion trends coming our way for Spring. Many of them are bad ideas simply because they are not that functional. Many trends that are coming up are also downright ugly as well.
For instance you might remember that shiny taupe pantyhose from about twenty years ago. It’s back. The problem? This type of pantyhose makes your legs look like fat gleaming sausages. Anything with that much gleam makes your legs look huge (unless you are an anorexic model.) The trend towards flesh colored shades is back. The deep purple and red shades that were around for a while are staying away from the runways but you do see an occasional shiny gold or silver pair. The other thing that was wrong with this is that the tights were very hot because they were so thickly woven.
One weird trend that is dominating this winter is the padded skirt. This looks like you are wearing a sleeping bag. What’s next? A skirt made out of pillows?
There is another trend to pad up the knees and elbow pads of clothing. It makes it look like sportswear. Donna Karan is an example of a designer who is doing this in the Spring.
It is also fashionable to wear off the shoulder blouses and dresses that have tons of ruffles. The blouses are particularly hideous. They look like half of a bridesmaid outfit. The ones that have the ruffle around the neck make you look like a bit of a circus clown.
Yet another strange trend that is coming back is acid washed denim. This is a throwback to the past that is extremely popular with the younger set. It makes your jeans look like they have the measles. Yet another problem is that these jeans are a lot weaker fiber wise than other jeans and wear out easier.
Remember those flat Chinese slippers that Diane Keaton used to wear in those old movies. They are back and although they seem to be comfortable they are actually quite hard on your feet because they have no arches or structure. They are a real throwback to the early days of Madonna’s career when you would see her slipping around on the dance floor in them.
Speaking of orthopedic shoes some models that are on the runways are really quite ugly. They almost look like that old Roots Earth show with the heel that was lower than the front of the foot.

Cufflinks Are Fashion Fierce

Cufflinks are making a big comeback. We are seeing more dress shirts made that make room for this traditional men’s accessory by showcasing a loophole in the cuff. This means there are two holes instead of a button and a hole in the cuff of each shirt.
Cufflinks are typically made form platinum, rhodium, gold or silver. You can get them inset with precious gems as well. Silver cuffs with aquamarines or violet stones are very popular these days as are the more masculine versions inset with jet, diamonds or topazes. Silver is a bit new age looking for some men. Darker metals or even wood suit very masculine men.
Nowadays we can also get cufflinks designed out of all kinds of different materials including enamel, mother of pearl, plastic, glass, and cat’s eyes. You can also get novelty cufflinks made out of fiber optics, opals and other interesting materials that practically glow in the dark.
Cufflinks used to be expensive because they were more of a specialty item. Nowadays manufacturers have found ways to manufacture them using technology that allows mass production. They use to be a symbol of personal wealth. Now anyone can afford to look classy by augmenting a dress shirt with a pair of designer cufflinks.
Not all cufflinks suit all occasions. For instance you should probably not wear huge gemstone cufflinks to a job interview. Something more demure and elegant, like flat silver links is probably a better idea. If you want to make a good impression you should also avoid wearing novelty ones, such as ones in the shape of cartoon characters or superheroes.
You can get cufflinks to match whatever event you are attending. If you are golfing you can get ones that look like clubs or golf tees. If you are going to theater you can get ones that look like drama masks. If you are going fishing, you can get ones that are themed to that sport as well.
Casual cufflinks are even more popular than ever. Yes you do see men wearing cufflinks with their running shoes. They can be a very funky addition to the wardrobe of the man who is less than traditional in his dress. However be careful because you can look badly dressed if you wear them with the wrong outfit.
Women nowadays also like to wear cufflinks. They look very elegant on seventies or eighties style blouses with French Cuffs.

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Trendy Aromatherapy Oils

Not too long ago aroma therapy products were more exotic than they are today. The mass marketing of essential oils and their increased availability to the public has made all kinds of aroma therapy products available to us including bath soaps, bath gels, shampoos, body sprays, candles, candle burners and all kinds of creams and potions.
Aroma therapy products have also been extended to include burners for essential oils. These are usually vessels into which a few drops of an essential oil are poured to create an aromatic blend. A candle is burned beneath the aromatherapy burner to warm the oil and disperse it through the air.

