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By Sarah, May 4, 2009 7:21 pm

From time immemorial, wild animals have provided inspiration for artists. In Africa, this is typified by the rock art or “bushman paintings” of the ancient San people.

Today, with the ever-expanding world population encroaching each day on the natural habitat of wild animals, more and more species are under threat, with some now critically endangered. Fortunately there are many conservation-minded people around the world who realize the importance of preserving what’s left of our wildlife.

Included in this group is a growing number of artists who are turning their skills to wildlife art, for both environmental and commercial reasons.

From photo-realistic drawings to abstract paintings, there is now an awe-inspiring variety of wildlife art available. The best of this is priced accordingly, but that doesn’t mean all good wildlife art is beyond the budget of ordinary folk.

Thanks to advancing technology and falling production costs, outstanding reproductions in the form of fine art wildlife prints, posters, and photographs are readily available at affordable prices.

Superb wildlife images, captured by the world’s leading photographers, are now digitally printed on archival photographic paper, producing vivid, pure colors and exceptional detail.

Always popular among wildlife enthusiasts are elephant prints and posters, particularly the work of those artists and photographers who are skilled in accurately depicting Africa’s largest land mammal.

Like their domestic cousins, Big Cats – tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars – have an enthusiastic following. Fans of these wild felines are fortunate in that their favorite animals are also favored by photographers and artists, thus providing a riveting selection of wild cat fine art prints and posters from which they can choose.

Of course it’s most satisfying to have an original, signed print or photograph, but a first-class reproduction on good quality paper, tastefully matted and framed, will still add a touch of class to any home, den, or office.

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By Sarah, May 4, 2009 6:03 pm

Do you love Burberry designer cloths? but cannot afford them? – well look no further London is home to the Burberry Designer Outlet Hackney. 

Hackney is In East London and is easy to reach from the centre by tube bus or taxi there you will find this Mecca for Burberry lovers. Here you can buy clothes , accessories and shoes heavily reduced , thus allowing us mere mortals to buy into this luxurious brand. Christopher Bailey the head designer has been the power house behind the revival of this famously quintessential English brand. famous for the trench cost and the infamous Burberry check, the brand now is sought after by fashionistas and a list celebrities alike. 

They have produced some sought after items over the last few seasons including the studded tote bag from the Autumn Winter 2008 collection and the gravity defying platform.

Anyone who loved the  Burberry’s flares last season will love this Spring’s extreme version: the shrink-to-the-leg cheesecloth trouser that made a clever compromise between sheer leggings and a pant.  Bailey’s super-deluxe trenches, these have bee a main stay feature of his last three shows—also get an   update: dull steel-gray python, sometimes richly embellished with paillettes ( large sequins )  running up from the hem. 

But like I say if  the above all fall into the cannot afford but lust over the brand category take a trip to the Burberry outlet in East London and bag yourself a little slice of this amazing brand at a fraction of the price. So make haste for the Burberry designer outlet in Hackney East London as soon as possible.

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By Sarah, May 3, 2009 9:20 pm

Storefront rentals had been to be the only dominating market for 12+ years now when you wanted to rent video games, ever since the conception of the VCR. Many businesses have taken their company online due to the fact that startup costs are remarkably lower compared to storefront costs and they can virtually expand their business to an entire nation or worldwide within a few short months. Why not expand the same concept for movies and game rentals? It was only a matter of time. Rent Video Games

Depending on where you live and the geographics of that area, I can definately say that this will cause a great influence on where you choose to rent video games. Many rental companies can be found within a few miles of your home, but others are found at distances that you may not want to particularly travel everytime you need to return a game.

Fast and reliable service is a huge factor for most people living in the information age. Everything has to be now and fast these days. So lets look at a few factors that will help you make your decision a little easier. Convienance, games in stock, game formats, availability , pricing, and customer service are the general factors we take into consideration for any movie or game rental company. Wii Video Games

CONVIENANCE- If you live in a rural location, then, online game rentals is without a doubt your best bet. To travel anymore than 8 miles out of your way to rent anything is more than most people have time for. Being able to recieve your rentals at your doorstep, in the country, is a huge benefit to online game rentals.

