Let’s get right to it on sizing first. Prices will vary from location to location but in our area we generally size a ring down for $23. To size up starts at $28 and there is $10 added for each size after the first size. Keep in mind, the width of the rings will affect the price somewhat. The difference will not break the bank, but be prepared for a higher charge for a wide ring band.

What to ask the jeweler or how to be prepared when going to the store? Ok, I will offer a few suggestions which might help you here. First of all, have fingers measured and get an estimate of the price to resize the rings. Then, ask if the jeweler thinks any stones might be loosened in the sizing process and what the charge might be to retighten the stones. This part is important!

I have not seen your rings but depending on the resizing needed and the method by which the stones are set, loosening is possible in sizing down. When rings are sized up, loosening of stones can happen but is generally not the case. Since yours need to go up, loosening is likely not to happen but ask anyway.

When done well, the cleaning, polishing, etc. is simply part of the resizing process. You don’t really need to ask anything about that. Still, you might ask if the sizing “will show”, a common question from many repair and sizing customers who have not used us before.

Altering the rings you have to white and not having the stones put into new white settings means one approach: “Rhodium plating”. To rhodium plate is a fairly straight forward procedure but you might ask for a heavy plate, heavier than usually done for white gold rings.

Since these are yellow and the life of the plating will depend on the thickness of the plate, ask for a double plating or simply that the rings be given a heavy plate. This means keeping the rings in the plating solution longer than usual or doing the job twice. Generally, to refinish and rhodium plate a ring will run about $40 in our area. If we size the rings, the finishing is done already and we would likely rhodium plate for about $25 to $30.

Please keep in mind that even the very hard and inert rhodium will wear off in time. How long will the white color last? That depends on wear and what is encountered in everyday life. If you laid bricks the life span would be much, much less than if you do “white collar” work and perhaps somewhere in between if a homemaker. Give it at least 6 months for a basic plate and longer when your hands are not constantly repeating the same things with the same contact to the rings each day.

Yes, a good jeweler is the first requisite. Look for a reputable business with an “in-house” jeweler ,on the premises. If you are really concerned or have a “gentle nudge” from somewhere inside that the conversations at the store are not totally right, ask if you can see a ring they have resized. This is not too much to ask but might surprise a sales person! Look at the ring and see if the work looks like no work was done at all. That is how it should look, with no sanding marks inside the ring and no obvious places where the ring was soldered. All should be finished well, both the bottom and the top of the ring.

Just a side note: Yes, be certain the store has a bench jeweler, the one who actually does the work, in the store. Today, two ladies came in and wanted an engagement ring refinished to look like new for the wedding. We asked where the ring came from and why they did not use that store to do the work, perhaps for no charge while we needed to charge for the work.They said, “They don’t seem to know what they are doing”. Turns out, the ring came from a large and reputable department store. The jewelry sold there is just fine.

But, the rings are sent out to some local person for all the sizing work. This ring was platinum and the work was, well, in a nice way the work was simply terrible! Either the “trade shop” jeweler didn’t know how to work platinum or simply worked “volumes of jobs” with little concern for the final finish! We told them the refinishing work would have to include redoing the sizin, simply because the sizing place on the ring stood out and was discolored, with pits and holes in that area.

We could not refinish peoperly without doing the sizing over! The inside of the ring looked like a rough file was the last finishing step. This was atrocious work. The ladies did not know the difference and many customers do not know that either.

The department store is a good one and the jewelry department sells good items but the “farmed out work” was bad. So, look for a reputable store with the jeweler in the store.This keeps all responsibility for the work in one location. Having to go out to a different store and have your ring done over because it was not done right the first time is not something that I would have liked to do.

A lot of the jewelry stores that work out of department stores don’t always have a jeweler in it, so please make sure that you ask before you get anything at the jewelry store. That way you have yourself money if you have to take your ring to another store to be done right.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.4EngagementRing.info/. 4EngagementRing.info is the best place to buy engagement rings, wedding rings, and diamond rings. Browse through our selection of wedding jewelry and engagement rings here: http://www.4EngagementRing.info/category/wedding-jewelry.html.

