I must admit, when I first saw Keen shoes, I was a bit perplexed. My first Keen shoe sighting was at a hiking supply store in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. I gazed at the strange Keen Newport style, a combination hiking shoe and sandal with a thick, molded sole. They immediately conjured visions of goofy yodelers in lederhosen. But wait, as I watched, they seemed quite popular with the clientele. I struck up a conversation with the sales guy who extolled the virtues of Keen footwear. He hiked, he rock climbed, he bicycled – all in his Keen shoes. And he couldn’t keep them on the shelf. They were selling like funnel cakes at the state fair. But I still kept getting visions of yodelers….

Over the next few months, I saw them everywhere. I started doing a Keen count. Moms, dads, kids: it was a Keen-a-thon. Why hadn’t I ever heard of Keen shoes before? I was a die hard comfort-over-fashion diva. I had a closet full of Merrill’s and Dansko's. But Keen shoes made dorky look – well – fashionable! So my next trip to the hiking supply store, I was on a Keen quest. And luckily, being the end of the season, I was able to snatch up a nifty pair of red Keen Newports for 40% off! Such a deal, I tell you!

Don’t let anyone tell you there is no such thing as love at first sight – er - try-on. These wonderful shoes felt like they were personally made for me, molded lovingly to the little nooks and crannies of my nether appendages. The snug straps held them firmly in place and could even be adjusted for more snugness with an elasticized cord. The toe guard – what a great invention – was molded as part of the entire sole to prevent that inevitable rock to the toe moment we’ve all experienced. Before I knew it, I had an audience admiring my new Keen shoes, sharing stories about their own Keens. It was like a strange family reunion, a meeting of like souls, a convention of shoe-ology.

I took them home, ready to give those babies a run for their money. I just happen to have a personal favorite hiking spot full of steep inclines, fallen trees, large rocks and a 25 foot waterfall. My Keens and I were on a mission.

I immediately saw the error of my ways when, scrambling down a very steep hill, my Keen Newports picked up pebbles and twigs like so many hitchhikers and held them in that uncomfortable space right under the arch of my foot. Ow! Now, remember, my Keen Newports are sandals (i.e. with holes) which was a duh moment for me. All in all, they were the most comfortable walking shoe I had ever experienced – plenty of toe room, great lateral support. But those drat holes! I have since come to find that the Keen Newports were first developed as shoes for sailing. Aha, that explains the holes! I am stubborn to a fault and I was in love with these shoes so I continued my hike. I slipped up inclines – mud in the holes. I slid off an outcropping at the waterfall – water in the holes. Keen shoes are waterproof; however, my socks were not. Let’s face it; I should have purchased an enclosed version of the shoe, of which there are many styles. Oops. But as Arnold would say, “I vill be back!” To get more Keen shoes, that is.

Ordering the proper sized lingerie online is easy, and making sure that you order the right size is as simple as getting out a standard dressmakers measuring tape and having a friend help you. It is important to be accurate in your measurements, as this will ensure you order appropriately. You need to know your exact size to order lingerie that fits well, does not bind and gives you the fabulous look your want.

Measuring for bras and all-in-one garments

1. Under your bust and shoulder blades, take a snug measurement around your rib cage and then add 5 inches. If the number you come up with is even, that is your Band Size. If you get an odd number such as 45 just add an inch to find your size.

2. Remove your top and leave your bra on. Measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust to get your measurement.

3. To determine the cup size, subtract your band measurement from your bust measurement.

Hosiery sizes go by an individual’s height and weight. For example if you are between 5’4 and 5’8, and weigh between 115 and 140 pounds, you would wear a size medium or if you were between 5’9 and 6’0 and 160 to 180 pounds, a size tall/extra tall. The size charts are online so you can pick the correct size for you. Make sure that you accurately measure both your height and weight to get the correct size. If you are uncertain, only order one item in the size you think will be correct, and then actually try the piece on before ordering more.

Almost every woman has a handbag. It is one of the essential things to carry around when you go to the office, to the church, or even when you're just shopping around. The search for the perfect handbag is one of the most common problems that women encounter. Think it's funny? Well, to most women it is not. The process of selecting the right handbag can be a daunting task.

Seldom can you find women without a handbag. And this is true from professional women to the ordinary ones. And most of the time, their handbags compliment the dress that they usually wear.

The handbag has a certain magnetic power that is probably why most women can't leave their homes without carrying a handbag. Women carry all sorts of things like make-ups, lipsticks, perfumes, and many 'little things' that only women enjoy carrying. Where else are they to put those things but in a handbag. Aside from handbags, you can also find a purse or a cosmetic bag inside it.

