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Utility Vs style - the emergence of Tan boots in mainstream menswear

Right now, style is becoming very essential for many people. Young or old, no matter what kind of profession a person has, being in season could sometimes add a little flair to an ordinary wardrobe. Tan boots have been emerging as a great alternative to the usual leather shoes for an added casual effect, something very refined and will fit those who want to stay neutral with just a little hint of style. Of course, the tan boots originated from a more utilitarian perspective and so how does something that was meant for utility crossover to the discriminating world of fashion and style?

The tan boots are linked to the desert boots that are meant to protect the feet against the dangers of the battlefield and in a sense provide comfort, and support to be worn all day. These boots are part of the required uniform for those who are in service or on the field and so the build of the shoes should be very comfortable and breathable. It should be able to control moisture buildup and provide stability to avoid fatigue and slippage. Desert boots are mostly available in the color tan to adapt and blend well to the terrain in which it was supposed to be used.

Fashion and style has taken a lot of cues for menswear in the past few seasons. Using utilitarianism and military inspirations for their collections, renowned designers as well as new ones come up with a more urban style approach for the tan boots. The designs are meant for aesthetics instead of functionality and will certainly work well in a city situation instead of the extreme conditions. Military inspired fashion outfits and tan boots are very classy and modern at the same time and those service men that want to wear something fitting an urban lifestyle but still want the appeal of their own uniforms can benefit from these designer styles.

When it comes to materials, the designer tan boots utilize more fashion and casual ones like suede and even velvet. Calfskin, waxed cotton as well as canvas are also used to create new, dynamic textures. Chukka boots are also available in a multitude of variations to evoke personal taste. The designer styles are meant to individualize an outfit and are not for utility and uniform usage. It would be highly impractical to use these on a real mission. For service men, it would be best to try ad have 2 kinds of boots, aside from the utility ones so that the feet can also experience some style and chic appeal when they are not in the uniform.

A person cannot compare fashion tan boots versus the utility ones. Each pair are meant for extremely different purposes and an individual need to have both so that there will be variations and styles that could fit the needs and demands of the individual for something casual and something meant for work. Tan boots certainly are in vogue in design because of its uniqueness and it will certainly be essential to service men because of the protection as well as support it could provide. No matter what the purpose is, these boots are meant to be worn.

Tactical Boot Store is your one-stop shop for quality tan boots, combat boots, tactical boots, and military boots. Please visit the site for more details of available types of Boots - http://www.tacticalbootstore.com/

About the Author

I am a Microsoft Certified Professional. I conduct Training and Certification Guidance for Microsoft .Net Certification Courses through my training institute-Sierra Infotech. I also own and manage a SEO Company and article Directory.

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Beginner's Guide to Sewing zipper

Sewing zipper may sound simple to many, but it's a far from simple process for the beginner sewer! Although some clothes still use buttons, hooks, snappers or ties, the majority have zipper, and boy do they bust on a regular basis! However, it need not be the end of those clothes, you can repair them if you know how and you will never be afraid of making a new garment with a zipper in again! It really isn't that difficult provided you learn a few tricks of the trade first.

There are two basic types of zipper; standard centered and lapped (sometimes known as an invisible zipper). Where the lapped zipper differs from the standard is simply that the teeth are hidden by the closure. This type of zipper is often used on expensive garments or where a fabric has a pile or is particularly flimsy.

When sewing zipper, the first thing you need is a zipper foot for your sewing machine. The zipper foot differs from the standard foot in that it will allow you to get closer to the teeth of the zipper. Don't attempt to sew your zipper without the zipper foot - big mistake.

Right, let's get down to business. Thankfully, when you buy zipper they usually have some extra material beneath the zipper tab as this can be the most awkward part to sew around. The extra material allows you to sew a bit beneath the tab and to make a clean finish. If you are sewing zipper into very lightweight material, you may need to attach a little interfacing to the seams as this will avoid any puckering of the fabric.

If you don't like to baste your zipper into place by hand, try using basting tape to secure it instead. Basting tape easily attaches to both materials and will simply wash away making it an ideal choice.

If you have ever heard of Von Zipper sun glasses, then you know that you are talking about the most fashionable eyeglass designer with cutting edge styles to fit every persons taste. They do not have one or two styles but rather dozens per season. They accommodate to different price ranges from $65 to $105 depending on the sunglasses that you choose. These sunglasses embody personality so one day you can leave the house in the morning with fun, flirty eyewear and when you go out at night you can change to sexy and adventurous. Whatever you want your style to say, Von Zipper's glasses will help you say it.

Von Zipper likes to play with personality so you can achieve anything from sexy and mysterious to bold and fun. Von Zipper does not design their sunglasses to be average. They design unique sunglasses that jump out at clients. The reason for this is that the lens colors and the frame designs mix so well together. Some sunglass frame designs include the following: Mosaic Tort, Brown Gold Stripes, Urban Gorilla, Cheetah, Tortoise Bronze, Black Gloss, Streaky Tort and Olive Mosaic. Von Zipper also designs solid colored classes such as black, white, coral, silver, bronze and gold.

These Von Zipper glasses do not just look pretty but they were also built with the finest quality of materials. They have stainless steel or satin steel optical hinges, optical quality frames, impact resistant polycarbonate lenses, either base 6 or base 8 lenses in an array of shapes, among other options. Every type of Von Zipper glasses come with the previously mentioned features. Such variants depend on the Von Zipper style of sunglasses but some of them include polarized lenses, silicon nose pads, wire injected temple core and Nylon grilamid temples. Do not think that is all. Only the best designers think about your safety and how to create a fashionable piece of eyewear. Therefore, all of Von Zipper's sunglasses are 100 percent UV protected.

Other types of women's Von Zipper Styles include the Dharma, Alotta, Saffron, Riviera, Banshee and Lexicon. Men's Von Zipper styles include the Fulton, Fernstein, V Zed, Skitch, Papa G, Sham, Kickstand, Prowler, Gamma, Zorq, Clutch and Absinthe.

Only Von Zipper thinks about your safety, style and comfort while designing their collection. If you are looking to finish your personal style off with a pair of sunglasses, Von Zipper is the brand to look for.

As with anything else, the first few attempts at sewing zipper may be slow and difficult. However, once you have got the hang of it, you won't need the basting tape at all and will simply whiz your zipper into place without even thinking about it!

About the Author

There is only one place to buy zipper. yyzipper.com offers an impressive range of Metal zipper,Nylon zipper and Resin zipper, you will find all the information you need to choose the correct zipper for you.

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Selection Without Investigation is Like Playing the Lottery

Our discussion under Investigation points out the benefits of a proper investigation or search before making a final selection. My motto is "Search for the intersection where Selection Meets Protection."

What factors should I consider when selecting a term? The determining factors vary in importance depending upon what your investigation reveals. However, everyone should consider the strength of the mark, namely, is it strong or weak, and where it fits on the continuum of marks?

What is a "continuum?" A continuum is "a continuous extent, succession, or whole, no part of which can be distinguished from neighboring parts except by arbitrary division." This means that while some terms fit neatly into on category or another, others are labeled by subjective opinion of courts and trademark examiners.

What is the trademark continuum? The trademark continuum goes from "strong to weak" and is based upon a series of "labels," namely arbitrary, coined, suggestive, descriptive, merely descriptive or generic. While many terms fit neatly into one or more categories, others along the continuum do not fit neatly into one category or the other. The stronger the mark, the greater the legal protection that will be afforded. This also means you as the trademark owner can police you mark and enforce rights with less risk of legal challenges to the validity of your marks. The further along the continuum one goes the less protection. While some categories are "ID", code for "Inherently Distinctive," others are not. Those that are descriptive, merely descriptive or generic terms, we suggest: "Forget about it."