Technorati Tags: farmed out work, platinum, ring, in-house jeweler, resized, white collar, rhodium plate

A number of gemstones occur in blue colors with various depths of color and hues. A few gemstones are found with close to the deep blue of the earth from space. The one gemstone I believe is the closest to the color you suggested is Lapis Lazuli. Since many commercially available semi-precious gems are dyed and otherwise treated to create colors in the stone materials, I will first describe stones which occur naturally in deep blue colors.

Lapis Lazuli is a gemstone from use since ancient times. Think of some of the blues used by the ancien egyptians who used both lapis and blue glass in ornamentation. This is a “massive” gemstone, meaning it is not in clear crystals but rather made of many small particles bonded together.

The best deep purple blue comes from Afghanistan and is very close to the ocean color. Recently, a form called “denim lapis” has been offered but this is the grayish light blue material which was rejected as poor quality years ago. Some of the lighter and more gray grades of lapis come from Chile.

“Gem grade” lapis is not a precious stone but will not be inexpensive. Gem grade is the richest of color, generally without pyrite (fools gold) showing and pure color across the cut gem. Some people consider pure dark blue lapis without the sparkles of pyrite the best while others give equal value to pure dark blue stones with a uniform and eye-pleasing display of pyrite.

The pyrite in lapis gives a golden twinkle from each speck of this fools gold. Going a bit down in quality, lapis with the pure dark blue color may have white streaks. These stones will look something like your suggested photograph with the clouds added to the blue.

The more the lapis varies from the pure dark blue the lower the value becomes. The so-called “denim lapis” is a marketing term used to sell this stone. Personally, though much lower in price than higher grades, the mix of nice “denim” material works well in less costly jewelry and is pretty attractive. The material is colored something like stone washed blue jeans and I suppose that is where the name “denim lapis” originated. “Sodalite” is close to the color of lapis but generally more blackish with variations with white material in the rock.

“Lazulite” is an uncommon mineral which forms crystals of an intense deep blue. This is not a semi-precious stone and is of more interest to mineral collectors. Lazulite is the mineral giving Lapis its rich color. Another mineral collectors choice is “azurite”, a deep blue mineral which is not a semi-precious stone but adds color to a few gemstones of mixed green and blues shades such as “Eilat Stone”, a fairly soft stone sometimes sold as semi-precious. The stones mentioned are the main ones showing the dark blue color you indicated. For use in jewelry, only Lapis Lazuli and Sodalite qualify in that color range.

To see more of lapis or any stone mentioned in this answer, simply search the web. For better stones, I suggest you say something like “gem grade lapis”. Stones cut like opals, lapis, tiger eye, black onyx, etc., are called “cabochons”. Cabochons are flat or domed cut stones, unlike faceted stones like diamonds, sapphire, blue topaz, etc. As a note, some sites call stones “gem grade” when in fact the stones are of lower quality. Also, be aware that many cabochons stones are dyed and treated to make lower grade material look like the more valuable natural stones.

Other blue stones, like “Agate” will sometimes show blue color but most is more a pale blue to medium blue. Any really dark blues are likely dyed. “Tanzanite” is a faceted gemstone, cut from clear crystals. The color ranges from pale blue to a deep electric blue. This is not inexpensive in better grades. “Lolite” is a faceted gemstone which is not very costly but does show a deep purple blue in well cut stones. The color varies with the direction you look through the gemstone.

“Spinel” is mostly thought of as a stone for “class rings” and lots of manmade spinel is used in those rings. Spinel is a natural stone rarely seen but one color is a deep and lovely blue. Spinel may also be red in color. “Tourmaline” is a faceted gemstone and colors are all over the rainbow.

A blue type is called “Indicolite” and may be pale to very, very dark blue. Other blue stones which are considered either precious gems or are too light in blue color to match the ocean view from space are: Blue topaz (treated to get the dark blues), Aquamarine (paler blue), Turquoise and Blue Zircon (heat treated to make it blue).

