Alligator belts are belts made from the skin of an alligator. They have good abrasion resistance and flame resistance, as well as good bending and tensile properties. There are many applications for alligator leather, especially as belts, handbags, and luggage. It is also useful in making home-furnishing products.

There are two types of alligator leathers: classic and safari. Classic-finish leathers are smooth and shiny. In these leathers, high-gloss natural protein finish is burnished onto the surface of the alligator skin with a glazing jack. The protein used in classic leather is extracted from albumen or raw egg white. The surface of classic leather is given a high-gloss shine by compressing and smoothing it. High-quality safari finish is nearly as shiny as classic leather. A combination of oils, waxes, and light, low speed and low-pressure buffing gives softness and gloss on the surface of safari leather. Since safari leathers are not subjected to excessive pressure, they remain soft and supple. As the color on the surface of safari leather is deeper and the surface irregular, scratches cause less damage and are easier to repair. If safari leathers get wet, the softness and luster can be regained by applying a quality leather conditioner followed by hand-buffing after slow drying.

Alligator belts are handcrafted, and their extra length enables the user to add holes. Western alligator belts differ slightly from fashion belts in that the former are more rugged and have a tougher, thicker lining. The alligator leather cover in these belts is oily, so they last longer. Western alligator belts are easier and faster to make. Hence, they are cheaper than fashion belts. Alligator golf belts are specially designed for golfers. These belts are made from the skin of black alligators and have a durable, comfortable lining. Alligator golf belts conform to the shape of the user's body. Manufacturers of high-quality alligator belts give a guarantee of satisfaction or full money back offer.

Gold belt buckles are luxurious accessories that keep belts tightly in position. As belt buckles are an integral part of clothes for both men and women, there are gold belt buckles of varying sizes, shapes, and designs. These buckles range from the traditional to the contemporary and from the casual to the formal.

Generally, gold belt buckles are stylish with simple to complicated designs. Some buckles have a pretty engraving finish and are enameled. Others possess subtle details and elegant lines. The buckles are enhanced with subdued satin or other attractive, shiny finishes. Gold buckles even come with precious or semiprecious stones such as turquoise, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. There are buckles with built-in bottle openers at the center. In addition, gold slide and gold hook models are available for belts with or without holes.

Gold belt buckles can be custom made with gold-plated letters. It is possible to engrave one's initials in the buckles. Many belt buckles made of gold are also available in sterling silver. Popular belt buckles display the American flag, as well as military, trade, or occupational signs and musical notes in gold.

The gold used in gold belt buckles is generally 14 or 18 karats. The price depends on the weight of gold. Gold buckles are well known for their durability, strength, and appearance. These buckles do not rust, corrode, or tarnish easily.

A gold belt buckle set consists of three or four pieces. The first two pieces are the buckle and belt tip, and the third piece is used to hold the belt end. In four-piece sets, there are two similar pieces to hold the buckle in the correct position.

Gold belt buckles are generally given as rewards in competitions. It is standard on alligator belts and looks excellent on horn-back alligator belts. These buckles go well with any kind of dress, whether it is casual, business, or party wear.

Platinum belt buckles are classic belt buckles used by the elite community. These buckles serve as a fashion accessory as well as a functional piece for belts. As belt buckles are an integral part of the wardrobe for most men and women, platinum belt buckles are gaining in popularity.

Just like any other piece of jewelry, platinum belt buckles are designed in various styles, sizes, and shapes. Plain platinum buckles are the most common variety. They are obtained in rectangle, square, oval, or cubic shapes. These buckles are also studded with one or more diamonds, as loose diamonds are held firmly in platinum. Some buckles are encircled completely with lustrous, round diamonds. Others are engraved with designs. Names or initials can be furnished in platinum buckles. In addition, buckles without holes are designed using platinum.

Platinum belt buckles have certain advantages over gold and other belt buckles. These buckles are considered the most durable and strong. They develop a beautiful, shiny appearance over the years. Platinum belt buckles appear different from silver and gold buckles because of their bright white luster. These buckles are hypoallergenic and can withstand tarnishing much better than gold. There is no loss of metal, even when the buckles are scratched or polished. These buckles suit individuals with sensitive skin well. However, platinum belt buckles are quite expensive, and the price varies on the basis of the market value of platinum.

Platinum belt buckles are considered unique and special, as platinum is the only metal that is 90 to 95 percent pure. These buckles are usually custom made. A pure platinum buckle must be alloyed with ruthenium or cobalt in order to get hard and strong platinum. Platinum buckle plates are bought individually.