So you see, when you say handbag, the first thing that probably comes into your mind are women; or is it the other way around? Nevertheless, these two go along well with each other.

The newest trend today in women's handbags is the so called photo/picture handbag. It is named so because of the picture that you can find on the bag itself. It is now possible to purchase a personally customized handbag.

If you haven't been shopping for a new bag lately, maybe it's time that you catch up on the latest things offered now in the market.

Picture handbags are gaining a lot of popularity. With these bags, you can actually choose what picture to incorporate in the bag. It may be a picture from a favorite movie scene, or personal pictures of family and friends.

The thing is you are free to choose which picture to put in the bag. It is not a simple process though, so you need to hire professional help or simply purchase directly from a manufacturer.

First step is to choose which picture or photo to incorporate in the handbag; then select the handbag design. It would help to know that tote and bucket style bags are more appropriate to use for picture handbags. These bags come in different shapes and sizes. The larger the bag, the more costly it will become.

Currently reigning queen stylist to the stars of the young Hollywood Set, no one influences fashion more at the moment, than Rachel Zoe.

Famous clients include Jessica Simpson, Mischa Barton, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Brittany Murphy, Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley, Jennifer Garner and Salma Hayek.

Claim to Fame

Amy Astley, editor in chief of Teen Vogue sums it up best.

"Rachel is incredibly important in the industry...She has kick-started many of the trends you see today. She, and others like her, have opened up the fashion industry so it's not just for insiders. Now everyone knows about labels because they read about their celebrities wearing them."

The Rachel Zoe Look

The Rachel Zoe look consists of 1. Huge sunglasses (Think Jackie O), 2. Oversized clothes on pencil thin bodies 3. Deep tan 4. Long tousled hair 5. 70's Glam Boho (Think Tom Ford, Diane von Furstenberg)

Controversy

Rachel Zoe has been criticized for dressing her clients in her likeness, creating mini-me's and dressing them identically? to one another in oversize gowns, they are the so called "Zoe-Bots"?also referred to as "Attack of the Clones".

"I'm not trying to make people look like me... But when you spend a lot of time with someone, you rub off on each other. I think I'm kind of an older sister to Lindsay and Nicole."

She's said to be responsible for the dramatic (and shocking) weight loss of a number of her biggest clients. While she denies she's pro-ana (anorexia) or pro-mia (bulimia), the fact?that to pull off the Rachel Zoe look almost requires you to be skeletal, makes it easy to see why she's been accused?for?"single-handedly bringing anorexia back." - LA Times.

"I don't think it's fair to say that I'm responsible because I'm a thin person, that because I'm influencing their style I'm influencing what they eat. There was this crazy rumor that I was getting diet pills from Mexico and distributing them. I was like, Okay, I've never even tried cocaine. I don't do drugs. I'm too much of a control freak."

The Beginnings of a Fashionista

Born in 1962 in New York to art collector parents, Rachel Zoe grew up in one of New Jersey's wealthy neighborhoods.

Her first trip to Paris at 13 marked the occasion of her first fashion buy - a Louis Vuitton Bag. "I had saved every dime and dollar, and I walked right into Louis Vuitton and bought a bag."

Scarves are the must-have stylish fashion accessory for this fall and winter season. Everywhere you look, everyone will be wearing a scarf! These beautiful women's accessories are the thing to wrap around your neck. They're not just warm when the snow is falling, but they look great, too.

If you are looking to buy a scarf for yourself or for a loved one, use this helpful guide before online shopping for these fashion items. (And if you are shopping for a loved one, no one will mind if you pick up a scarf for yourself at the same time!)

How do you buy scarves? What's the best way to pick out a fantastic fashion wrap for your neck? Remember, they're not meant to simply keep you warm; they're supposed to look good too. So choosing the right one is just like putting icing on a cake!

When you're faced with all these beautiful wraparounds, think about what coat you'll pair it with. Will it be for casual wear? Will it be for formal occasions? Will it be worn for a night on the town with the girls or on a hot date with a guy? Will it be worn to a work function or an after work function?

What color should it be? Think of it like this: the scarf is going to frame the head - the face and hair - so it should compliment the face and hair. Don't make the mistake of buying it to coordinate with the coat. Of course this and the coat should go together, but the more important factor should be the face. Purple and pumpkin are two of the hottest colors this fall and winter season so consider getting scarves in those colors.

Should the scarf be smooth or knit? When you're pairing your accessory with a coat, think about the texture and the pattern of the coat. If the coat is a coarse texture, like a wool blend, consider a soft, fine, smooth scarf like cashmere. If your coat is smooth, consider a scarf that's a little coarser. Additionally, if your face is round or you are a plus size, consider wearing a smoother fabric. Women who are thin may consider a coarser or denser fabric.