Of course one of the oldest and most classic form of aromatherapy is incense. Incense sticks and cones are made from a powder that is dipped in an essential oil. Cheap essence is dipped in perfume or synthetic scents. When shopping for these types of burned aroma therapy products look for ones made with essential oils.
Aroma therapy products also have many therapeutic uses including the curing of headaches, the relieving joint pain and helping an individual experience less stress. Certain oils such as lavender and marjoram are known to relieve insomnia. Other types such as sandalwood and patchouli are used for massage. Applying geranium oil to the wrists is thought to reduce symptoms of PMS and menopause in women.
Various aroma therapy products can also produce different types of psychological moods. For instance orange oil can produce a feeling of joy or elation. Peppermint oil can help an individual feel more alert. Rose oil may actually put you in a romantic mood. If you have a racing brain, lime oil may help you chill out.
Some oils also have antibacterial and anti-viral properties. Good examples are pine and eucalyptus oils, which help stave off the propagation of germs in your environment.

Trendy New Age Gifts

Do you have a friend who is into everything New Age? Here are some ideas for some gifts.
Perhaps the most obvious gift from the earth is a crystal. There are thousands of different kinds of crystals and semi-precious gemstones that you could give as a gift in the form of spheres, polished stones or terminated crystals. This includes such stones a rose quartz, onyx, jade, lapis lazuli, amber, agate, carnelian, moonstone and mother of pearl. Wooden jewelry inlaid with these stones also falls into this category.
Anything made of wood would also be qualified as having wood energy. That would include such objects as a wooden bead curtain, bamboo chimes or a deer knocker style Chinese fountain.
Another great gift from the earth are Salt Lamps. These are chunks of crystallized salt that improve air quality by emitting negative ions that purify and energize the air.
Scents of every kind fit into the gifts from the air category. This includes incense, incense burners, aromatherapy oils, essential oils and essential oil diffusers and burners.
Chimes and bells that blow in the wind also make great gifts. Copper chimes that are hollow tubes are said to disperse negative energy. Bamboo chimes will bring good luck.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful symbols of water are shells. Shells of all kinds symbolize the ocean which in turn symbolizes the womb of Mother Earth. Mother of pearl jewelry also falls into this category.

Fountains are the most obvious of water-based gifts. Feng Shui fountains made of river rocks, metal or plastic make lovely interactive gifts for both children and adults alike. Best of all they bring you good luck.
Candles are the obvious example of a true gift of fire and often in New Age circles candles are charged with intentions. The color of a candle can also symbolize its intention. For instance a blue candle can symbolize peace and an orange one can symbolize joy. Scented candles can also have metaphysical or therapeutic qualities. Lighting a lavender scented candle, for instance, can bring peace and tranquility to a bedroom.
Fire is also a symbol of purification, which is why smudge bundles made of sage, sweet grass or copal fall into this category. Smudging is used to clear for meditation and natural healing ceremonies and cleansing. Often a ceremonial feather fans the smoke.
Chinese Fogger or Misting fountains create a mystical atmosphere with moving fog and changing lights. These designer devices offer wonderful natural healing for cleaning the air of dust and particles. They attract negative ions that help lift one’s mood as well so this is a trendy cure for the winter blues.