The best way to understand the continuum is to jump on with some real life examples. Be forewarned, some will make sense others won't! Therein lays the key to understanding the often subjective manner in which claims of trademark infringement are decided by the courts. The cases that could go either way emphasize the importance of avoiding finding your business in this situation.

Surf the Continuum with Real Life Examples:

COINED or FANCIFUL are terms that are "made up" to function as trademarks and are inherently distinctive.

KODAK® before becoming a famous trademark was a "word" which did not exist. Instead someone created or "coined" the term to identify the cameras and film.

ALTOIDS®, used as a mark for The Original Celebrated Curiously Strong Peppermint®

Other well known fanciful marks are EXXON®, XEROX® and CLOROX®

Caution: While coined marks can start out strong, some can be at risk of falling to the other side of the continuum by being absorbed into the every day language, becoming generic. With any mark, selection and registration also require proper use and enforcement. Some of the more famous examples of once were, now has been, marks, are "aspirin, cellophane, escalator

ARBITRARY -- An every day word, picture or symbol in common use can be applied in an arbitrary manner to goods and services which are unrelated to the term being used as a mark.

APPLE for computers and music, as well as the famous logo of the "bitten apple, is one of the world's most famous examples.

AMAZON for online retail store services. The Amazon was a river long before the Internet existed by a few thousand years. Of course, based upon the way they chased one of our innocent prior using clients AMAZON itself seems to have forgotten this fact.

Other examples are OLD CROW for whiskey, IVORY for soap, or ICE CREAM for chewing gum.

SUGGESTIVE marks are given stronger protection in the law than descriptive marks. Terms that suggest but do not describe the qualities, ingredients, characteristics of a product are granted the same level of protection as an Arbitrary or Fanciful marks, i.e. no secondary meaning need be shown. As a result a Suggestive marks are some of the best marks of all, but are difficult to select. Without expert guidance, however, new trademark owners gravitate from suggesting to describing, failing to understand the difference. In fairness, many courts have the same difficulty, making the line between suggestive and descriptive extremely difficult to discern, often with conflicting results.

Finding a great suggestive mark is not for the faint of heart. However, if successful, you've found an important intersection where you can stake your claim, one where your selection meets protection.

Examples of marks held suggestive, not descriptive (see below):

ACTION SLACKS pants
CHICKEN OF THE SEA tuna
CITIBANK urban bank
CYCLONE wire fence
FLORIDA TAN tanning lotion
L'EGGS women's hosiery
ORANGE CRUSH soft drink
PLAYBOY magazine
ROACH MOTEL insect trap
Q-TIPS
7-ELEVEN food store chain
WRANGLER western boots and jeans

Caution: Remember no mark is static. The need to maintain proper use and enforcement policies to manage risk apply to all marks. A mark that is originally suggestive can become descriptive by usage of the public or trade. Remember QUIK PRINT? They faced this challenge before the Trademark Office.

Descriptive words which merely describe the qualities, ingredients, characteristics of a product may not be registered or enforced as trademarks unless proof of "secondary meaning" or "acquired distinctiveness" is shown. A "descriptive" mark may also describe the intended purpose, function or use of the goods, class of users, nature of the goods, the end effect upon the user, or a desirable characteristic of the goods and services.

There are literally dozens of examples. Here are but a few compiled by Professor J. Thomas McCarthy in his famous trademark treatise on trademarks, McCarthy on Trademarks.

BUFFERIN buffered aspirin
CHAP STICK skin preparation in a stick
CONTINUOUS PROCESSING computers
5 MINUTE glue that sets in five minutes
FOOD FAIR supermarkets
IVY LEAGUE clothing
HOLIDAY INN motel
OATNUT bread containing oats and nuts
SELF REALIZATION books, tapes and classes for spiritual
improvement through yoga
TENDER VITTLES cat food

Caution: Here lies the battle front for the unwary business owner. Volumes have been written as to the tests for discerning between the suggestive and descriptive, and judges have struggled for decades.

One famous judge wrote in 1925:

"It is quite impossible to get any rule out of the cases beyond this: That the validity of the mark ends where suggestion ends and description begins."

Our best suggestion: Locate a trusted advisor who understands the issues, the tests, and who can be your advocate.

Adoption and use a descriptive term as a trademark leads to two problems that many owners can never overcome:

1. Registration is refused or limited to the supplemental register without evidence of "secondary meaning" or "acquired distinctiveness." Evidence of use by third parties in the field can also be used to defeat a claim a descriptive term has acquired secondary meaning.

2. Enforcement proceedings are more expensive, risky and results less certain since the courts require a much higher standard of proof of acquired distinctiveness before granting protection, and opponent will exploit this weakness to their fullest.

Other Descriptive Terms Requiring Proof of Secondary Meaning

Geographically Descriptive terms that are descriptive of the geographical location or origin of goods and services are not inherently distinctive and require evidence of secondary meaning. This includes indications of any locations on earth such as nations, states, streets, areas of cities, rivers, etc. Like a generic term, they are ordinarily regarded as common property.

Examples held descriptive are endless but a few examples are: LONE STAR, HAWAIIAN, MIDWEST FARMS, NORTH AMERICAN, BANK OF AMERICA, QUAKER STATE, ON BROADWAY.

However, like a generic term that is arbitrarily applied, certain uses are distinctive and do not require proof of secondary meaning.

Examples are

NORTH POLE for bananas
ATLANTIC for magazines
ENGLISH LEATHER for men's after shave

Personal Names and "Primarily Merely a Surname"

A personal name which has been used as a trademark can qualify for federal registration. However, the U.S. Trademark statute has a provision prohibiting registration of marks which are "primarily merely a surname." If you are using your surname as a trademark, be certain to obtain expert guidance on proper use to qualify for registration, and overcome statutory objections in advance

Some surprising, now famous examples which were started their trademark existence as merely a surname:MCDONALD'S for restaurants was held to be "primarily merely a surname in violation of the statute, which was overcome with substantial evidence of acquired distinctiveness or secondary meaning!

PIRELLI for tires

BRASSERIE LIPP - the famous Paris restaurant

Generic terms are not trademarks! They are the bottom of the rung on the trademark continuum. They are the common every day word for the product, unless it is applied arbitrarily to unrelated goods.

Generic terms are the antithesis of a trademark. They are in the public domain, and as a matter of public policy are free for any one to use in their ordinary every day meaning.

An apple is generic for a fruit, but a strong arbitrary mark for computers. SHELL and CAMEL are two other common words which are strong as trademarks when applied to gasoline and cigarettes.

What types of terms are not registerable as federal trademarks?

Merely Descriptive is the test applied the Trademark Office in order to determine whether a mark has ID. It is closely related to the discussion of descriptive terms above.

This is one of the most confusing and difficult areas of federal trademark registration. If a term does not tell the customer only what the goods are, or the quality, characteristics and ingredients, the term is not merely descriptive.

A few examples:

THE LONG ONE for bread-held not merely descriptive
PEST PRUF for animal shampoo to prevent fleas not merely descriptive. But:
RICH 'N CHIPS for chocolate chips cookies is merely descriptive
SCHOLASTIC for school testing services is merely descriptive

Geographically Deceptively Misdescriptive terms can be complicated. In general, if the consumer is likely to believe the goods come from a certain region and attaches importance to that origin, goods labeled as such which are from another location will be refused registration.

A few examples:

MIDWEST FARMS - milk not from the Midwest
NEW ENGLAND for baked goods from Minnesota

But:

VENICE MAID for can goods from U.S. not deceptive
LONDON LASHES for eyelash lengthener not from London
(Neither locations were particularly known for these products)
RODEO DRIVE for perfume not from Beverly Hills-suggested only and aura of status and prestige.