Should it be patterned or plain? If the pattern on the coat is busy (or if the coat is heavily patterned) pair it with a plain scarf. If the coat is fairly plain, you may want to consider a patterned one.

Should it be long or short? Scarves can be a variety of lengths because they can be adjusted with wrapping around the neck. However, taller women will seem ever taller with one that drapes down too far. Shorter women, or plus-sized women may prefer a longer scarf (including one that goes down to their knees) in order to add height.

Sunglasses took their coveted spot as popular culture fashion icons in the 1960s when Foster Grant launched an effective advertising campaign using well-known fashionistas and Hollywood stars as models in order to make their sunglasses seem chic and encourage people to purchase them. However, the notion of looking through colored lenses dates back much further than the Foster Grant craze of the 1960s and 70s. Instead, it dates back prior to 1430 in China.

The Chinese sunglasses were not created to protect the eyes from the sun’s harmful rays or glare, but instead were used in the Chinese judicial system. Smoke was used to tint quartz lenses and then they were built into smoke-tinted sunglasses that were worn for centuries by Chinese judges. The purpose of wearing the sunglasses was to hide any eye expression that the judge may use, because the judge’s opinions of evaluations of the evidence was required to remain a secret until a trial had concluded. It was felt that the smoke-tinted glasses accomplished this feat by disguising the eyes of the judge thus keeping his thoughts and opinions secret. In or around 1430, China was introduced to vision correcting eyeglasses by Italy. These sunglasses were also tinted, but again it was mainly for the purposes relating to judicial business.

Throughout the mid-18th Century scientists pursued the belief that blue and green tinted lenses could correct vision problems. And, in fact, it was not until the twentieth century that sunglasses began being considered as a way of protecting delicate eyes from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays. The American military played a large role in the development of sunglasses for this purpose when in 1930 they contracted with Bausch & Lamb to design a spectacle that would protect pilots from high-altitude glare. In addition, Edwin Land from Polaroid created and implemented the use of a polarizing filter to cut down on the chances of harmful rays reaching delicate eyes even more.

It's hard to believe that there was once a time when shoes were made simply for walking; today, a variety of footwear exists not only to serve the function of protecting feet, but also for the purpose of personal display. For many people, the essence of their personal style is emitted primarily by their footwear. Long gone are the days when plain heels and flats were the only options available to women; today, a variety of women's footwear aims to provide diversity in order to please a variety of shoe fans.

One such shoe manufacturer is Red or Dead. This season, Red or Dead shoes have brought out a selection of footwear designs reflects high fashion trends, yet still delivers some timeless classics. Boots are a prominent feature: the Red or Dead Hilda, for instance, is a knee high black boot with a lace that ties all the way up to the top. With its round toe and moderate heel, it is likely to appeal to women who like their boots warm and functional, but are also looking for a slightly sexier style to wear out at night. The Red or Dead Ruby is clearly for a different type of boot-fan; with a strong western-influence, this style harks back to the Cowboy-boot trend that emerged a couple of years ago. This ankle boot, with its soft brown leather and short, smooth 5cm heel is an excellent compromise between style and comfort, and would look perfect with a denim skirt - Stetson not necessary.

Red or Dead originally made a big name for themselves customising Dr Martens, however the original AirWair boots are still managing to keep up with current trends by introducing various completely new styles and some great new materials and design patterns to their well known boots. With eye popping 8 eyelet leopard print or 14 eyelet pink lace print boots, today’s footwear fashions, mean that being comfortable, looking good and having well protected feet is achievable for anyone wanting to step out in style.

New Rock are another boot manufacturer with a serious eye on the fashion market. Aimed firmly at rock music fans, the new Reactor Skull Buckle and the Devil Boot are chunky, heavy men’s biker style calf length boots with extremely thick, chunky sole units and metal panel features, featuring reinforced heel and toe sections. The latest line of New Rock boots for women, including the Toberas, Devil, Hi Biker, Buckle Bike, and the impressive high heeled Formula Buckle continue the trend of great biker boots with very aggressive detailing and heavy amounts of metal plating, which are guaranteed to get the wearer noticed.

The celebrity sedu hairstyles have taken us by storm. Newspapers, television, and the movies are inundated with the celebrities and their sedu hairstyles. Hollywood has again set the pace for hairstyles.

Jennifer Aniston set the sedu pace a while back. But of late she has been seen wearing stacked ponytails. The stacked ponytail has a fluffy type look. After years of sporting the sedu look she has begun to slowly make a change.

In spite of this many stars are still loyal to the sedu hairstyles. Jennifer Lopez, Halle Barry, Angelina Jolie and many others simply love them. The celebrity sedu hairstyles are very popular because of the sedu straightener.