If you live in more a a urban or suburban neighborhood, then locations of your nearest branch will determine this for you, but you can never truly beat games delivered to your front door everyday, even if you have one mile to travel. Being able to pickup your game in your pajamas or bath robe without getting dressed to go to your local store is laziness and convienance at its best.

GAMES IN STOCK – This can vary from store to store, but for the most part they are all about the same. Most larger stores (Hollywood Video and Blockbuster) can carry a stock of 50-100 games at a time. This number doesnt even come close to the stock of games that are carried by online rental clubs. We are looking at 2000 games at the very lowest on up to 3500 + games at the high end of the table. You are also more likely to find more older and newer games available to rent at anytime.

AVAILABILITY- I’ve never really felt like i’ve had too much of a choice when it comes to renting at stores. It was more of a deduction of what was left to choose from at the time you made it there. When it comes to online rentals, you can practically play any game that you ever wanted to play at anytime. There, of coarse are a few games from time to time that you may have a short wait attached, but during those times, you will easily be able to choose another game from the thousands listed. Once that particular sought after game is available, you will know about it whenever you log into your account, instantly.

GAMES FORMATS- Even though I have always thought that having PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube games available was quite a selection at the local rental stores, I didnt even know how good it could get until online rentals introduced their selection. Not only does online rentals contain the 3 major consoles, but they also have such portable game rentals as Gameboy Advance, PSP, and Nintendo DS. Many of the larger online stores are offering XBOX 360 and PS3 games as well for the next generation as soon as the consoles come out.

PRICING- Renting games has always been somewhat cheap ($5-$8), but it can definately add up depending on your rental frequency. If you are renting more than 5-6 a month, on top of late fees, which is bound to happen from time to time, then you may be out-of-pocket sooner than expected. Online rentals make it easy for you. Rent X amount of games and keep them as long as you want for only X amount. Game prices fluctuate from game plan to plan, but these prices are still far more lower than you’ll ever find at your local store. PS3 Video Games

CUSTOMER SERVICE- Waiting in lines and dealing with crowds and irritable employees to rent video games is enough to drive anyone mad. This in itself can make you not want to deal with your local rental store at any cost. On the other hand, online rentals do not have lines, crowded stores, or irritable employees to deal with, so that experience is elminated altogether! Just select a movie from your browser and wait 1-3 business days for delivery and thats it. If you ever have troubles or problems with recieving or returning games, email customer service and your inquiry will be returned within 24 hours. Some of these online rental companies even have phone support!

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By Sarah, May 3, 2009 2:29 pm

Introduction

When you think of the word ‘Balloons’ what ideas appear in your mind? Is it simple balloons you blow up for children’s parties, or balloons that fly off on their own, or the special balloons for key events like the ones produced for the wedding of Charles and Diana? There are now so many different types of balloons on the market that you can get almost anything for everything any event you like.

So what exactly is a balloon? One definition defines a balloon as a flexible bag which you fill with air or some other type of gas, such as helium or hydrogen. The early balloons would have been made with non flexible material but modern balloons are made with latex so they have great elasticity and can be pumped up to much larger sizes.

History of Balloons

The most primitive known balloons were made in Central and Southern America by the Aztec Indians. They were made out of the bowels of cats which were carefully cleaned then turned inside out. They were sewn with special vegetable thread that had the property of sticking to itself when dried in the sun and creating an almost airtight seal. The balloons were then made into air filled model animals and burned at the top of the Aztec pyramid as an offering to the sun god. (The first example of balloon modelling). A Portuguese priest, Bartolomeu de Gusmao, held the first public exhibition of a balloon in the Portuguese Court in Lisbon in 1709 which was probably made from an animal bladder that stretched when filled with air. The rubber balloon was invented in 1824 by a Michael Faraday and was filled with hydrogen to be used in his experiments with hydrogen. But the familiar latex balloon did not appear until 1847.

The early rubber balloons were sold in America in Parks and Circuses for a penny each. Although the latex balloon was manufactured in London in the mid 1800′s the mass production of them did not happen until much later in 1931.