About the Author

Cheryl L. Hodgson, J.D. For expert Branding advice visit:
http://brandaideblog.com
Visit us online:
http://www.hodgson-law.com
BRANDAIDE: Driving Your Brand to Distinction Copyright 2008 Hodgson Law Group

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3 Best Places to Wear your Crocs

Are Crocs best just worn inside the home so you can hide them from people? Of course not! Crocs have gained a good reputation among consumers and are now perfectly acceptable to wear to the streets or any casual gathering. Crocs has also released some new styles that are a lot less boxy or wide as the original Beach model. These new styles are also beautiful and can be worn with different types of casual outfits.

But the be it the Beach or the new Suede Alice, Crocs have now become so popular that you won't get any more uncomfortable stares from people for wearing a bold and candy colored footwear.

Where are the best places to wear the inexpensive and rubber clogs to? The best place to wear the shoes believe it or not is the work place. That is, if you don't work in a highly corporate setting where you are required to wear suits and pumps. If you work in the hospital, the mall, a school, or in an office where casual footwear is acceptable then make Crocs your choice of "work shoes". Crocs are extremely comfortable and should be a breeze to wear for 8 hours or more. Hospital workers and chefs have long discovered the benefits of wearing Crocs to work- the stress on their feet, angles, heels and legs are lessened and they find that they can stand and work for longer hours with roomy Crocs: Beach, Cayman, Endeavor and Professional. People who work in advertising agencies or design studios that are more lenient when it comes to dressing will benefit from the comfort of Crocs footwear. Somehow, it's easier to let the creative juices flowing when you are totally comfortable with your outfit. Pre-school teachers will be comfortable wearing the Prima or the Alice to work because they can easily run after the kids and move around the classroom.

Another great place to wear the Crocs in is the beach or the pool. With vents where air and water can easily pass through, Crocs are the perfect footwear to wear when you go swimming. They are very easy to wear and take off so you can easily slip them off when you want to go for a dip in the pool or when you want to swim in the ocean. You can also wear them as soon as you get out of the water because they easily dry. Getting them wet also won't result in any damage to the shoe. With the soles being slip-resistant, they are perfectly safe for kids to wear around the pool areas. You can also use them to go boating as they were really intended for this activity.

Another great place to wear your Crocs is in the great outdoors. Whether you are just working on a small patch of garden or taking a great adventure up the mountains, your Crocs will be the perfect shoes to wear. Crocs are comfortable and provide good traction. They are also water-resistant so you can wear them around the campsite or when you're going for a hike around the streams and brooks.

About the Author

Lisa Jamieson is the web master of Elotta.com. Elotta.com is an online shop for premium, casual footwear including Crocs shoes, Mammoth Crocs, Olukai, Reef, and Teva. Aside from providing consumers with comfortable footwear brands that are made of top-grade materials, Elotta.com offers free shipping with every order.

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Tips For New Casual Wear Varieties

Casual wear has turned cool and chic in the present times. Today, many designers develop casual wear in order to meet workers' clothing requirements.

Casual wear is typically the dress code for hotel dinners, family reunions, and certain social gatherings. Skin exposure is the majorly pronounced fashion in terms of casual wear. The exposure of the back, shoulders and thighs is not acceptable in this type of clothing. Many casual clothing are made in order to highlight colors as well as the movement with their eye-catching designs, as well as for the style that flows and flickers.

Casual wear has become smart and trendy in this new world. Nowadays, many designers create casual wear so as to meet the needs of the workers in terms of clothing. Casual wear is a type of dress code that emphasizes uniformity, comfort and personal looks over presentation. Outfits such as capris, kurtas, khakis, t-shirts, churidars, jeans, skirts all became elements of the casual wear collection.

Casual clothes are worn for every event, except for proper or formal occasions like weddings, business meetings, conference meetings and much more. The most familiar casual wear is the t-shirt and jeans. There are some types of casual wear like muscle shirts, casual shirts, cargo pants, jeans, t-shirts and shorts. Polo shirts can help add to your casual wear wardrobe.

T-shirt and blue jeans have been illustrated as the Casual Uniform. Amelia Bloomer, the famous designer in the 1990's, even presented her designs in trousers for women casual wear which is the alternative to the skirt and formal hoops. In recent fashion images, formal dresses are also considered as casual wear. Designers can push various quantities of dressing in this style of clothing.

Several tips to help with your casual look:

• Keep your formal or casual clothes clean, ironed, mended and in tip-top shape.
• Use casual handbags and accessories.
• Don't attempt to mix diamonds and gold watch with your attire.
• The way you buy career clothes is the same way you should buy your casual apparel.
• Avoid casual clichés such as leggings and baggy sweats.
• Choose sporty bags and watches to keep mixing styles.
• Choose casual wear that provide durability and comfort movement
• The best color and mix-and-match for casual clothing are khaki, tan, black and white
• When buying casual wear, think about the wardrobe and what kind of casual dress would be perfect for it.
• Look for a casual wear that is easy to wash and durable.

Types of Casual Wear

• Ladies Casual Jacket - This beautiful and attractive ladies casual jacket is perfect for youthful ladies and women who want to wear this in either winter or autumn seasons. It is mostly made of cotton and a tiny portion of spandex brush. The cost of this casual jacket for ladies is 10.50 US dollars.

• Men Casual Cabela's Long-sleeve - Made from forty to sixty percent poly cotton. It is ideal to wear this in business meetings, family dinners and junior proms. This men's casual Cabela's long-sleeve features long-wear elbow patches, adjustable two-button cuffs, breathable soft weave to make you comfortable and is washable with mild soap. Also, this apparel is machine washable.

• Prana Bias Casual Plaid Short Sleeve - This clothing is made out of 100 percent organic cotton. It offers a breezy and cool look for summer. It even has button down patches and snap closure front pockets. It is easy to clean and dry. The cost of this casual wear for men is 44 US dollars.

• Savile Dress Casual Shirt - This 100 percent Peruvian pima cotton features adjustable cuffs, flat-felled seams as well as a Gulfstream logo on the left chest and middle back pleats. It is ideal for fishermen and farmers. The price of this Savile dress casual shirt is 58 US dollars.

• Long Sleeve Jet Outline Casual T-Shirt - This beautiful and elegant casual t-shirt is made of heavyweight cotton. It is washable with mild soap and is easy to dry. The long sleeve jet outline casual t-shirt features back center pockets and front left side pocket. The average cost of this casual t-shirt is 11.40 US dollars.

• Classic Cimmaron Casual Leather Jacket - This is made from cimmaron leather cloth material. It is perfect for the winter, so as to warm you up. This casual jacket has two side pockets and an upper right and left pockets. The casual jacket is easy to clean and to dry and can be machine washed. The cost of this classic cimmaron casual leather jacket is 545 US dollars.

About the Author

For more information on
Casual Wear
please visit our website.

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Fashionable Womens Shoes for Spring/summer 2008

Aren't shoes great?they can give away so much about a persons character. These days womens shoes include something for everyone when it comes to fashion…and what better reason is there to updateyour wardrobe than a new upcoming season?

This year the the 80’s are making a reappearance! Get ready to wear soaring heels, t bar heels, platform heels, peep toe platforms in all those glorious bright shades…green is predicted to be the next popular colour...but don’t leave out pinks, citron, turquoise and neon’s…mixed with ink blues and black . Patent is still in this season too… The sky really is the limit when it comes to womens shoes. Here is a chance to develop a really up to date look with stylish heels.

Spring and summer are creeping up and this years hot sandals and pumps come with a particular attention to detail. There is no end to the amount of style you can add to your feet this season with a pair of womens sandals. For those with a daring streak try wearing sheer tights with metallic sandals as were featured in Missoni’s catwalk show during the Milan Fashion Week. Fringed and embellished womens sandals are still en vogue and sandals can be worn at any height…try flat jewelled sling back sandals which are promised to be one of the sexiest flat sandals of the season. For those needing some casual looks try Birkenstock womens sandals and flip flops or the ever versatile much loved and much disliked Croc!…take a look at the Sassari Crocs for a new view to the usually chunky Croc. Crocs also come in all the great bright colours of the season and there is variety for all the family and Crocs offer value for money. If you are blessed with being tall then a pair of ankle high gladiator style womens sandals may well be the shoe for you.