A note about precious and semi-precious gems: Some of the “precious gems” like sapphire may cost less than a gem quality lapis or spinel, for instance. The price all depends on the quality of the particular stone. Over all, quality level by quality level, precious gems like diamond, sapphire and ruby will be much more expensive than the other stones. A semi-precious stone may range in a few dollars to several hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on quality, such as with “Opals”.

Some of the semi-precious stones like “Agate” will command higher prices for especially beautiful stones but will not compete even closely to better precious gems. What we like is all in the eye of the wearer! Lapis like the ocean seen from space is a lovely gemstone.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.DiamondGems.info/. DiamondGems.info carries the best selection of loose diamonds, diamond rings, and diamond jewelry on the market. Browse through our selection of loose diamonds by size, cut, shape, type, and other features here: http://www.DiamondGems.info/subcategory/loose-diamond.html.

Technorati Tags: precious gems, semi-precious, Agate, gemstone, blue stones, gem grade lapis, fools gold, Eilat Stone

Emeralds always have a balance between clarity and returned light, the sparkle that is. You do want a stone with at least a decent amount of returned light. What I mean by this is light that goes into the top of the stone and is reflected back out to the eye. Otherwise, the stone looks rather dead and even the color is not as apparent.

Some light coming back to the eye is needed to bring that color to life. There is a trade off often between color and brilliance, it seems, unless the stone is completely top gem quality and has both color and clarity at the same time, accompanied by well proportioned cutting of the gem.

“Dull Look On The Surface”. Why would one stone look like it needs to be “wiped off” and another look smooth and well polished? Generally, this is because the well polished stone is just that, a piece of emerald able to take a good polish and then polished well by the cutter.

The duller or more waxy looking stone is either less well polished in the first place or the emerald material simply cannot take a better polish. Why not a better polish? Defects in the stone are a general reason. Often, well, almost always, emeralds are treated to some extent and that is generally with oils which tend to hide inclusions.

The inclusions which reach the surface of the stone are pretty well hidden by oils but this can also prevent a perfect polish. Unfortunately, over zealous cleaning of an oil treated stone may remove the oil and suddenly you see cracks and furrows not visible before. That is the stone as it was before being subjected to oiling! You might want to ask the jeweler about oiling on the cushion stone you have seen. Do not be surprised to hear the answer is “most likely” or “yes”.

Since most emeralds are treated in this or similar manner (some really nasty ones are given a plastic sort of filler!), do not be dismayed. Only be certain the jeweler can stand behind the stone, especially considering the price of the one you like for your setting.

“Jardin”. The inclusions in emeralds are called a “garden” or “jardin”. This refers to the almost garden look to the flaws and swirls inside the stone. This is to be expected in most emeralds of any size, with more or less garden. Inclusions are expected. What to watch for are definite internal fractures, little breaks which appear healed with in the stone.

Such internal flaws near the areas where the setting applies pressure, as with prongs, may be dangerous in the setting process. Ask to see the stone under a scope and ask if any of the inclusions will lead to stone setting problems. At this point, all risk is in the hands of the jeweler doing the work but ask to be sure!

“Memo Goods”. A reputable jeweler with connections to the colored stone world can receive what is called “memo good” from stone vendors. The vendor will send a small selection of gems for the customer to view. You might be responsible for the postage but should not be considering the purchase prices overall. The jeweler can check regular stone vendors they work with or go on the net to specialized jewelry web sites where stones are requested and sold everyday. The jeweler might be able to find a cushion cut for the setting you prefer and find a better stone in the process.

If you have a little time, this might very well be worth requesting. Do not feel locked into what the jeweler has in stock. Other stones are out there and should be available to an established jeweler. The cushion you like might be just fine, of course I have not see it. By all means, if you have any doubts about the gem, look further. You do not want to spend the money and always have a little feeling that you should have gotten a better emerald.

That is why I tell everyone that if you look for one or more settings that you like you could always get the one that you want for the inter net, jewelry store close to home, or a jewelry store that is out of state. Don’t take what you get see what they get and then make ulp your mind on what you want.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.4EngagementRing.info/. 4EngagementRing.info is the best place to buy engagement rings, wedding rings, and diamond rings. Browse through our selection of wedding jewelry and engagement rings here: http://www.4EngagementRing.info/category/wedding-jewelry.html.