As technology has become more advanced so has the world of balloons. Now balloons can be made from rubber, latex, polychloroprene or nylon. They can be filled with air, helium, hydrogen or water. Filling the balloon with air can be done with the mouth, a manual pump(such as a hand pump), or electric inflator or with compressed gas. The balloons are used for many differing purposes, and decorated in numerous ways to suit the occasion.

Some balloons are purely for decoration, others are ideal for individual functions because of their low density and relatively low cost. The balloon’s properties have led to them being used in a wide range of other applications in the areas of meteorology, military defense, medical treatment, and transportation.

Types of Balloons

Party Balloons

The most common and familiar types of balloons are the party balloons. These are usually bought in small packets and blown up with a pump, some advertising balloons are used to create a festive scene for children’s parties and other kinds of celebratory events where they can make all the difference.

These days I often see a cluster of balloons at the entrance to a house or hall to indicate where the party is being held. The balloons come in many different sizes and colours and can have printing on the face which expands as the balloon is inflated. Party Balloons are mostly made of natural latex tapped from rubber trees. The rubber’s elasticity makes the volume variable. Balloons filled with air usually hold their size and shape much longer.

Helium Balloons

Balloons which float upwards are filled with the gas helium which is lighter than air. So for an event where balloons are let off into the atmosphere, they will need to be helium balloons. Helium filled rubber balloons normally only retain their buoyancy for a few days. The enclosed helium atoms are smaller than the pores in the latex through which they escape. To increase the float time of a helium balloon for a week or more, the inside of the balloons can be coated with a special polymer solution to reduce the leakage of the helium.

Water Balloons

The water balloons are often smaller than regular balloons and made from thin rubber so that they can be easily broken. They are filled with water and are intended for children to throw at each other as a game or practical joke with the aim of getting each other soaked. They may also be used in competitions or games.

Foil Balloons

In the late 1970s along came the foil balloon. These are made of thin non-stretch metalized plastic film or mylar. They are much more expensive and made an appearance at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana causing quite a stir. These balloons have attractive shiny reflective surfaces and can be printed with color pictures, logos and patterns to customize them. The most important property of metalized nylon for balloons is its ability to keep the helium gas from escaping for several weeks because it is less permeable. Foil balloons then have the advantage of being light weight, longer-lasting, with increased buoyancy. They are perfect for parties, in-store decorations, special celebrations and for gifts.

Animal-Shaped Balloons

Metalized nylon balloons can be cut into the three dimensional shapes of animals and then printed to represent the chosen animal. Once inflated the balloons make very bright, decorative items for gifts or may be used as a theme for a special event. Screen printing is used to create the designs for these spectacular pieces.

Balloon Modelling and Balloons in Art

Balloon modelling is a popular entertainment for children and adults alike. A Balloon artist twists and ties inflated tubular balloons into shapes resembling animals or even people. Sometimes they are called balloon sculptures, not to be confused with those cited below. When I have watched these artists at work I have often wondered why the balloons don’t burst when they are working.

Obviously the type of Latex used for balloon sculptures is different and much stronger than ordinary balloons, so the sculptor can twist and tie the shapes without them bursting. These Latex balloons which are tubular, are hard to get going, so often a pump is used to get them started.

Balloon Sculptures

Professional party decorators may use hundreds of helium balloons to create balloon sculptures. These sculptures are often constrained because of the round shape of the balloons to simple arches or walls but on occasion more ambitious “sculptures” have been attempted. Sometimes balloons are used as table decorations for special events which will have 3 or 5 balloons to each bouquet. The decoration will usually include curled ribbon with an added weight to stop the balloons from floating away.

Professional balloon party decorators use electronic equipment to enable the exact amount of helium to fill the balloon. For non-floating balloons air inflators are used. Professional quality balloons differ from most retail packet balloons as they are bigger in size and made from 100% biodegradable latex.