Ladies Wedges are still keeping up an appearance,they are more comfortable than a pair of heels….neutral, natural look wedge shoes are a good purchase this season.

Peep toe shoes and peep toe boots! The trend for peep toes is keeping up momentum and peep toes are still very very popular. Almost any ‘traditional’ womens shoes now comes with a ‘peep toe’ style including new peep toe boots and the traditional style oxford style peep toe shoes and boots. Prada featured a shoe/boot/sandal so whatever next! Peep toe shoes are an option for those who can’t bear to have their toes cramped up with the rising popularity of pointed stiletto shoes this season…as well as giving some ‘air-conditioning’ to the feet and toes!...and they are accepted for wear in an office environment.

Sneakers and canvas shoes are now found in many bright colours and are the new ‘in’ for the younger generation. Try Converse and Skechers for cute, up to the minute sneakers and canvas shoes offering an alternative style.

Just about every womens shoe type must now come in the ‘Mary Jane’ style. Again there is something to suit all…and not just the younger generation as was once associated with Mary Janes. Loafers, pumps, platforms, stilettos, peep toes and sandals all come in this timeless style and this trend of womens shoes looks set to continue.

Womens shoes really are a womans best friend but where does one stopdraw the line? In true Prada fashion Prada paraded a new totally original look for shoes this season featuring flower heels and looks that are almost impossible to describe....who will be daring enough to wear them?

About the Author

To treat your feet to an extensive choice of womens shoes and womens sandals at great prices, you can buy womens shoes online at www.heavenonheels.net.

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Could the Katrina Disaster be a Portent of the Last Day Foretold by our Prophet (saas)?

… It [the Last Hour] will not come until you see ten signs… landslides [with a sinking down, caving in, or displacement of the earth] in three places, one in the East, one in the West and one in Arabia… (Sahih Muslim)

It is revealed in the verses of the Qur'an that all animate and inanimate entities, the entire universe, will inevitably come to an end.

This end, the Last Day in other words, will be the final day of the life of this world, but also the beginning of the eternal life of the Hereafter. That day, as revealed in the Qur'an, is when "mankind will stand before the Lord of all the worlds" (Qur'an, 83:6). On the Last Day, the universe and all living things will be destroyed and that destruction will take place as the result of events that have never been seen before. In Surat al-Ma'arij our Lord reveals:

On the Day the sky is like molten brass and the mountains like tufts of colored wool. No good friend will ask about his friend even though they can see each other. An evildoer will wish he could ransom himself from the punishment of that Day, by means of his sons, or his wife or his brother or his family who sheltered him or everyone else on Earth, if that only meant that he could save himself. But no! It is a Raging Blaze. (Qur'an, 70:8-15)

It is a day when all people will comprehend the great might of God and will be a day of panic, fear and suffering for unbelievers. Our Lord reveals in the Qur'an that "the Hour is coming" (Qur'an, 20:15) and that it will take place suddenly, when people are least expecting it (Qur'an, 16:77 and 7:187). In another verse, our Lord has told us that certain signs will appear before the Hour:

What are they awaiting but for the Hour to come upon them suddenly? ITS SIGNS HAVE ALREADY COME. What good will their reminder be to them when it does arrive? (Qur'an, 47:18)

Our Prophet Muhammad (saas) has described these portents that will take place prior to the Hour in detail in the Hadith. In addition to signs of the Last Day, he has also made statements regarding the period immediately before it. This period, when the signs of the Last Day will appear, is the "End Times."

In the first period of the End Times the world is filled with material and spiritual problems; in the second period that follows, God will liberate people from degeneration, war and injustice by means of the Mahdi. In this period, known as the Golden Age, war and conflict will come to an end, the world will be filled with plenty, abundance and justice, and Islamic moral values will spread over the whole world and be widely lived by. Following the end of the Golden Age, the world will suffer a very rapid collapse, after which the Hour will come. However, it needs to be made clear that, as on all other subjects, we have no other information regarding the Last Day than that taught us by our Lord. Only our Lord knows the time of the Hour, which will inevitably take place:

Say: "I do not know whether what you are promised [the Hour] is close or whether my Lord will appoint a longer time before it." He is the Knower of the unseen, and does not divulge His unseen to anyone. (Qur'an, 72:25-26)

The Signs of the Last Day Are Coming True One after the Other

When we examine the Hadith on the End Times, we encounter a most extraordinary situation. The signs set out in detail by our Prophet (saas) hundreds of years ago are taking place just about everywhere in the world "in the age we are living in," one after the other and in the manner described in the Hadith. The slaughter, war and conflict being experienced all over the world, the increase in corruption, unlawful things being regarded as lawful, the acceleration of moral degeneration, the open denial of God, the abandoning of the moral values of the Qur'an, the grave difficulties being experienced by Muslims, the groundless killing of innocent people, the spread of poverty and hunger, the emergence of false men of religion, the popularity of magic and fortune telling, the rise in fraud, corruption and adultery, the emergence of false messiahs and many other signs all show that the period through which we are living bears a greater resemblance to the End Times than any other in history. (For detailed information, see The Signs of Jesus' (pbuh) Second Coming by Harun Yahya.)

Some of these signs of the End Times revealed in the Hadith have been seen to some extent at various times in Islamic history and in different parts of the world. However, this does not mean that any of those ages was the End Times.

Because in order for a period to qualify as the End Times, all the portents revealed by our Prophet (saas) must take place one after the other in the same period of time. This is set out in the Hadith:

Signs following one another like the pieces of a necklace falling one after the other when its string is cut. (Tirmidhi)

For example, one of the signs given in the Hadith is the solar and lunar eclipses during the month of Ramadan:

…The first one is the lunar eclipse in the first night of Ramadan, and the second is the solar eclipse in the middle of this month. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 47)

Indeed, solar and lunar eclipses followed one another in the month of Ramadan in the years 1981 and 1982. It is beyond question that solar and lunar eclipses are very natural and frequent phenomena. The important thing, however, is that these should take place at 15-day intervals during the month of Ramadan, and for this to be repeated in two consecutive years. In addition, the fact that these eclipses took place at the same time as other signs stated above strengthens the likelihood that these eclipses are those being referred to in the hadith. Another extraordinary thing is the way that our Prophet (saas) informed us that a comet will appear immediately after these eclipses of the Sun and Moon:

The rise of that star will occur after the eclipse of the Sun and the Moon. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-zaman, p. 32)

As stated in the hadith, Halley's comet passed close by the Earth in 1986 (Hijri 1406), in other words in the early 14th century. This follows the eclipses of the Sun and Moon that happened in 1981 and 1982 (Hijri 1401-1402). Therefore, the rise of this star coming at the same time as other signs, and just as described by the Prophet (saas), indicates that these phenomena may well be the signs referred to in the Hadith.

Another important element that must be borne in mind when examining the signs of the End Times is the size of the sign in question, its force and effect. For example, our Prophet (saas) has cited the rise in earthquakes as a sign of the Last Day. There is no doubt that earthquakes of various magnitudes have taken place at all periods in history. However, in the End Times, through which we are living, there has been a huge rise in the number and intensity of earthquakes worldwide. According to US Geological Survey (USGS) reports, the number of earthquakes registering greater than 5.0 in the 400 or so years between 1556 and 1975 is only 110. According to that same body, 1685 earthquakes registering more than 6.5 have taken place in the 23 years between 1980 and 2003 alone. This information confirms the account given by our Prophet (saas) and shows that the signs of the End Times have characteristics far more extraordinary than those of any comparable events that have taken place in other periods. Our Prophet (saas) has also given news of many other signs of the Last Day as well as just these. Islamic scholars refer to some of these as minor signs, and to others as major signs. One hadith in which our Prophet (saas) imparts the tidings of the ten major signs of the Last Day is as follows:

… It [the Last Hour] will not come until you see ten signs… landslides [with a sinking down, caving in, or displacement of the earth] in three places, one in the East, one in the West and one in Arabia… (Sahih Muslim)

In this article we shall examine these signs in the light of certain major recent developments.