Technorati Tags: stones, Memo Goods, jeweler, garden, Jardin, emeralds, treated stones, clarity, returned light

It is more difficult than assumed to find easy to set gemstone mountings. Most dealers want to sell finished goods and those who supply good to high grade mountings without stones sell only to established jewelry businesses. Such mountings require a trained jeweler to do the actual stone setting and finishing of the jewelry.

There are some companies that what they call “easy set” mountings. Without using the means a professional jeweler does, meaning lots of training and tools, this is not a bad way to get a feel for the work. You will be able to produce simple, though not elegant, jewelry in silver or gold. Some of the settings are not as easy to “set” as might be implied. Be ready to make a few mistakes and practice first with silver on your least appealing gemstones. When comfortable with the methods, go onto better settings and better stones.

What do I think of these sorts of settings and the “snap-tite” settings? Frankly, since I do work totally from scratch and by using purchased settings of high quality, I am not very impressed with the “easy set” and “snap-tite” settings. I suppose many years ago when I first started I would have seen these as a life saver, not knowing at the time how to set stones the professional ways. One sock truly does not fit all and sometimes fit will be a problem if stones have thick girdles(waists)or are cut with very deep pavilions.

The finish of the final product will not be like I would do with final finishing to a perfect surface but that cannot be and should not be expected in this sort of setting. The settings do look pretty good overall when you take the time to practice first and then do the best you can with better stones. No one is going to look so closely at the details of the finish as I would. Most regular non-jeweler folks who do like jewelry will likely oooh and ahhhh at the pretty jewelry you have done.

Prices are higher to the hobbyist and selling structures are slightly different. In either regard, the products are good overall and the catalogs provide some limited “tips” or clues to doing some kinds of jewelry work. There is not an on-line catalog but you can order catalogs from the website.

Now, working through your question, you asked: “I was thinking the solitaire mounting would be easy to find and should be able to get from the jeweler, but the reproductions will take some hunting. Is it cheaper to supply the mount myself? It there more a risk for damage and a poor setting job if i supply the mount myself?”

“The Emerald Cut Stone”. A simple solitaire type would be fine for this stone. The problem often encountered with colored stones is the “cut”, because often the stones are cut with a fairly deep pavilion (bottom half of the stone). If you simply purchased a setting for a single emerald cut stone of the right mm size, the setting might not fit due to depth of the gemstone.

In your case the depth of the emerald cut is not out of line and will likely fit a standard setting, but it really should be fitted to the mounting by hand to know for sure if modifications are needed. A “basket style” setting would likely be best. This has a rim of metal around the prongs just below where the girdle (waist) of the stone will fit in the setting.

“The Antique Style Mounting for a Square (cushion) Stone”. This setting will likely be difficult to locate. Many mountings are available with the openwork, filigree antique look you desire. However, to find on for the size and shape of stone you have presents a problem.

I seriously doubt you will find such a mounting available by your own searching; then, without being a jeweler and knowing how and what modifications can or should be made to a mounting, you really may not know if the ring will actually work for your stone. This one is also best left to a jeweler. A jeweler will have a much wider range of styles and qualities from several suppliers.

The jeweler if competent should be able to set this square cushion well enough in a proper mounting or purchase an antique style ring base and add a proper setting to the base. I do recommend having a jeweler do the work and supply the rings for the two stones you particularly like. The jeweler will have no reason to do a less than normal quality job on a setting you provide, since the reputation of the jeweler goes out on your hands whether the setting came from the jeweler or not.

But, since the setting for the square cushion may be a hard one to come by, if you find a mounting believing it will work then the jeweler has to do extensive reworking to actually “make it work” the overall work may not be what you expect in final looks, even if technically well done. Also, if a setting is purchased from a jeweler, the sizing to your correct finger size is generally “not” at an extra charge to you, it is part of the sale.