Balloon Drops

I am sure you will have been to a party or dance where at the end of the evening hundreds of balloons fall from the ceiling to mingle amongst the participants. This is known as a balloon drop and is often performed at New Year’s Eve celebrations or at political rallies and conventions. It is a relatively low cost way of creating a festive atmosphere at the party climax, so everyone goes away feeling they have had a really good time.

If you want to create a balloon drop for your own event you will need to set up a large plastic bag or net overhead, which is suspended at a certain height. This is then filled with air-inflated balloons so that they will fall onto the target area below when the balloons are released. You will also need to create a mechanism for releasing the balloons. Balloon drops may also be performed at many celebrations, including graduations and weddings.

Balloon Rockets

As a child I am sure you played the game of blowing up a balloon then letting it go while watching it speed around the room making a rude noise with everyone falling about laughing. These are called balloon rockets and I remember being enthralled and wondering how they worked. When the mouth of the balloon is released, the greater pressure of air inside forces its way out and the elasticity of the balloon contracts causing the balloon to be propelled forward. This is fundamentally how a rocket works. The balloon can also be filled with gases other than air, with similar results. Besides being simple toys, balloon rockets are a widely used teaching device to demonstrate physical principles and the functioning of a rocket. The balloon rocket is frequently used to demonstrate Newton’s third law in physics.

Balloon Publicity

How do you find the requisite balloons for a major fund raising event? There are companies who specialise in printing a company logo or message onto balloons like your local UK balloon delivery agent and can produce them in large quantities to be delivered directly to the venue.

Balloon Releases

In Australia they had a fund raising event on 18th April for Make-A-Wish Day. The 5,000 released balloons make a stunning sight as they rise across the bay marking the number of wishes granted since 1985.

If you are planning a balloon release or race of more than 5,000 balloons, it is a requirement that you apply in writing for permission to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) at least 28 days in advance. The CAA also like to be informed of balloon releases up to 5,000. A form can be obtained by calling either the NABAS office on 01989 762 204 or the Airspace Utilisation Section of the CAA on 020 7453 6599

Because of concerns about the bearing on the environment of large numbers of balloons being released, the NABAS – The Balloon Association have produced a code of conduct which can be found on their website at www.nabas.co.uk

Safety and Environmental Concerns

Balloons are made of natural rubber latex (NRL) which is a natural product coming from rubber trees that are grown in certain areas of the tropics. These are not trees that are cut down to produce the NRL. The NRL is obtained by tapping from mature trees and is a sustainable crop providing employment for many agricultural workers in some of the poorest areas of the world.

As a consequence of NRL cultivation and the consumption of latex products, the planting and maintenance of rubber tree plantations helps towards the prevention of tropical rainforest deforestation. This contributes significantly to the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, produced by industrialised nations and a major source of global warming.

Research shows that latex balloons which are completely natural coming from the Hevea tree degrade faster than oak leaves. Oxidation occurs first in the breakdown of latex and it begins within 60 minutes of a balloon being inflated. As the decaying process is by natural exposure nutrients are released into the soil. Most balloons used in releases today are made of bio-degradable latex.

An estimated 90/95% of balloons released rise to an altitude of 5 miles, at which height the cold will cause the balloon to become brittle and shatter into miniscule pieces. The small fragments then floating back to earth to degrade in the ground. Balloon fragments are unlikely to cause harm if accidentally ingested. This is because latex and the dyes used in latex colouring are non-toxic.

Printed latex balloons are a fantastic, low-cost and environmentally friendly way of advertising at promotions and events. All latex balloons supplied by B-Loony, the UK’s largest printed balloon manufacturer, are completely biodegradable. The code of conduct produced by NABAS for balloon releases gives advice to ensure the protection of our environment.

Manufacture of Balloons

Balloons are manufactured by their millions every day in many countries. The rubber is collected as liquid from a rubber tree and then sent to the factories where the liquid goes through a series of treatment processes. These processes include shaping and colouring operations and testing for quality. The end products are thousands balloons which provide a splash of colour and party atmosphere at celebrations and conferences or any event where a large number of people gather.