Fashion Fierce Jewel Boxes

The decorative jewelry box is subject to trends just like any other item in the fashion or home décor industry and in recent years we have seen these personal treasure chests take a departure from the usual dark wood cases that have dominated the market for decades. This style of decorative jewelry box will probably never go out of style as it is classic but still in recent years we have seen a departure from the almost funereal look of the traditional jewelry box.
There is another style of decorative jewelry box that will probably never go out of style and that is the floral shabby chic style. These boxes are usually white and hand painted on top with floral designs. The motif is usually roses. The Victorian look is coming back in furniture because it is also associated with seventies look type furniture. Think Stanley Kubrick and the half modernist, half contemporary look of the living quarters in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Yet another cliché but popular style of jewelry box is the Chinese lacquered jewelry box. This type of box is usually black and painted with red or gold details. There is usually a fold out tiered shelf, a small diamond shaped mirrors and red tassels on the lids and drawers of the interior compartments.
Yet another collectible that is fashionable again is the little girl’s jewelry box with the spinning ballerina inside. Although many of these were made from chipboard and fabric you can still find wooden ones that are painted white and have the little ballerina spinning around inside.
Faux marquetry is also a big trend in jewelry boxes and so is wood that has been painted to look like it is marble. Inlaid decorative jewelry boxes also seem to never go out of style.
Wooden trinket boxes are found in almost every culture. Perhaps this is because they have always been so easy to construct and because it is a conceit of mankind that there must always be a place to store things that are tiny and precious.
One of the most basic styles of wooden trinket boxes is the simple hatbox style. These boxes are often octagonal, triangular, oval or square shaped and simply have a lid that can be removed. The lids can be hand painted, carved or inlaid with gems, shells or other kinds of woods.
Yet another common style is the case style of box. This type of box looks like a matchbox but instead the lid slides off of the top to display the contents inside. This type of box is often unlined so that the top of the lid slides back and forth smoothly.
In precious wood boxes the most fashionable ones are burnished so that the burl of the wood is apparent. These boxes are sleek, highly varnished and have no visible lock or clasp. They are considered to be the ultimate synergy of post modernism and nature.

Corsets Are Big in Fashion Again

Corsets were extremely popular in the middle ages and then again in the early nineties and now here we are again with another wild resurgence of interest in this sexy garment.
Originally corsets were not worn to give you a sexy waist. They were worn for medical purposes. Mainly they were used to keep sloppy postures straight and to hold in hernias. In the Middle Ages they were known for causing women a lot of health problems. Basically the woman’s rib cage would be so constricted by the garment that she couldn’t breathe and would not be able. The result would be a beautiful passed out woman on the floor.
Cosmetically these sexy corsets do pull in a big belly and help mold and shape the torso. Typically they are made of cloth, leather or rubber and laces hold the whole structure together. Old fashioned corsets contain whale bones or wires to shape up the body even more. Nowadays they also come in all kinds of satiny, silky and stretchy fabrics. Today’s corsets are infinitely more wearable than other types.
Corsets are considered to be sexy because they emphasize the waist and bust while cinching in the waist so that it is as small as possible. This makes a figure extremely feminine. Studies have shown then men are most attracted to figures that our hourglass in nature.
There are health benefits to wearing one to this day. A corset can reduce back pain and also help people with sore lower ribs. Wearing a corset may help a deformed stomach and liver. Some people who feel cold like the way that the garment seems to hug them. The biggest benefit has to do with feeling sexy.
A corset can also help reduce body fat by inhibiting the appetite without conscious dieting, sliming drugs or cosmetic surgery. However to fit into a corset means shallow breathing for some people as well as a reduced oxygen supply. Also they can cause Glenard’s disease; deform lower ribs, which may lead to organ failure or dehydration. Wearing a corset may also deform stomach and liver.
If you are going to wear a corset try not to buy one that is too restrictive. Make sure you can take a deep breath while wearing it because even nowadays when corsets are not designed like torture devices people have been known to faint and pass out from wearing one that is far too tight.