(For detailed information regarding the other signs of the Last Day, see Signs of the Last Day, The Signs of Jesus' (pbuh) Second Coming, Terrorism: The Ritual of the Devil, The End of Times and the Mahdi by Harun Yahya).

THE SINKING DOWN IN THE EAST:

THE TSUNAMI DISASTER IN INDONESIA

One of the signs of the Last Day revealed by our Prophet (saas) is that of the "sinking down in the East."

The probable significance of this sign is the disappearance of an area of land or a human community. (God knows best.) This portent bears a close similarity to the 2004 tsunami disaster in Asia. Therefore, our Prophet's (saas) portent regarding the "sinking down in the East" may be indicating this terrible catastrophe. (Our Lord knows best, of course.)

Throughout history various disasters, earthquakes and tornadoes have struck Asia and the Far East. These wrought terrible destruction and large numbers of people lost their lives in them. However, the tsunami that took place on 26 December, 2004, in southern Asia and that resulted in the loss of more than 225,000 lives, was the worst of these disasters. During this dreadful catastrophe, the enormous energy released by 1000-kilometer breaks as a result of the movement of underground plates and shifting land masses, together with the enormous energy produced in the oceans, struck the coasts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Maldives, the Seychelles, and even Somalia, 5,000 kilometers away.

This tsunami disaster in the End Times, when the signs of the Last Day are coming true one by one, affected a very wide area, and led to cities being flooded by sea water and to a new map of the world. Therefore, the expression "sinking down in the East" may well be referring to this disaster in southern Asia. (God knows best.)

THE SINKING DOWN IN THE WEST:

THE "KATRINA" DISASTER IN THE USA

The terrible destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina in the US Gulf of Mexico last month brings to mind another of the signs of the Last Day mentioned by our Prophet (saas): "the sinking down in the West."

This "sinking" which our Prophet (saas) declares will take place in the End Times must necessarily be much greater and have a much greater impact than similar ones in the past. Indeed, the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina was far worse than that inflicted by similar phenomena in the past.

Throughout history great disasters have been experienced in Europe and America. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and terrorist attacks have cost the lives of thousands. However, none of these disasters have had such a terrible impact as Hurricane Katrina, causing millions of people to flee, tens of thousands to lose their lives, immense harm to three large states, and the flooding of whole cities. This makes Hurricane Katrina different from disasters of the past, and ensures it top place in the list of destruction in US history. For that reason, the Katrina catastrophe may well be one of the three incidents of sinking referred to by our Prophet Muhammad (saas). God knows best, of course.

The Dimensions of the Katrina Disaster

The Katrina disaster has been the subject of intense coverage in newspapers and on the television for around a month now. However, these reports fail to emphasize the multilateral effect of the disaster, both on the USA and globally. The true dimensions of the disaster are being hidden from people, and the scale of the destruction is being underplayed. The fact is that Hurricane Katrina led to the deaths of more than 10,000 people, life becoming impossible in almost all of three major states (Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi), the complete evacuation of one of the most important cities in the USA, the greatest air rescue operation in the US history, millions of people losing their homes and livelihoods, and damage in excess of $100 billion. Various writers have referred to the fact that such a disaster has not been experienced on US soil since the Civil War. This disaster, compared by some federal authorities to Hiroshima and the tsunami catastrophe in Indonesia, is expected to have long-lasting consequences for many years, and resulted in a large region sinking under the water, as described by our Prophet (saas) in the hadith.

The damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina may be summed up as follows:

- Katrina was classified as a category 5 hurricane, representing the most violent category on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, falling to category 4 in some places. Only 3 category five hurricanes have made landfall in the US since records began. Yet none of those caused such massive damage as Katrina.

- The death toll could not be established with certainty in the wake of the disaster, though officials said the number could be tens of thousands. Material damage is expected to exceed $100 billion. This estimate excludes long-term damage (effects on the soil, sea, life and climate).

- Hurricane Katrina entered the American continent from the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, 29 August, and affected three states. Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi became virtually uninhabitable. The wind speed rose to 260 km/h. The area affected, a national disaster zone, is 233,000 km2 - an area almost as large as the United Kingdom.

- The hurricane first affected the state of Florida, where 13 people died and where the storm caused great material damage. It then headed for the state of Louisiana, causing terrible damage to the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Buildings on the coasts in particular suffered immense damage. It is estimated that more than 10,000 lost their lives in these three states; 80% of the city of New Orleans - the largest in the state of Louisiana - remained under water.

- The cities of Biloxi and Gulfport in Mississippi were flooded by waters rising up to 9 meters, and 90% of homes in this area were completely destroyed. Hotels and entertainment centers built on the shore were completely ruined. This brings to mind another sign of the Last Day reported by our Prophet (saas):

He asked: "What becomes of you when death meets people and homes become graves?" (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 392, no. 726)

- Some 5 million people were left without electricity in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It has been announced that due to the terrible damage inflicted, it may take months for electricity to be restored to the whole city.

- America obtained 25% of its petrol needs from the Gulf of Mexico. Today, 91% of this area's total production capacity of 1.5 million barrel/day is unusable. 83% of the natural gas emerging has been stopped. 561 of a total of around 650 maritime oil platforms were evacuated in time by helicopter. 20 platforms either sank or were dragged from their moorings, and one continues to burn. Nobody knows what damage has been caused to those which have been abandoned. The resulting sea pollution is yet another aspect of the disaster. Eight refineries have been abandoned along the shores of the Mississippi River. Those still working have been closed down because the pipeline bringing oil to land from the Gulf of Mexico broke. The almost complete stoppage of oil production in the region has impacted on the US economy, and it is also expected to have permanent damage on the world economy.

- Hundreds of thousands of homes have been rendered uninhabitable, and hundreds of thousands have been badly damaged.

- The number of missing is estimated at around 35,000. More than 300,000 children in the region are estimated to have been made homeless.

- Electricity cuts, and the fact that telephone lines, mobile phones and the Internet no longer work has brought business life to an almost complete standstill. It is estimated that around 1 million jobs have been lost in all sectors.

- Educational institutions in the regions have been closed. A great many schools cannot be used, and great damage has been inflicted on others.

- Local newspapers and TV stations have abandoned their offices, and have been forced to continue working over the Internet.

- It is stated that it is only a matter of time until epidemics begin in flooded cities. The corpses that fill the streets, the toxic substances in the water, the chemical waste products from factories in the water, rubbish, and petrol wastes represent a severe threat to the flooded cities. The US Army plans to begin spraying using military planes against the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus and that multiply rapidly in stagnant water.

New Orleans Has Sunk to the Ground

While Katrina inflicted grave harm on many cities, it has made New Orleans uninhabitable. 80% of New Orleans, regarded as one of the centers of tourism and culture in the USA, was under water, which in some areas was more than 6 meters deep. Therefore, New Orleans has almost vanished by being buried under water. In the same way that our Prophet's (saas) portent regarding "the sinking down in the East" may refer to the tsunami disaster in Indonesia, the "sinking down in the West" may also indicate the disappearance of the city of New Orleans. God knows best, of course.