Conclusion

Toy balloons have been a source of pleasure and excitement throughout the world for many years. They have provided hours of entertainment and interest for children as well as being an educational resource. Non toy Balloons are being used for science, medicine and travel and are invaluable in helping us to learn about our world. Balloons I am sure will remain very alive and active on the world’s scene for many years to come.

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By Sarah, May 2, 2009 6:20 pm

Metal lunchboxes nowadays considered as antique items. Come to think of it, there’s not much to a school lunch box. It’s made of metal, and comes in a popular design of a favorite cartoon or a popular toy. Makers keep updated by featuring the trendiest sports figure on the lunch box design.

What makes for a antique lunch box is the quality. Hobbyists of the antique lunchbox has a set of requirements. It should still be usable, not too damaged, maybe with some rust. And most importantly, it should have an eye-catching design.

Among the favorite antique lunch boxes are those of old comics like Scooby-doo, and TV shows like A-Team, movie personalities Pele, or movies like Return of the Jedi.

Sad to say that increasingly more lunch boxes are now made of plastic. It’s very possible that soon, metal lunch boxes would be obsolete. Though the boxes are constructed from relatively flimsy metal, it does not necessarily follow that they dent easily. On the contrary, metal lunch boxes are kid-tested and enduring.

A lot of people collect the metal vintage lunchbox for display. But there are a lot more who collect antique lunch boxes because of the memories they had from their kiddie days. It’s fun reminiscing about the regular apple for school lunch. It does bring back memories.

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By Sarah, May 2, 2009 5:00 pm

Open air and a glimpse of new season on the horizon, we could have done what ever we imagined that time, but what else could you desire to do. abundance of time, an simple few days in front of us and a lot less to stress about, now that Jerry had picked up the children from the house for us. So, off we went into the large blue sky.

Just one detail remains, where were those Ray Ban metal aviator sunglasses? Wendy, have you noticed my shades? No honey, I haven’t. Where did you observe them last? I thought they were in the inside pocket of my jacket, but plainly there not. Dang! Ok, no cause to get bent out of form here. I recall seeing them in the console of the truck then I thought I put them in their covering and then in my jacket pocket.

Hmmm. Ok, the Jeep. I’ll be right back babe. Ok. Wait a second honey, don’t you have a set in the plane? Yeah, but there not my better ones. Ok. It will just be a minute. Ok. Keys, there they are. Glove box? Nope. Console? Ah hah! Man, I must be getting old. Oh well. These are the best designer aviator sunglasses we have found. Well, they look great on you. Thanks sugar.

Go ahead and get in, I have to walk the plane. I know honey, how many events have we done this already. Sorry, habit. Ok, everything looks good. Alright, how do I do this again? I’m joking sugar, just joking. Ok, here goes.

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By Sarah, May 2, 2009 4:47 pm

One of the less enjoyable things in life is the need to carry insurance, especially since purchasing it involves a lot of research and shopping around.  Here are some tips on what to look for when purchasing auto and car insurance.

Everyone has to have it, but few really understand it.  Auto and car insurance often seem like a hassle rather than a protection, but regardless of your attitude toward it, it is a “necessary evil”.  It is important to understand how insurance works, as well as the requirements per law, so that you are ready when it comes time to use your insurance.

The premium you pay for auto and car insurance is based on the amount of coverage you want and the risk factor taken up by the insurance provider based on your age, your vehicle, and your driving record.  There are a few other factors, but these are all minor and related to these major components.  In essence, if you have a history of citations, accidents, or theft, your premium will be higher because you will be seen as a higher risk for coverage.  The same is true of young, inexperienced drivers, as well as autos that are older and more likely to break down.

The way that auto and car insurance functions is through the use of collective funds.  You and other policy holders pay premiums that are lumped into one sum to be used by the insurance provider to cover incidents for all parties.  For example, if you have only paid in $600 worth of premiums but total your car and need to make use of the full $40,000 on your policy, the insurance agency must pull the money from somewhere.  The premiums raised from all policies are used to cover such issues, gambling on the probability that there will not be a flood of claims at the same time (much like the way banks use money to provide loans).