More Cool Symbolic Gems

As not everyone can afford rubies, sapphires and diamonds it is good to know that there are also many semi-precious stones out there that also raise your vibration to attract prosperity.
Agate: increases perceptions, awakens hidden talents, helps you do what you love so the money will come.
Amber: absorbs negative energy and transforms it into positive energy calms nerves, healing, keeps you on track
Bloodstone:, rapid healing, courage, living in the “here and now”, helps you see each failure as a step to success
Carnelian: dispels laziness, rage, jealousy, envy and fear, good for acting, writing and creativity
Citrine: money drawing, cheering, clears the aura, the only stone that does not hold negative energies and needs no cleansing.
Coral: stimulates the imagination and connection to spirit guides so that you are in the right place at the right time
Cat’s Eye: happiness, luck, serenity, protection, the ability to see the big picture
Fluorite: brings order to chaos, helps to see reality behind illusion, keeps your finances organized and helps you deal with the right people
Hematite: improves intellect, protection, transforms negative energy to the positive, protects you against bad luck when it comes to maintaining your business
Jade: money and luck drawing (but not recommended for those born in the year of the Rat or for Geminis
Lapis Lazuli: esoteric mysteries, channeling, awareness, intuition,good for assisting with wise financial decisions and good for women in business.
Moonstone: new beginnings, hoping, wishing, good for freelancers and healers
Obsidian: grounding, protection, dispels negative thoughts, good for those who work in the healing arts
Opal: brings out the best in you, acting from the heart, invokes visions so you can run your business ethically
Pearl: faith, charity, innocence integrity, spiritual guidance, teaches you to be philanthropic
Peridot; attracts friends, cleanses heart, happiness, keeps you connected to customers
Pyrite: psychic protection attracts love, friendship, good for those in the psychic business, pyrite is sometimes called Fool’s Gold and is used like a kind of magical foil to bring prosperity.
Quartz (clear): balances energy fields, restores harmony, intuition, it also keeps chi (energy) flowing smoothly through your life
Quartz (smoky): dissolves negative energies, resentment, enhances self-esteem, and attracts business
Sandstone: creativity, building solidarity, social life, clarity, makes you stand out in a crowd which can be invaluable for people who make their money through sales
Tourmaline: harmony, unconditional love, intuition, helps you do the right thing so you run an ethical business
Turquoise: improves communication, intuition, creativity, protection, and wisdom, good for anyone who does commercial transactions of any kind
Zircon: strength, virtue, integration of body and mind, helps you become a master at what you do

Symbolic Gems Are Fashionable

Holding stones is called psychometry and the idea is to sense the prosperous vibration of the stone and then manifest wealth to you. This is a very trendy conceit that makes the shopping for personal adornment even more significant.
There are several precious stones that are at are powerful wealth bringers. These are the diamond, emerald, ruby and amethyst. Traditionally these prosperity bringing stones were set in wedding rings so that the marriage would be prosperous. These more precious the stone the more merit it will seem to have when it comes to bringing wealth.
The sapphire, which is a vivid dark blue, will help give you power, focus and determination so that you have the discipline to make more money. Wearing one been known to rescue people from poverty and bestow them with extra spending money to be used on fun activities. It is also associated with the throat chakra which rules communication. If you are in sales or have to do some pitching or fast talking on the phone the sapphire can definitely assist you.
Diamonds vibrates at a frequency that strengthens your intuitive abilities and also strengthens your defenses. It helps you perceive beyond surface appearance so you can get the big picture and stay focused on making progress. It is also a stone of manifestation which can bring your wishes into reality. The motto for the diamond is “Grace Under Pressure” because they are created from pressurized carbon. This is a good motto for today’s busy fast-paced lifestyles.
The emerald is used to restore balance to financial situations. Traditionally, an emerald was also thought to bring the owner financial security. It is thought to help you learn lessons, so you don’t repeat mistakes as well as balance your checkbook! The emerald assists you in drawing what you need to you and of course the glittering green color of this stone symbolizes growth.
The ruby is the best stone to wear when your finances are running low. The blood red light of the ruby helps to dispel feelings of discouragement and self-doubt and infuse your heart, mind and aura with the qualities of success, affluence, attractiveness and personal victory. The ruby will help you make sure that you always have the good things in life but it can also make sure that there is always food in the cupboard
The amythest has the effect of clearing up the clutter in your life and many Feng Shui masters place a hunk of it in a room to clear toxic vibration. His in turn assists in the attracting of prosperity. Amethysts help release fears and anxieties that might be lurking in your subconscious and preventing you from moving forward by bringing them to the surface.