New Orleans is a city surrounded by Lake Pontchartrain, the River Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico, and is founded about 2 meters below the sea level. However, some parts of the city lie up to 6 meters below the sea level and are protected against possible flooding by pumps, channels and levees. This system, regarded as one of the most expensive flood protection systems in the world, was constructed in stages since the 1800s, and has been regularly strengthened. However, the levees that run for some 560 kilometers around the city were designed to meet category 3 hurricanes. They could not withstand category 5 hurricanes such as Katrina (category 4 on some days). Thus Hurricane Katrina destroyed two of the city's most important levees, as a result of which water from the lake, the sea and the river flooded 80% of the city. The shores of Lake Pontchartrain were almost entirely submerged.

Following the hurricane, these levees are planned to be repaired and the water pumped out of the city. However, very few of the 148 pumps are actually working, for which reason the pumping out of the floodwater that fills the city is expected to take months. One major difficulty is that since the pumps responsible for cleaning up the city are submerged, it is difficult to find anywhere to send the many meters of water covering the city. Another problem is the scale of the impact that the pumping of the waters, badly polluted by corpses and wastes, into the River Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain will have on life, which is expected to even worse in the years to come. The emptying of polluted water into the lake, river and sea in the region, regarded as one of the main ports of the US fishing industry, will do serious harm to maritime life. However, officials state that there is no alternative and that pumping will go ahead as planned.

This is the worst disaster since the founding of New Orleans in 1718. The city has experienced a great many storms and hurricanes to date but this city, which directly encounters a hurricane every 14 years, has never been subjected to such destruction. The consequences of the New Orleans disaster may be summarized as follows:

- One million people fled New Orleans before the hurricane struck. Tens of thousands who remained sought shelter in the Louisiana Superdome Stadium and an exhibition hall. Others sought to protect themselves from the waters by climbing up to high elevations. Thousands of helpless people who sought shelter on the roofs and upper floors of buildings waited days for help to arrive. Many people died from hunger, thirst and various illnesses. There have also been widespread reports of lootings, murders, beatings and rapes. When part of the roof of the Superdome, regarded as one of the safest places to shelter, collapsed, this too ceased to offer any safety.

- Some 9,000 people who were unable to evacuate the city and 550 National Guard troops were installed in the Superdome. Following the intensification of the hurricane this number rose to around 60,000 on September 1. Tens of thousands of people fought for their lives in the stadium, which was devoid of electricity, air conditioning and running water. As the evacuation was stepped up, New Orleans began being referred to as a "ghost town."

- A rapid rise in looting, rape, beating, suicide, robbery and drug dealing brought chaos to the city and those buildings in which large numbers of people were sheltering.

- 80% of homes in New Orleans are uninhabitable.

- Tens of thousands of people do not have enough to eat and drink. There is no clean water or food in the city.

- One million people are without electricity due to the powerful winds that uplifted trees and power lines, due to which it is reported that critically ill patients in hospitals are dying.

- The flood waters have lifted coffins out of graves in some cemeteries in New Orleans. Television broadcasts have shown coffins floating in the waters covering the city.

The disappearance of almost the entire city of New Orleans bears a close similarity to another sign of the End Times related by our Prophet (saas). This is revealed in these terms in the hadith:

Great cities will be ruined, and it will be as if they had not existed the day before. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 38)

A city really has disappeared under the water and been made uninhabitable.

Indeed, one of the ongoing debates in the USA these days is the possibility of completely abandoning New Orleans and founding the city in another place in the wake of the terrible destruction.

COULD THE "ARMY DISAPPEARING IN THE DESERT" BE THE THIRD SINKING?

Attention is drawn in the hadith of our Prophet Muhammad (saas) to "a third sinking in the Arabian peninsula," in addition to those in the East and West.

This sinking that will take place in the Arabian peninsula bears a close resemblance to another hadith:

An army comes to fight. Once they enter the desert, the one in the front and the back disappear, and the ones in the middle cannot save themselves. (Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud)

One of the most noticeable incidents of the 2003 Iraq War was the sudden disappearance of a large part of the Iraqi Army. Many newspapers and TV channels reported on the disappearance of the 60,000-man force known as the Republican Guard and 15,000-man force known as the Fedayeen. The fact that this is indicated in the above hadith shows that one of the signs of the Last Day may have taken place. Indeed, the finding in the days to follow of a part of their warplanes buried under the desert sands strengthens the possibility that the reference in the hadith of the sinking of an army in the desert may concern the Iraqi Army. (God knows best.) When we consider this hadith together with our Prophet's (saas) reference to "sinking down in Arabia," it may well be that the event in question refers to this extraordinary situation that came about during the Iraq war. (God knows best.)

THE IMPORTANCE OF REFLECTING ON THE SIGNS OF THE LAST DAY

Most people in the world are to a greater or lesser extent aware of the horror of the Last Day. Nonetheless, some people are unwilling to think or talk about such a vital matter. They make great efforts never to bring the fear that will be experienced when the Hour comes to mind. They are even unable to bear it when news of a catastrophe they read in the paper or a film depicting a disaster reminds them of the Last Day. They refuse to reflect on the fact that this day will inevitably arrive.

The same things happened in the wake of the Katrina disaster. People generally attempted to underplay the catastrophe, the terrible disaster was not reported in an unbiased manner, and people soon lost interest in this terrible destruction. People failed to learn about the horror experienced by hundreds of thousands as they should have.

Yet all these disasters and catastrophes are a warning, a reminder from our Lord. People who consider these disasters honestly, listening to the voice of their conscience, will easily realize the transitory nature of the life of this world and will turn to God. They will understand that it is not too late to live by Islamic moral values and will not be like those who ignore the reality that the Last Day will inevitably come to pass. Our Lord states the following with regard to the unbelievers who harbor doubts about the Hour:

When you were told, "God's promise is true and so is the Hour, of which there is no doubt," you said, "We have no idea what the Hour is. We have only been conjecturing. We are by no means certain." (Qur'an, 45:32)

Some people deny the Hour in its entirety:

But instead, they deny the Hour; and We have prepared a searing blaze for those who deny the Hour. (Qur'an, 25:11)

All these people who deceive themselves with regard to the Hour are making a terrible mistake. That is because in His verses God reveals that it is close at hand and that there can be no room for doubt regarding this:

We did not create the heavens and Earth and everything between them, except with truth. The Hour is certainly coming… (Qur'an, 15:85)

As we have already stated, the fact that the signs of the Last Day were fully described 1,400 years ago and are coming to pass one after the other is a matter of the greatest importance. This is definitive proof so that we might understand that in describing in detail 1,400 years ago the picture that would emerge our Prophet (saas) was referring to the present day and age. The reports of the End Times paint a most accurate picture of our own time. This, of course, is a miraculous phenomenon calling for deep reflection.

Under the pen name of Harun Yahya, Adnan Oktar has written some 250 works. His books contain a total of 46,000 pages and 31,500 illustrations. Of these books, 7,000 pages and 6,000 illustrations deal with the collapse of the Theory of Evolution. You can read, free of charge, all the books Adnan Oktar has written under the pen name Harun Yahya on these websites www.harunyahya.com

About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, HARUN YAHYA
Born in Ankara in 1956, Adnan Oktar writes his books under the pen name of Harun Yahya. Ever since his university years, he has dedicated his life to telling of the existence and oneness of Almighty Allah, and to disseminating the moral values of the Qur'an. He has never wavered in the face of difficulties and despite oppression, still continues this intellectual struggle today exhibiting great patience and determination. For mor information pls visit: http://www.harunyahya.com/theauthor.php

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Rock the Trend: Punk Chic

Remember Joan Jett and the Blackhearts “I Love Rock ‘N Roll”?  Most of us tried to mimic it a bit at one point or another in our lives.  Well, the look is back with an added touch of chic.  The Punk Chic, or Subtle Punk, look is back in full effect for Fall this year.  This trend is defined by Goth shades and carefully placed metal details on classic pieces for a subtle yet punk effect.  If you want to rock this trend, read on to find out more.