Going up two sizes from an 8 to a 10 will not adversely affect most settings, exceptions being rings with mostly recessed or hollow areas inside the ring which do not like to bend and round out easily and cleanly. Likely the jeweler cannot get the ring ready made in 10 anyway and part of the plan is to size to the correct finger size.

Overall, the sizes of the two stones are nice but not extreme.The sizes should not be a problem in finding mountings. Another reason to have the jeweler supply this setting is “turn around time” on the job. Sales take precedent and during busy seasons that is very true! A job with only labor charges and no other sale involved will sometimes be one of the last to get done during very busy times. This is just a part of business.

“Rhodium”. Years ago ladies bought white gold and wore it and had it buffed once in a while and never thought about a rhodium plate to make all whiter. Now, that appears the thing to do. With some white gold with a more yellow look the rhodium is a good idea but often a simple buffing will make the ring look just fine, even if not as white as rhodium. As for replating, the stone does not need to be removed.

Porous stones like turquoise and stones affected by acids such as pearls must be removed or otherwise protected from the solution. Topaz and most faceted colored gems will do just fine as set and no stone removal is needed. The solutions do not affect the gemstones.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.4EngagementRing.info/. 4EngagementRing.info is the best place to buy engagement rings, wedding rings, and diamond rings. Browse through our selection of wedding jewelry and engagement rings here: http://www.4EngagementRing.info/category/wedding-jewelry.html.

Technorati Tags: gemstones, Topaz, Emerald Cut, easy set, square cushion, basket style, snap-tite

Dancing can be fascinating. It is more than just taking a series of rhythmical steps and movement in time to music. It is therapeutic too, a relaxing break from the busy lives people live. In fact, people from all walks of life may take it as hobby or as a sport. Whether you’re a novice or a professional dancer, it is important that your moves are done in a rhythmical way and of course, in a graceful manner. This is easier said than done. Dancing to the rhythm with an elegance of movement is more than just talent. This could also have something to do with the shoes you’re wearing.

There are a lot of dancing shoes to choose from in the market. That is why it is wise to compare each of them and closely examine their bottoms, toe boxes, etc. You must not also forget to assess the kind of floor you often dance on to make it a point that the shoe design makes foot movement easier. This way you’d know better whether your shoes fit with what you’re stepping on and with what you’re doing.

For floorings made of wood or cement, traction is very important. Thus, it is good to wear shoes with rubber soles since they support just enough friction between the floor and the soles. However, rubber soled shoe may cling to certain types of floors. Thus, it is better to purchase or custom-make shoes with soles made of suede. For floors found in gymnasiums, shock absorption is essential. That’s why it is best to don on shoes that hold excess stress from your joints. Wear shoes with heels that are padded with air.

Most dancers have sounded off that with the wrong kind of shoe, dancing can be miserable especially when aiming their feet forward. Now to make dancing flexible, it is ideal to wear sneakers with rubber-split soles. This will make aiming, twisting and bending effortless. However, this doesn’t make full-soled shoes any less. Full-soled shoes are still flexible considering that its temporal end is made of soft leather that twists with the foot but still provide support below the arch. If you love standing on your toes while dancing and you don’t want to destroy your shoes’ toe box prematurely, you needn’t have to stick to ballet shoes especially if you’re not doing ballet after all. There are dancing shoes made for this. Choose the design that uses a small fabric to protect the toe box. This way there is more protection, hence, a longer life for the shoes.

James Brown writes about 6pm.com coupons, Famous Footwear discounts and DesignerShoes.com coupon codes

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Folks confuse “pave” with “bead set” all the time. There is a reason for that. Let me make one vital point right off the top of the answer. This part you may not have thought about. Manufacturers spend time in designs and working out the details for each and every piece of jewelry they produce. In almost all cases, the manufacturer holds a copyright on the design. The copyright is a legal protection against another company making “knock-offs” or duplicates of their work and selling the duplicates.

The confusion is in the words used.”Bead setting” is a particular form of setting stones into metal. Pave is more of a design of the set stones and bead setting is the technique for setting stones in a pave pattern.