Premiums are set for auto and car insurance also based on the area in which you live (based on averages and additional risks due to statistics from your area) it’s called Auto Insurance Commerce.  For example, in high traffic areas such as Los Angeles and Houston, you are likely to pay more for your insurance than in Amarillo, Texas, which has a much smaller population and fewer cars on the road, providing less chance of an accident.

There are ways to save on the cost of your auto and car insurance and you may get the auto insurance lowest price available just look around  the Internet.  You can increase your deductibles, decrease your coverage to the minimum state requirements, dismiss optional coverage, and take advantage of good driver discounts.  Many companies will offer discounts for keeping a clean driving record for a certain amount of time and may increase discounts for alarm system installation and driver safety courses.  For young drivers, discounts are often given for good grades (maintaining an A or B average).

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By Sarah, May 2, 2009 4:02 pm

If your children are born healthy, it’s your responsibility as a parent to ensure they stay that way. Some things, of course, are unpreventable, but childhood obesity is definitely something that is avoidable. It takes good parenting on your part to teach your children how to prevent childhood obesity, to teach them childhood obesity facts and to teach them good food and exercise habits. It’s not difficult to prevent childhood obesity. As long as you set the foundation early, your child will grow up to be a healthy adult with a healthy body weight and a great outlook on life.

Why Prevent Childhood Obesity?

We live in a society where obesity is a growing problem, no pun intended. Obesity is steadily rising with children as well; and it’s no wonder why. Just walking into your local supermarket will make it painfully obvious. There are rows and rows of sugary cereals and other sugary junk foods that are all marketed for children. Then there are the fast food restaurants that also add to the problem. Childhood obesity increases your child’s risk for acquiring diabetes as well as other diseases, it can lead to bullying at school and shunning from their peers and it can lead to depression as well as low self esteem. These are just some of the reasons why you, as a parent, should teach your child to make good choices as far as their diet and exercise are concerned. So now that you know why you should prevent childhood obesity, you may be wondering how to prevent it.

Teach Your Child Good Habits

Preventing child obesity all comes down to teaching your child good diet and exercise habits. This starts at home. Eat as many meals with your child as possible. Teach them that sugary foods and junk foods are not good for them. They don’t have to refrain from eating these types of foods but they should be taught that these foods are treats. Treats should be just that, they should not be the main staple of their diets. Teach them the importance of including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein in their diets. Encourage your kids to exercise. Get them involved in sports and other extra curricular activities and limit the time they spend indoors, as well as the time they spend lounging around watching TV. If you spend teach them these good habits and give them encouraging words as far as how good they’re going, you’ll avoid childhood obesity and they’ll carry these good habits well into their adult lives.

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By Sarah, May 2, 2009 3:22 pm

In addition to anti aging and longevity, there is increasing evidence to support the claim that Resveratrol might increase the ability to fight retroviruses like HIV and herpes simplex, as well as extend exercise tolerance and help reduce memory loss.

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By Sarah, May 1, 2009 4:45 pm

Every golf player, mediocre or professional, requires golf bags. Golf bags are the ultimate golfing addition apart from the polished clubs or preppy garments. This important golfing paraphernalia helps you organize your golf balls, clubs, gloves, towels, markers, tees, extra clothing, umbrellas and water bottles.

Owning a particular golf bag doesn’t automatically make you the next Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus but it will surely have a huge outcome on your playing outlook by providing comfort and ease. As golf is a game that both use intellectual and physical concentration. During the whole game, you want to be peaceful and unruffled. A pink golf bag should help achieve a Nirvana like atmosphere by systematizing your clubs and balls for your utmost convenience.

There are in fact three types of golf bags. These are the carry, cart and staff bags. The carry golf bag is the smallest and most lightweight among the three. It is frequently made from plastic, nylon and other light materials. Carry bags are designed for golfers who prefer carrying their own bags. Cart bag are slightly bulkier than the carry bags. They are meant to be place in golfing carts because they are quite hard to drag around the green. Staff bags are the biggest and most expensive among all golf bags. They are also the roomiest because they can carry an intact set of golf clubs and can contain other golf accessories because of its numerous side pockets. This type of golf bag is a must-have for all professional golfers. Though heavy and bulky, weight is never an question for staff bags are often carried by caddies.