Tops.  For this trend, go for tops made out of luxurious fabrics with fabulous detailing.  A silk vest in moody mauve with decorative metal detailing all-over will give you a subtle, punk, edgy look and make passersby notice your outfit.  Look for detailing that is small in size and grand in coverage of the pieces.  Metal details that are too large will give you a biker look instead of punk chic. 

Bottoms.  Since our inspiration is punk, keep pants slim or skinny in dark colors.  Black is the ideal.  Skinny black jeans (in denim or leather) with zipper detailing at the bottom of the leg and at the waist (front and back) will look undeniably punk.  To soften the look and add the “chic”, go for a slouchy black sweater in cashmere or superfine wool.  The mix of textures and details will make you seem ahead of the times whenever you step out. 

If you want to go for a different type of bottoms, a short skirt is also another great option.  Go for one that is no longer than mid-thigh length, but comes in a flattering shape.  Be sure the skirt you choose  has plenty of zippers, buttons, studs, or other fun details.  If short skirts aren’t your favorite, wear the short skirt with a pair of opaque dark tights or leggings in a coordinating color. 

Dresses.  Keeping it clean is the way to go.  This means dresses with simple shapes, such as shift or A-line, will work the best.  To stay with this trend, be sure you choose a dress with plenty of pleating, studding, leather patches, etc.  The punk will be in the details while the chic will be in the shape of the dress. 

Shoes & Accessories.  Leather, patent leather, and suede are favorites for this trend.  For shoes, keep the look punk but still chic, go for rounded studs and other metal details as opposed to pointy, sharp, or jagged looking ones.   For handbags, go for large hobos in a sturdy and rugged material.  You can keep the detail minimal here since you have metal detailing in one or more pieces of your ensemble.  For jewelry, go for rubber, leather, or silver.  Funky chain detailing on a smaller scale keeps jewelry looking punk without being intimidating.

So now you are ready to be punk, subtle, and chic all at the same time.  This trend is great to incorporate with many pieces of your wardrobe as well as it can be easily worn in tandem with other trends that are hot this season.  To make sure that you are not overdoing it, try to wear no more than three studded or metal detailed pieces in the same outfit.  Good luck and Happy Shopping!

About the Author

Sasha is a fashion editor and accomplished fashion stylist. Visit her website at: http://www.fashionistaspalace.com, to shop at some of the hottest online retailers today and stay current on the season’s hottest trends. Do you still want more? Then don’t forget to, sign-up for the weekly newsletter full of fashion tips and exclusive deals!

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Do I Really Need To Dress Up To Attract Women?

It never ceases to amaze me looking at how poorly some guys dress when they go out to a club, bar or just the mall. All these places are opportunities to meet women and yet I see guys appearing like dorks or flat out unkempt and dirty. Looking like a bum will earn you no points with women in the "looks" department.

If you are one of these guys that has been wearing the same old stained t-shirt for the past five years or thinks wearing a sports jersey to a club is high fashion then take the time to reevaluate your wardrobe and donate all your old clothing and purchase new cloths. There is nothing wrong in experimenting with a new look. Start off with one item and slowly work your way in adopting more articles of clothing that will be your new wardrobe.

When I moved from New York City to Southern California I neither wore board shorts nor sandals. After some time I began to experiment with a pair and I felt okay wearing, after all I live near a beach community so it makes perfect sense. However, I drop that attire when I hit the club and I'll put on a button down shirt with a nice pair of jeans and shoes.

Consider what I'm about to say one of life's mysteries there is no explaining it just simply accept it. Pay in particular attention the shoes you wear. Women will look at a man and the first thing she will notice is what kind of shoes he's wearing. You should have a minimum of four pairs, two pairs of dress shoes in black and brown and two pairs of casual shoes, again in brown and black.

Also it doesn't hurt to buy a nice bottle of cologne. My personal favorites are from Jean Paul Gaultier and Bulgari for men. Throw away that bottle of old spice and kick it up a notch with a new scent but don't over do it with the cologne. Nothing is more disgusting than someone that has sprayed half a bottle on their body..

Some common sense tips as far as hygiene is concerned bath every day with soap and water. I recommend lathering up twice and clean your body thoroughly Brush your teeth and use mouth wash for those of you with yellow or stained teeth try using those over the counter teeth whiteners. Shave everyday or make sure your facial hair is neatly trimmed and well groomed. Believe me this will go a long way women are not attracted to guys that don't take care of themselves.

Let's be honest do you have the same hair cut since you were 15? Visit a salon and get some advise from a stylist they are experts in knowing what hair cut is most appropriate for your face. Change your look and you may notice more women opening up to you. Don't be afraid of change, it's healthy mentally and who knows you may like it.

By no means do I suggest that expensive cloths will get the girl - on the contrary women will look at a man's personality and masculinity above all else. What I do argue is that looking clean and presentable will open you up to more women.

Don't overdo the personal care here, I mean don't become a 'meterosexual' and book an appointment for a manicure, pluck your eyebrows and start reading Cosmo. Deep down confident men are comfortable with their looks no matter what however they also take care of themselves. There is nothing wrong with a man looking his best, having a nice hair cut, wearing nice cloths and smelling good. The point here is not to over do it and keep it normal.

About the Author

Andres Munoz is a dating expert and with his latest project he reveals which dating courses are most effective in seduction. Sign up for our mini course and start using these seduction secrets you can use tonight and get immediate results at
http://www.datingreviewworld.com/seductionsecrets.htm

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5 Great Naot Sandals You Can't Do Without This Summer

If you're searching for footwear comfort and style, NAOT sandals simply cannot be beat. When you make a decision to buy NAOT sandals, you are making a wise investment for your feet with both fashionable good looks and luxurious comfort which will make your friends envious. What are this year's top 5 must have sandals from NAOT you can not live without this year?

1. The Flirt by NAOT is the perfect sandal for the woman that loves great styling and comfortable shoes. It has two foot straps with a beautiful at the ankle buckle on a generous fascinating easy on the foot wedge heal that will look fabulous with shorts, skirts, capris and straight leg skinny jeans.

2. The Karaoke by NAOT is a slide sandal for people that like to slip in their foot and go. The splendidly comfortable footbed will make you forget you are wearing sandals. Comfort and great styling make this an absolute must for the impending warm season. They may even inspire you to go sing Karaoke.

3. The Coconut sandal by NAOT just makes you want to head off to a tropical location to show them off with your favourite pair of shorts. The comfy footbed will make walking for extended amounts of time less complicated on your feet. It is the slide sandal you simply cannot survive without this season.

4. The Future sandal is the perfect casual to dressy sandal with just the right heel height to look good with jeans or that lovable summer dress. The savvy shoe purchaser will not pass this beauty up this year. Just like all NAOT sandals, this shoe is particularly comfortable to give you a great spot to nestle your feet in the most natural fitting line of shoes you will ever buy.

5. The Emory is the 'I must have it' toe band sandal by NAOT which will make you need to wear them all the time. It's the perfect casual sandal you can wear with your shorts or jeans.

You have to love the unique names they give their sandals as well as their great value and quality of these magnificent walking sandals. NAOT takes pride in making only the best quality sandals on the market today.

About the Author

Mr Foote is a content syndication consultant in Indiana.  Learn more about comfortable footwear at ComfortableFoot.com.  You can read more about content syndication services from the Page1Consultants.com website.

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Choosing the Right Sandals for your Outfit

A big mistake that people make when wearing sandals is not making sure that their footwear compliments their outfit. This is a huge mistake because wearing the wrong sandals can completely sabotage your look. In the converse, choosing the right sandals can actually add life to an outfit. So, how do you choose the right sandals? There are essentially three points to consider when selecting a pair of sandals to wear with an outfit.