The bead setting is the technique. Pave is the pattern. A single mans ring may have a bead set stone in the center. The stone is bead set but the work is not pave. Think of pave as you would a cobble stone street or brick after brick, literally paved with bricks. In pave the idea is to “pave” the surface with stones..that is pave. Bead setting is the method to hold the stones in place.

The ring may or may not be bead set. And this is not pave. Pave in the strict sense covers an expanded area and not just one row of stones. That does not matter. Really, the name does not matter if this ring is the look you want. I suspect the setting is cast with raised prong-like parts to make the setting easier than actual bead setting.

That is fine when done correctly and better than bead setting if the bead setting is done in less than the best manner. Bead setting can provide the same look but is more labor intensive to do correctly.

In bead setting, a sharp chisel-like tool called a graver is used to set the stones. First, a seat or hole for the stone is cut into the metal. Then the graver is pushed down into the metal just to the outside of the stone. The point of the graver makes metal move toward the stone. This process is repeated until all the stone is secure with enough metal over the “corners” to hold securely.

Then a tool with a rounded hollow end called a beading tool is pressed onto the metal pressed onto the stone. The beading tool makes the metal form into an attractive looking “bead” of metal. Now you can see where the term “bead set” originates.

Now, here is a question to ponder. How can the ring be made for less cost to you than the ready made one? Considering the prices we must charge to make molds, do castings and set stones for one item only, the price would be at least if not more than the one offered by the maker originally. We do not make copies of copyright designs but do enough custom manufacturing to know our real costs of doing a single ring or other jewelry item.

The only way I see the ring being less costly if the jeweler makes it is to use lower quality stones, less stones perhaps or lower karat of gold. The ring made up may also be of a much less favorable manufactured quality than the original ring, a means to cut costs. If we tried to duplicate the ring you showed, using 14k instead of the 19k used, our price to the customer for equal or better technical quality would still be more than some of the other makers rings.

Labor for doing a single ring is the reason and stone setting costs incurred. Our jewelers do all the work and we do not have specialized persons doing only stone setting as do large manufacturers.

Suggestion: Look closely at the rings or jewelry made by the jeweler with whom you have conferred. How well done is the work? Is all neat and clean to the eye? Ask about stone quality, etc. Do you want a product as fine as the original or a step below, or better? These are thoughts to consider seriously. I tell it just like I see it; that is only fair to you.

I don’t want to scare you about copyrights. Maybe this will help. To directly copy another’s design is infringement of the copyright. To choose a “similar style” generally is not infringement. For instance, many makers of jewelry make rings with stones set side by side along a row in a ladies ring. A ring with stones set like this and with decorative sides made up by your jeweler but not a direct copy should not be a problem with copyright.

A ready made mounting for rows of stones may be available(unset with stones) which will be perfectly fine for you. This is an option I did not mention at first. If a ready made mounting can be found with the look you want, the job will likely be less costly than having a ring made from scratch.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.DiamondGems.info/. DiamondGems.info carries the best selection of loose diamonds, diamond rings, and diamond jewelry on the market. Browse through our selection of loose diamonds by size, cut, shape, type, and other features here: http://www.DiamondGems.info/subcategory/loose-diamond.html.

Technorati Tags: pave, bead set, stones, metal, design, pattern, ring, graver, corners, beading tool, 19k

What’s best this summer? A popular style is the strapless dress. Strapless can flatter any body type, as long it is in the right fabric and the right fit. For example, if you are looking to support a fuller bust, or you feel that your figure needs to be slimmed down, stay away from clingy fabrics, like jersey dresses. Choose a fabric, like heavy cotton with built in boning to create a sexy, streamlined look.

If you fall into the dreaded half-size category, always choose a dress that is one size larger to avoid any hang over in the armpit area; if you fear that it will not fit correctly everywhere else, take it to a tailor and have it taken in only in the areas that need it. One of the hottest new looks for the strapless dress is to wear a paper-thin t-shirt, in a solid color, underneath it; if you choose to go with bare shoulders and are worried about being a little chilly in the evening, purchase a cropped jacket or a wrap knit in silk for a luxurious feel all night long.