In selecting golf bags, let your thoughts run wild for they are available in different wonderful colors and fabrics. Step up your game. Start with buying sturdy and functional golf bags.

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By Sarah, May 1, 2009 1:53 pm

Introduction

Swimwear is the term used for garments designated for swimming and beach wear. It has gradually changed over the years from the bulky garments used to completely cover the body into the selection of brief pieces of fabric arranged to expose as much as possible of the body.

Finding the right sort of swimwear is not always that easy especially if you do not have a large budget. There is an enormous variety of body sizes and shapes for both men and women and correspondingly there are an enormous variety of outfits ranging from the very cheap to the very expensive.

Fashion Dictates

If it was just a case of having a bathing costume to wear when going swimming and replacing it when it had worn out, life would be relatively easy. But there is the matter of fashion. Every year the makers come up with a different style so that the previous year’s model suddenly looks old fashioned and we feel compelled to buy a new one. As purchasers we are confronted with one piece swimsuits, two piece swimwear, some with long tops, some with skimpy tops, high leg cut, high waist cut, different cup sizes, in a variety of fabrics, colours, patterns, two tone and so on. The choice is endless.

History of Swimwear

The earliest recorded bathing costume was in 350 BC in Greece which was a toga-like garment for bathing. During the 18th century people visited spa resorts for their health where they spent time in the spa waters. Naturally they needed something suitable to wear, other than their day clothes, when they were engaged in public bathing. Later the recreation of beach bathing demanded a specially made outfit to maintain decorum and decency, so the bathing suit was developed.

Initially the swimwear was rather like ordinary daywear, and the dresses worn by the women sometimes had lead weights sewn into the hems to prevent the skirts from floating up. As the expansion of the railways enabled the masses to spend time at the seaside a more practical type of outfit was required. By the early 1900′s the swimsuit consisted of bloomers with black stocking and shoes, and the top was like a jacket belted at the waist. Swimming was considered suitable for men, while women were assisted into the water for a short dip.

Over the century attitudes changed and swimming became an Olympic sport for both men and women. Gradually the swimming costume changed to adopt short capped sleeves and more ankle was exposed beneath the bloomers. As women became more active in the water the swimming costume needed to be less cumbersome so the neckline was lowered and the tops became sleeveless. Eventually the Princess cut was introduced which consisted of the trousers attached to a blouse in one piece.

In 1909 Annette Kellerman, the Australian swimmer, film star and author, made history when she was credited for wearing the first 1 piece ladies swimwear suit resulting in her arrest for indecency, however by 1910 “Annette Kellermans” became the new accepted ladies swimwear.

From then on the swimsuits became lighter and briefer. By the 1920′s the women wore figure hugging tank suits made from wool Jersey and by 1928 they had evolved into the swimsuit we would recognise today. In the 1930′s cotton was introduced for bathing suits sometimes with little overskirts to hide bulky thighs, but film stars wore fashionable figure hugging costumes with higher cut legs sealing the fate of the fashionable swimwear.

The corset manufacturers in the 1940′s saw that women with less than perfect figures needed swimsuits to hide or control the bulges, so seeing a gap in the market they produced costumes which had control panels for the tummy and bra cups and bones to give support to the bust. Using the practice applied in corset making they introduced the stretch factor to bathing costumes so that they were more flattering than ever before.

With the development of synthetic fabrics, Nylon and Lycra became the fabric of choice for swimwear because of their stretch properties. This meant that the costume could be pulled on without openings or fastenings and gave a firmer cleaner line to the figure. Women continued to wear all in one swimsuits until the 1950′s when the bikini became popular.

Leisure Swimming or Sunbathing

Although certain items are called swimwear, in fact some never get near the water. They are solely for sunbathing which usually means they are as small as possible, just barely covering the essential bits so that the skin gets maximum exposure to the sun and such a design would be classed as a bikini.

