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How to Choose a Petite Dress to Suit You

The art of dressing for the Petite Figure

For petite figures, that is women 5′4″ and under, get a fitted dress that shows off your figure. Try out petite ranges in stores and online, these have been made specially for the petite figure, so have a much better fit. Try some
vintage clothes stores, as these tend to be full of great petite buys.

When choosing a dress, choose something which has just one colour, and best to choose dark colours, this will give you a streamlined effect. To elongate your body, choose a dress with a short skirt and make sure you wear a pair of heels as this is the biggest thing you can do to make yourself taller! Keep things simple for the most amazing effect.

Here are a few tips:

• Keep prints in proportion to you figure, no bigger then the palm of your hand, otherwise you will look like a clown.
• Wear 3/4 sleeves, on dresses, shirts and jumpers.
• Avoid too much jewelry, or at least heavy jewellery.
• When layering, wear light weight materials like cotton, linen and especially silks.
• Wear monochromatic colours.
• When wearing separates avoid contrasting colours such as a navy skirt and a white top, go for an all-in-one colour way.
• Keep in mind that the more fitted the look, the more flattering it will be.

If you are petite, then there are many options for you but the best is something figure-hugging and knee length.

For further tips and ideas for how to choose and co-ordinate your clothes, visit Petite dresses

This article was submitted by Alissa Carter, owner of Dress Search website, ideas for special occasion dresses & evening wear.

Top 3 Reasons Why Wool is Back in Style

Let me let you in on a little secret. Wool is back (actually it never really left, as you’ll see below). Wool has been around for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. It still is a major industry in a lot of countries around the world (Australia and New Zealand come to mind), and it’s used in sweaters, socks and general fabrics. People have been wearing wool for style and warmth for generations. wool has come back into style in recent years and shows no sign of waning. Let’s take a look at the top 3 reasons why wool is now as cool as ever.

1)Retro. Back in the 80s, everybody was into the wool look. The stuffed up L.L. Bean preppy style was “in” and any fan of the 80s teen flicks knows that it was the decade of the wool sweater. All those college films seemed to make their characters sport wool as mandatory attire.

2)Movie Stars. You may have noticed that some of your favorite celebrities have been wearing wool in recent photos. Much like the trucker hat phenomenon of a few years ago, wool sweaters have become cool again (they are in with the “in crowd”) and you can see the trend setters wearing them. Movie stars and general celebrities often start trends which the rest of the population mimics. When its hot with the stars, it quickly becomes hot with the rest of the country (and often the world). Wool clearly is no exception.

3)It never really left. For a certain element of the population, notably skiiers and outdoors people, wool is a simple necessity of life. Wool socks can keep even the coldest of skiiers warm from frigid outside temperatures. Most of us don’t think about this because more than ½ of us live in cities these days and the southern and southwestern cities have become huge population centers. After all, do most of us really want to live in the cold year round? Judging by the demographics and population shift, the answer is clearly no.

Wool is hear to stay. Learn all about wool and how to get a good deal on your next wool purchase: whatever it is.

Amy Metz is author of “The Wool Guide.” Pick up your copy at http://www.discoverwool.com.

Look Like a Princess with Ball Gowns

If you have read the story of Cinderella, then you know that ball gowns are critical to every fairytale fantasy. This is just one of the indications that choosing the right attire for a special occasion is an important task indeed. You’ll surely find a gown for a ball that’s just perfect for your shape or size. You should not try to be trendy or hip when selecting one because a gown should to reflect the most feminine part of your personality. Ball gowns have the classic large bell shaped bottom, but the bodices can vary widely.

There are some things that you should consider when choosing a gown for a ball. Maybe you want to create an impression of wealth and elegance through your gown. The material is the first thing you want to pay attention to if you want the elegant well-to-do look. Some designers create gowns that have lace bodices with skirts of other materials while some have the entire gown of the same fabric.

The truly classical ball gowns are made of satin, and impart a sense of wealth and grace. Materials that do not occur in nature can provide a modern twist to the gown. For instance, metallic materials constructed from silk thread over polyester will shimmer in all lights. If your gown is rich in fabric, then cotton won’t do at all. You should choose translucent or shiny materials if there are many curves and dips in the material of the skirt.

The next issue that should be addressed is the cut of the gown. The cut you choose depends on whether you’re going for a classical look or a modern one. The classical look is best suited to those with prominent curves and well defined figures. Classical ball gowns are usually off-the-shoulder, have cap sleeves, and have an accompanying sash or shoulder wrap. These gowns usually are laced or buttoned, not zipped.

Classical ball gowns usually have a matching bodice and skirt. The waist is also slightly cinched, with the hooks concealed in the back. The bust line is decorated with folds of material that match the shoulder sash. The bodice should have some kind of embellishment, like embroidery or an embossed print.

The modern styled ball gowns may be the best pick for you if you are a thin or petite woman. There are modern styles that have a tank top with spaghetti straps and zipper in the back. This style can detract the appearance of a fuller woman but is flattering to very thin or petite women. Modern ball gowns usually have lace tops which contrasts with the smooth material of the bell shaped bottom. Although faux fur sashes are sometimes used, these styles usually aren’t accompanied by shoulder sashes.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Ball Gowns. Visit our site for more helpful information about Evening Gowns Patterns and other similar topics.

Motorcycle Jackets

Several countries require motorcyclists to wear protective clothing. This may include helmets, jackets, pants, gloves and boots. This is done mainly to protect the motorcycle rider from serious injury in case of an accident. Motorcycle jackets are a common piece of protective clothing worn by riders and are generally made of tough materials such as leather, nylon or Kevlar. Compared to fashion jackets, these jackets are heavier, thicker, and often include an extra layer of heavy padding on the elbow, spine and shoulder regions.

Ross Langlitz, a resident of Portland, Oregon, invented the classic American motorcycle jacket with epaulets and diagonal zipper in 1946. This jacket became highly popular after it was worn by Marlon Brando in the movie, The Wild One (1954).

Besides offering protection from serious injuries, some motorcycle jackets also provide protection from the weather elements. A motorcyclist is often exposed to chilly winds and rain. Ordinary jackets offer little or no protection in bad weather, whereas motorcycle jackets are waterproof and do not allow wind chills to affect the rider.

Leather motorcycle jackets are usually made from buffalo, cow or elk hide and vary in thickness. Compared to leather jackets, protective motorcycle jackets made of man-made material such as nylon and Kevlar are becoming increasingly popular, due to their ability to offer better protection from heat, cold and rain. These jackets can have more pockets and vents, offering greater utility and more comfort, especially in summer.

Trail bike riders usually prefer to wear a range of plastic armor to protect against injury from falling off, collision with other riders and running into track barriers. This armor helps protect a rider from suffering fractures, spinal injuries and other serious injuries of a similar nature.

Jackets provides detailed information on Jackets, Leather Jackets, Life Jackets, Motorcycle Jackets and more. Jackets is affiliated with Men’s Jeans.