Match the Occasion

Probably the most significant concern when selecting a pair of sandals is the occasion. Ladies know that they shouldn't wear a pair of flip flop sandals with an evening gown, and men should be way too familiar with the faux pas of wearing socks with sandals. What may not appear so obvious is that casual beach shoes, such as Adidas sandals, are not appropriate with business casual khakis. A pair of brown Hushpuppies, however, is suitable for a men's business casual work outfit.

For men, the key to knowing how to select the most suitable pair of sandals for the occasion is to consider the material. Leather sandals are more appropriate for less casual occasions while rubber soles or Velcro closures are the materials of choice for moderately casual affairs.

Match the Style

Women have a more difficult time determining what style of sandals is appropriate for an occasion because material is not typically a distinguishing characteristic of their sandals. When considering the styles of sandals that will work best for an outfit, women may want to consider the style of the outfit. The heel of sandals is generally what differentiates the styles of sandals for women. Dress kitten heel sandals are versatile while high heel dress sandals are more suitable for dresses. Other dressy sandal styles for women include peep toe sandals, platform sandals, and slingback sandals. These styles are soft and feminine in appearance and feature a delicate heel. Baby Phat flip flop sandals and flat sandals by Clarks sandals do not have a heel. These styles are more fitting for jeans, shorts, or other casual outfits.

Match the Color

A final sandal selection method for an outfit is color. Women have so many choices when it comes to sandal color. It is also common to find sandals for women with several colors, such as Ecco sandals and the very unique sandal styles by Etnies.

At one time, sandals for men were mostly earthy in nature, such as brown or tan dress sandals. While these colors are still prevalent in dress sandals for men, there are now more colorful varieties for men. Timberland offers a colorful selection of dress sandals, including cognac and griege dress sandals. A word of caution is necessary for men when matching their outfit to their sandals. Before branching out into the newer more colorful sandals, men should also consider the occasion.

About the Author

Save money by shopping for discount sandals online. Browse the hottest brands including Reef sandals. Also shop online for red dress sandals.

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Nokia 8800 Sirocco Black: Simply Adorable..

Would you mind to have a mobile phone, which just not a mere device, but also adds a lot to your overall fashion statement? Obviously, you would love to have such a phone, and the Nokia 8800 Sirocco black duly fits into this category of fashion phones, for people who do care a lot about what they have. Well, the advent of the Nokia 8800 Sirocco black did a world of good to the prevalent image of the Nokia. Just within a short span of time, the Nokia 8800 Sirocco black gained huge popularity and emerged out as one of the most successful handsets from the Nokia. Thoroughly carved to entice you no end, the Nokia 8800 Sirocco black also scores well on the technology front, as it comes with various latest functionalities such as music, camera, multimedia and loads more – enough style with vital substance.

Each and every detail has been keenly finalised before achieving the final shape of the Nokia 8800 Sirocco black. Hence, this true enticer comes with a sleek metallic exterior with ultra smooth fine edges – just grab it and feel the difference. The Nokia 8800 Sirocco black is duly compatible in offering you a very good viewing experience and for that it comes with an intuitive TFT screen, which can support up to 256K colours. There is a scratch-resistant sapphire, which is wrapped over the screen to protect the fine look of the screen. Literally, the Nokia 8800 Sirocco black oozes with loads of style and attitude – to suit you better.

As far as compatible features are concerned, the Nokia 8800 Sirocco black is loaded with a 2.0 megapixel camera with a 8x digital zoom – just click and capture the world from different angles to experience to the fullest. Moreover, you can also capture all the moving action by capturing a video footage in 3GP format. If you feel like listening to music, then you can easily tune in to its radio to enjoy music unlimited. Furthermore, you can also challenge yourself with its Java enabled games.

The Nokia 8800 Sirocco black never lets you down, when it comes to connectivity, as this cool gizmo supports the tri-band network, which keeps you connected across the five continents without any interruptions. Moreover, you can also download all your favourite data as it supports the popular GPRS and EDGE technologies. Just make the most with this cool enticer to enjoy more.

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Nokia 8800 Sirocco Black

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Coach Tennis Shoes

Let met ask you a question. What do you think of when you here the word COACH. Do you think of a teacher. Or maybe a handbag. How about COACH Tennis Shoes? That came out of left field didn't it? Coach Tennis Shoes???? Most people would not even guess that COACH make anything else but handbags. But it is true Coach has a full line of Coach Tennis shoes to fit any taste.

I have to tell you, when I thought about Coach my first thought was handbags, but not sneakers. I knew that they made a hell of a bag but sneakers??? So, I had to find out for myself if there sneaker line was any good. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. Coach Tennis shoes are just as good as any other sneaker manufacturer. In other words the collection can go against the likes of NIKE or anyone else.

That says a lot. Especially when you speaking about tennis. Tennis is a very rigorous sport and have the right tennis shoes is a very big part of it. The shoes need to form fitting and comfortable and allow the wearer to move at a high rate of speed and allow them to stop on a dime if need be. The shoes also need to be flexible. Coach has taken all of these key point under advisement when they designed there tennis shoes.

Lets talk a little about fit. These shoes are said to be form fitting. Not allowing for much movement in the shoes. They have very comfortable cushioning bottoms with a narrow toe look.

Lets talk a little bit about quality. Coach has taken the same approach with there sneaker collection as with there handbag collection. Only deliver the best. This approach has allowed Coach to gain praise in the fashion industry. I say this because most people have not heard of the Coach tennis shoe collection. And they may think that the shoes are just for shoe. Lets put the rumor to rest. These shoes are not just for show, they are very functional for sports as well as casual use.

Lets talk about price. Coach Tennis shoes pricing is very comparable to high end NIKE sneakers. Some range in the $80 to $90 dollars. Some may be even more expensive. But, you pay for quality. If quality is not what you are looking for then I would not recommend that you take a look at these shoes. But if quality is what your looking for don't let the price move you. These shoes are prices just were they need to be.

If you have not taken a look at the Coach Tennis shoe line then you need to. You may be missing out on a great shoe.
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Save 20% to 30% on coach tennis shoes. Also check out coach outlet store for coach handbag reviews.

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Sandals for People With Orthopedic Foot Problems

When most people think of orthopedic footwear, the first thing that comes to mind is geriatric shoes in limited colors such as tan, beige, pearl gray and off-white. When planning your wardrobe for a fun vacation or trip to the beach, wearing orthopedic footwear is not on the top the list. Today, orthopedic footwear has made a huge strides in style. For example, you can purchase attractive looking orthopedic sandals to wear on the beach. In addition, orthopedic footwear comes in an assortment of colors that range from red to black and green to brown. So, you no longer have to compromise your level of comfort for fashionable footwear. 

Orthopedic flip flops

Orthopedic flip flops come in a variety of fashionable colors such as charcoal, black and even pink. Orthopedic flip flops also come with an adjustable sandal strap and even in Italian leather. In addition, many orthopedic flip flops have a removable insole with a Velcro closure to ensure a comfortable fit.

Shop for attractive orthopedic shoes online

The days of shopping for odd shoes or specialty shoes through the catalog is quickly becoming a thing of the past.  Just a few short years ago, if you needed to purchase odd shoes, you would wait for your catalog in the mail and purchase your shoes by calling the 800 number provided on your order form.  Due to high printing costs, many odd shoe shoppers would have to settle for a limited selection of shoes.  Today, that has all changed. You can shop online and search for an unlimited number of specialty shoes or odd shoes that fit.

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Danielle K. D. works for oddShoeFinder.com,free online websites that help mismatched footwear.If you are looking for different sized feet,different sized shoes,polio survivors group,diabetes foot problems,foot length difference, orthopedic shoes.For more detail visit: www.oddshoefinder.com & SEO Services

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