Shift dresses are another hot look this season that compliment any figure. They are cool and comfortable no matter what you are doing, and the swing they give is flirty and fun. You can pair these dresses with wedges, flip flops or ballet flats and still have a great look; jelly shoes are back in again too and these are such a quick and fun slip-on. The beauty of the shift dress is that it takes you back to the less stressful, younger years in your life when you were busy chasing butterflies and running through sprinklers instead of chasing cabs and running through the subway.

Keeping with the newest Latin American inspired trends, Mexican blanket tube dresses are popping up on the runways, accented with bright floral patterns. Remember, bright patterns accent whatever area they cover, so, if you are self-conscious about a specific area of your body, choose a solid and wear the floral on the area you feel is the most sexy. These tube dresses will turn you into a sexy senorita within minutes of slipping them on. Similar to the strapless dress, they show off bare shoulders, but typically have a less structured look; these dresses make it easy to dance the night away with a special partner. Complete this look with a pair of wedge espadrilles and a chunky beaded necklace in turquoise.

All this talk about dresses! What about the proper underpinnings for these amazing summer pieces? Every girl that has ever worn a strapless dress knows that the one downfall, no matter how well it fits, is that you find yourself tugging at it to keep it in place. So, follow a few, simple rules, and you’ll be able to wear your summer dress all day and night without another thought. To avoid a “shelf” look, choose a strapless bra that offers under wire or lightly molded cups. No matter how big or small ladies, you need to lift and separate! The exception to this rule is if you are wearing a dress that is made of a heavier fabric, such as cotton or linen. Choose a bustier instead of a strapless bra simply because, the heavier the fabric, the more it will weigh your breasts down; a strapless bra will not provide the all day and night support that you will need and it will make your breasts appear saggy. Let’s face it, no one enjoys that look!

One last note about the strapless bra; when shopping for one, it is recommended that you purchase a bra that is one size smaller in the band than you typically wear. This variation will provide additional support and lift when you need it the most; remember you’re going for function over sex kitten, when it comes to pulling off the summer dress look!

Elli Rose is a fashion industry insider who writes about the latest trends in clothing, makeup and accessories. Love to be noticed? Find gorgeous fashions and helpful advice at Amore Fashion.

http://www.amorefashion.com

Technorati Tags: fashion tips and trends, fashion trends, summer fashion

‘Socially Responsible’ has become a buzzword like no other; between oil, conflict diamonds, and depleting natural resources, many designers feel that the earth can only give up so much, and many are working really hard to squash the myth that organic equals crunchy. What started with Al Gore’s movie and the RED campaign at the GAP has become an all out phenomenon with celebrities leading the way. Instead of opting for typical diamonds, many are choosing to purchase conflict-free diamonds as a way to show that they are socially responsible. Turn on the television to any talk show, and one celebrity or another is discussing what they do to stay green. So, as a style conscience consumer, how do you stay fashionable while being socially responsible? Fortunately, designers have done all the hard work, so all we need to do is shop!

Choosing fashions and accessories made from recycled materials is a great way to do it. The amount of jewelry out on the market that is made from vintage baubles and recycled and antique pieces is amazing, and beautiful. Look at any new line for the summer or fall, and you’ll see the market is flooded with it. These large and punchy pieces look great with shift dresses and the large handbags that are hot right now as well. Speaking of handbags, choose a faux leather bag from one of the many up-and-coming vegan stores as opposed to the standby leather handbag.

This season, and likely in the future, you will see many designers donating a percentage of their profits to climate projects or other environmental organizations. In addition, you will begin to see more and more products, including denim, being made from organic cotton, bamboo, corn polymers, milk and seaweed; it seems impossible, but it’s happening. Many manufacturers are also striving to integrate production processes that eliminate PVC.