Two Piece or Bikinis

Over two thousand years ago early mosaics and pottery from Greece depict what in fact looks like an early version of a bikini. These garments were used by women performers and acrobats and were in two pieces to cover the breasts and the lower part of the body, much like the current style of Bandeau tops. Modern day runners and athletes wear something very similar when competing. Paula Radcliffe when running the Marathon last year, wore a garment almost identical to those worn thousands of years ago!!

The bikini resembles women’s underwear and has been described as a scanty two piece bathing suit. The lower part may be two small triangles attached together with a string tie at either side, or even a thong. The upper part may also be two small triangles attached together with a string tie but arranged in a slightly different order. Louis Reard patented the new version of the bikini in 1946; his design was similar to the skimpy string 1970′s bikini and it shocked the world when it appeared on French beaches in 1947.

The very first bikini shown in the cinema was in the Bond film Dr No when Ursula Andress rises out of the sea in a white bikini. This created the iconic Bond girl and made her world famous. When being interviewed on television recently she revealed that the bikini had been constructed out of a bra covered with the fabric to give her the required lift of the bosom. This actual bikini sold at auction for £35,000 in 2001.

As the craze for getting a good tan reached its zenith in the 1980′s and nineties bikinis became skimpier than ever.

Ultimately the top part of the bikini was abandoned altogether when topless sunbathing became the norm in some countries and the bottom was just a G-string or thong also called a Tanga. Oliver Saillard the fashion journalist states that the bikini is the most popular female beachwear in the world, and that the emancipation of swimwear is linked to the emancipation of women.

In the 1950′s there was a popular song entitled ‘In My little Itsy Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ that indicated the acceptance of the new style of swimwear. I remember my cousin persuading me to try on a bikini and I felt very exposed but she said how fantastic I looked in it because I was so slim.

Although the bikini is now an acceptable garment whatever the size, the one piece swimsuit is still the best for serious swimmers. Some businesses are well known for their skill at making swimwear and make all the garments for the Olympic team and other swimming competitions. Now swimwear is available in a wide range of bust sizes and the more expensive makes have control panels for the stomach combined with clever styling to create a good silhouette. Combined with a matching sarong, older ladies may feel more comfortable when walking around the beach area.

Helen Mirren was photographed on holiday in her substantial bikini last summer with the caption commenting on how good she looked for her age and that particular bikini was snapped up from the stores within days. Perhaps the purchasers believed that they could look as good as Helen Mirren in a bikini if they had the same one.

Leg Line

Some two piece bathing suits are cut so that the waist is high and the related leg line is also cut high. I believe the aim is to make the wearer look as though her legs are much longer than they are. However if you have less than the perfect shape for this style it can emphasise large hips so it’s not for all women.

Another fashion mode is the tankini where the bottoms look like little shorts and shows the lower curve of the bottom, which is fine if you are young with a nice pert bottom.

An exciting development in swimwear clothing is the tankini such as those available from Ted Baker, Fantasie, Moontide, Freya and Lisa Ho who even produce an underwired design.

The classic bikini style is still as popular as ever though, with the cut of the leg line following the natural crease between the leg and the hip.

The most recent development in fabric is the ‘tan through’ swimwear. This allows the body to tan without exposing the body to the world. Some commentators on this style point to the effects of too much sun on the body and the occurrences of skin cancer of which the evidence indicates an alarming increase. However, the counter argument to that is if you are wearing a bikini anyway then the extra exposure to the sun through the top and bottom garments is hardly going to make much difference.

Conclusion

Swimwear is a term used these days to cover all types of beach wear and swimming gear. It is a bit of a misnomer in that many outfits never see the water and are not used for swimming. However there is a huge range of garments available for the purchaser of different styles, sizes and fabrics. The one commonality of course is that everyone wants to look good once they don these garments. The main key to that is to make sure your new swimwear is the right fit and cut, for your body size and shape.

The importance of being properly measured for your swimwear is often overlooked but it is as important as being properly measured for your bra or other underwear, particularly if you do indeed intend to actually swim in your new swimwear! By wearing the right size and style swimwear for your body, will ensure you are really comfortable in it on the beach, in the pool or wherever else you choose to wear it.

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By Sarah, May 1, 2009 1:03 pm

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