Platinum belt buckles thus form an ideal gift for special occasions. They complement elegant formal and party wear to make the ultimate fashion statement.

Silver belt buckles are an excellent fashion accessory that enhance beauty and remain untarnished over a period of time. These buckles come in a variety of styles and designs.

Contemporary and western-style silver belt buckles are available. The shape of these buckles varies from simple, square, or oval to complicated models. Some buckles are designed with urns, cherubs, and flowers. Others are adorned with pictures of cowboys. Some have dragons, horse heads, and dolphins engraved on them. There are buckles with historic patterns, stamp work, and exquisite carvings.

Silver belt buckles can be plain or jeweled. Designers use healing crystal, rhinestone, natural turquoise, or other precious stones such as smoky quartz, pearl, and coral in jeweled buckles. Buckles are even provided with a blank space for initials or monograms.

There are individually handmade and handcrafted silver belt buckles. Handcrafted buckles feature several designs including classic, executive, masterpieces, southwestern, equestrian, and jeweled. These buckles are mostly made using the lost wax method, where a wax model of the buckle is made first and embedded in plaster. It is then allowed to melt. The cavity thus formed is filled with molten metal. Buckles created in this way are then hand-finished and polished for use.

Large silver buckles are found in the nation's southwestern and western regions, especially in Arizona and Texas. Silver buckles are made of sterling silver, an alloy of silver containing 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent other metals. It has certain fine qualities as well. These buckles are trendy and functional. Silver buckles are more brilliant compared to brass buckles and last longer than pewter-based buckles.

Silver belt buckles are desirable for rodeo cowboys, girls, and ranchers, and come in handy in re-enactments of the same. These buckles are ideal gifts for occasions such as anniversaries, Christmas, weddings, and graduations.

Give Your Bras a Longer Shelf Live!!! Bra Care Instructions

Bras-Bra care instructions- Extend the life of your bras! Always follow the manufacturers recommendations on caring for your bras. The following general information will assist you in extending the life of your bras.

* Always follow the instructions on the manufacturer's bra label.
* If manufacture labels are not present, always wash bras carefully by hand. Always use cold water and a light gentle hand soap or very mild detergent on the bra.
* Drip dry bras or dry on a flat surface if possible.
* Do not machine wash your bras! If you must wash your bras in a washer: Use a delicate cycle in cold water only, and separate the colors when washing your bras. Fasten all hooks and place bras in a (Wash) lingerie bag if possible.
* Do not put bras in the dryer! If you must, tumble dry on a low setting with bras still in the lingerie bag.
* Wash bras at least every other wearing to reduce discoloration and damage from body oils.
* Wear bras in rotation. If you find a bra that you love, buy several bras the same size. Bra manufacturers frequently discontinue styles.
* Do not overwear your bra. The bra will loose the form and structure.
* Signs of an overworn bra include: wrinkles in bra cup, rides up back, or slips off the shoulders.
* Replace bras at least every two years.

Now that you know how to care for your bras, go shopping for that perfect American or European bra. Just remember to read the labels!!! Happy Bra Shopping!

Women seem to be more concerned about special occasion dresses. They generally think of a brand new dress for every other fancy occasion. An expensive practice agreed, but can women really stay away from dressing in a special way for their special occasions? No. It is guaranteed that you will spend your money on special occasion dresses.

There are ways to keep your costs down and save a big part of money that would go to a special occasion dress every time you go to a fancy event. all you have to do is to pick some special occasion dresses that go well for all occasions. All you have to do is to keep a blind eye towards the latest dressing that hits the market.

It is better to invest in a few good quality special occasion dresses than going out shopping prior to each and every special occasion that comes your way. Keeping in mind a long term vision, spend a few hundred bucks together to save thousands of dollars that would slip through your wallet, even with you noticing.

I am not telling you to go with a plain dress for every occasion. But when you make a good fashion decision, you can buy appropriate accessories that will give your dressing a special look every time you wear it out, with a classy accessory. This way you will be trendy every now and then. Others may wonder how much money you burn away for dressing up. Let it be so – don’t tell them that you pay only a fraction of the price they give for special occasion dresses.

As I said, keeping a blind eye towards latest trend is important. What is hit today will be out of fashion tomorrow. Sure you can go for the latest import from Paris if you have that much money in your wallet. Go for classics. They are in thing today and tomorrow and the day after. You can always change the way you accessorize. It will make you trendy party girl any time.

Think about traditional cocktail dresses, which amplify the beauty of your jewelry and accessories. You have experience about the all time appeal of black. Black and grey are never out of fashion and they give you a unique look of class, irrespective of the occasion. Traditional cocktail outfit also comes in all sizes. You can always find the one set that always fit your body type.