In Asia, designers have begun making woven handbags from recycled newspapers to help cut down on their waste issues. Here in the states, we see many top knit and crochet designers doing similar things, except with the plastic bags we all get at the market. If you’re not ready to go quite that far, carry reusable tote bags in your car and use them at both the market and the mall; shop around to find the cutest in wicker handbags and you’ll leave the store feeling like a million bucks. Many stores are also offering discounts, both on food and clothing items, if you bring your own bags. And let’s face it, if there is a discount to be had, you ladies are sure to seek it out and use it!

Body care is also going organic and socially responsible. Face powders, bronzers and lip glosses are going to flower-based and paraben-free ingredients. Sunscreens, deodorants, lotions and oils line the shelves of all major department stores touting all-natural and organic ingredients. Reports on these products indicate that they work just as well, if not better, than the traditional products that we’ve used for so long. Not to mention, you get to flash that gorgeous smile knowing that you haven’t coated your beautiful skin with chemicals.

As a whole, the fashion industry is moving in a more sustainable direction when it comes to producing their wares; as a result, many shoppers are realizing that being socially responsible doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your personal style. You can feel good knowing that you are doing your part to help save the environment while still painting the town red in a totally fashionable way!

Elli Rose is a fashion industry insider who writes about the latest trends in clothing, makeup and accessories. Love to be noticed? Find gorgeous fashions and helpful advice at Amore Fashion.

http://www.amorefashion.com

Technorati Tags: fashion trips and trends, fashion tips, summer fashion, fashion trends

Waiting for summer’s hottest trend? Top designers in the industry are pulling their inspirations from our neighbors to the south and they’ve embellished this season’s hottest items with embroidery replicating authentic Mexican textiles. With the reports flooding the market that the season’s hottest new color is ‘chili-pepper,’ it’s no surprise that we’re seeing these fun and funky clothes showcased in all the storefronts.

Embroidered tunics and peasant style tops are appearing both in traditional fabrics like cotton, and authentic fabrics imported directly from the source. These floral motifs are bright and colorful and jump out at you, making a statement wherever you go. The tango-inspired dresses of Argentina have designers creating pieces that are billowing and full in length. Just imagine a sultry summer night, filled with dancing the tango or salsa with your favorite partner; one of these dresses will be the perfect compliment to your seductive self. Pull your hair out of your face with a long, silky scarf or tie it up off of your neck; a bare neck is incredibly sexy and paired with the off-the-shoulder peasant blouses, it makes a smoldering combination.

No outfit is complete without accessories and this summer, any and all inspired by the Latin culture is on fire! Jewelry to compliment these extravagant clothes is brass or gold and big and chunky. Gold chain mail necklaces and bangle bracelets are popping up everywhere from New York to Milan. Large hoop earrings or vintage settings with Lucite or colorful glass beading work well too. When you’re running out the door, don’t forget to grab your hand-tooled leather purse; a must have this year. This is the piece that you can really be carefree with. Even if you prefer to have your clothing more understated, choose a hand-tooled purse that is accented in orange, yellow and red; don’t be shy, let your fiery side out to play! To complete the look, you’ll need a set of sunglasses, and this season, they remain big.

At the beach, we are seeing crisp white suits that are also embroidered with these colorful floral embellishments. What better place to unwind and be fun and flirty then when you’re showing a little skin. If you have a suit you already like, pair it with a thin cotton sarong, embellished with a little Latin flair and slip in to a pair of straw wedges; you’ll be a sight to behold when you’re sauntering down the beach, either alone or with someone else. Toes are flirty this season also; the most fashionable ladies everywhere are leaving their weekly pedicures with bright, summery colors in tangerines and bright berry shades.

The concept for this type of clothing is not a new one, as the Latin Americas have long been a source of ideas, but until this season, many have overlooked the possibilities. This year, it’s making as bold a statement as ever. Remember, when pulling off a look with a bright floral, they inevitably draw attention to the area that they cover; make sure you are flattering your best features!

Elli Rose is a fashion industry insider who writes about the latest trends in clothing, makeup and accessories. Love to be noticed? Find gorgeous fashions and helpful advice at Amore Fashion.

http://www.amorefashion.com

Technorati Tags: fashion tips and trends, fashion trends, summer fashion