Don’t throw away your sheathe dress either. It is a trendy special occasion dress of all times. This is especially true if you try as hard as you can to keep fit as a fiddle. The only accessory to wear is a classy smile that your friends have always used to flatter you.

An antique bracelet is the perfect jewelry to fit any kind of attirement. It is used by many women to emphasize their feminine look and stress all types of personal qualities. The important thing about an antique bracelet is to choose it amongst all the other options, and to be quite certain that it fits your personality.

There are a lot of antique bracelets sold anywhere, either in jewelry shops or antique stalls. You can pick up amongst so many of them, that indeed the good option is something rare to be done. You need to first discover yourself before buying clothes and jewelry, and this is especially true when it comes to choosing an antique bracelet.

If you want to purchase as personalized antique bracelet as possible, you should first discover just the kind of person that you are. You should be well aware of what would suit you best. For example, if you are an introvert, you shouldn’t try to wear glittering jewelry that will only make you a center of attention. If you prefer being seen, perhaps you should buy a ruby antique bracelet, or a shining one.

It all depends on the way your social interactions go, as this will definitely determine the way you look with your new antique bracelet on. You don’t want to look preposterous and out of place, do you? That’s why it is extremely vital to choose the most suitable antique bracelet, which will make you look natural.

An antique bracelet is something that you purchase for real. That’s why you should make your choice according to some stable characteristics. You shouldn’t buy a bracelet that only suits one of your dresses. You should buy the one that you can wear on all occasions, no matter what your clothes are. If you pick up your jewelry just according to your clothes and their colors, you will spend large amount on money just buying things that will only be worn once or twice a year.

Instead, you want to consider your self. What kind of person are you overall? What antique bracelet most represents your comprehensive character and personality? You may find that the piece of jewelry you choose for that one special night out on the town in the red dress that you will probably never wear again is not typical of your normal fashion sense. Those red rubies in the antique bracelet are just not you.

This is when you need to think about your investment. Even though you can pick up an antique bracelet for well under one hundred dollars, you may not want to buy the yellow beaded bracelet from the 1960’s just for that yellow sundress. You may find yourself spending forty or fifty dollars on something you only wear once or twice.

When shopping for the perfect antique bracelet you should consider your personality. You may find that a netted chain from the 18th Century speaks volumes about your style. The antique bracelet should compliment your style instead of creating it for you.

I found my ideal antique bracelet years ago. I wear the piece at least once each month. It is perfect for formal occasions as well as informal events. The bracelet consists of a series of cameos attached with gold links. Each cameo is unique and made of understated stones that reflect the light without shining or glittering.

This piece of jewelry represents my overall personality. I dress relatively conservatively and I’m not a glittery person who likes to overwhelm a room. My perfume is light and stays close to me as does my overall aura. The antique bracelet embraces that understated style and it suits me as well as my outfits.

It has been suggested by many critics that clothes can change society’s ideas of sex, gender and the roles of men and women. Rouse (1989) suggests that fashion and clothing do not reflect already established ideals of gender identity. However some critics propose that fashion and clothing follows strict basic ideas of masculinity and femininity. This essay plans to investigate the different ideas that critics have produced on fashion and identity, and see if Rouse’s idea of clothing being ‘part of the process’ can be applied to examples of conventional and inverted fashion. It also plans to look at the argument that by not conforming to gendered clothes of a person’s sex, that person has really escaped their gender identity.

It has been suggested that fashion is composed of 3 elements; the principle of conspicuous waste, the principle of conspicuous leisure and the principle of up to datedness where waste does not serve human life (Veblen 1992). This idea supports the Marxist idea that fashion only appears when society is so well organised that it produces more than the minimum needed to survive thus this surplus is suggested to show itself in the form of fashion where clothing is concerned.

(Braudel 1981) can be seen to support Rouse’s theory by his own idea that fashion began by noblemen, squires and the bourgeoisie wearing tunics ‘so tight that they revealed what modesty bids us to hide.’ The reason for doing this can be seen as a show of male masculinity thus creating an unconscious link between this way of dressing and their power in society as men and as the Elite ruling class. (Wilson 1985) suggests that it began in the 14th Century with the changing of a series of styles that was determined by the Royal court right up until the 18th Century.

The idea that women’s fashion in the 19th Century demonstrates the wearer’s ‘abstinence from productive employment’ supports the idea that fashion helps and is part of the process of creating an identify. This can be seen by the fact women wore bonnets, long skirts long hair that prevented and restricted their movement to a minimum, thus the idea that they were dependant on men was strengthened and their position in society.