It is uniquely designed and patented using ceramic plates that are made of tourmaline crystals. The plates remove static from the hair. Not only does your hair hold longer and shine better it is void of the cling problem.

The celebrity sedu hairstyle lasts longer because of the infrared heating technology. This technology molds the hair thereby increasing the ability of the hair to hold in place.

The sedu straightener is very versatile. Hair dyes, tints, or different colors do not effect the way the sedu straightener works. Herein lies its versatility and mass appeal. Color and variety of hair alike do not stop the sedu from providing you with numerous celebrity sedu hairstyles.

The sedu hairstyle system is so flexible and user friendly that you can have your hair done in the confines of your own home.

Why not have a sedu hair party? Invite your girlfriends over and experiment with each others hair. That way everyone gets experience with the sedu straightener.

It is really awesome to be able to wear your hair just like the celebrities. The possibilities for your celebrity sedu hairstyles really are unlimited. The sedu flat press straightener allows you to be as creative as you want to be.

You should brushe your hair every day. Use careful gentle strokes while brushing. Brushing and preparing your hair makes it easier to incorporate the sedu hair system into your hairstyling program. Always be gentle when brushing your hair. It reduces friction and does not pull out too much of your hair.

It may come as a big surprise that e-commerce has become “Big Business” in the eyes of both shoppers and shopkeepers alike. As with anything new, there are those who jumped anxiously onto the bandwagon immediately, those who stay as far away as possible, and those who’ve managed to stay neutral in the middle of it all. Maybe they have security concerns, or don’t like to buy items that they can’t physically touch or try on, including shoes, or maybe they just don’t know how to do it. No matter what your personal opinion on shopping over the Internet is, we’ve compiled the best list available, “The Top 7 Tips for Buying Shoes Online,” to ease any worries you might have:

1. Look for a Verisign seal or another security logo. For those with concerns of identity theft, you should know that shopping online with your credit card is no more of a security risk than swiping your plastic at your favorite brick and mortar shop. For added assurance, look for a security logo on the front page to be sure that any personal financial information that you enter has been “blocked” from anyone else.

2. Be sure your shop of choice has an above average return policy. Even though a basic return policy would do the trick, it’s never a bad thing to do business with a company that “goes above and beyond” in their customer service. A “no questions asked” type of return without a specific timeframe will help with buying gifts, a “worn with no worries” type will ease your mind when purchasing a pricey brand that you’re unfamiliar with.

Wedding hair styles have changed from year to year and from decade to decade, but the one thing that never changes is how lovely a bride looks as she walks down the aisle to be by the side of her man. From the short cut hair and elegant wigs of ancient Egypt to the long hair combed back and tied in a knot at the nape of the neck of the demure Chinese women, the hair of the blushing bride is the center piece of her vestments. The dress accentuates the up sweep of gentle curls. The veil hides the delicateness of the tendrils, as they frame her face.

Most of the long hair styles this coming 2007 season are more relaxed and free flowing. They show the free spirit of the young maiden as she glides into the halls of matrimony. Popular are flowers worn at the temple instead of the traditional tiara and veil combination. Some long haired darlings will revert to the tried and true upswept hair style that is guaranteed to be a show stopper on their wedding day. Others will step to the beat of their own drums. In the end all that matters is that at the end of the isle the man that they love is left breathless on this most special of days.

Short haired ladies with dreams of flowing locks need not fret. The advent of lace front wigs allows you to have hairstyles that look so natural that no one would ever know that the hair was not your own. Lace front wigs are worn by celebrities so women can now easily duplicate the looks worn by their favorite celebrity. Each hair is hand stitched into the lace setting making it seem as if the hairs were actually growing straight out of the scalp. Lace front wigs are made from a variety of materials ranging from human hair to synthetic hair. With the human hair wigs you can dye and heat the strands to create the perfect look. Synthetic wigs are not able to be dyed, but it they do have some advantages. They are better at maintaining color and holding prearranged shape and more often then not, will cost less than that of a human hair wig.

It doesn't matter whom you are giving the gift to, pajamas doesn't seem to be a very romantic gift. But then again, it is a gift that many people will be happy to receive. This is because everyone loves to sleep. Especially after a long tiring day, a comfortable pajama in a warm bed can be one of the greatest highlights of the day.

With the numerous varieties of pajama designs available nowadays. You can find a great set of pajama for anyone, a silk pajama for instance cut in a sexy fashion could be a great gift for your wife. A wool warm pajama could be fantastic to give as a gift to your dad. For any occasion, there is a pajama that anyone could use.

When occasions like Christmas come and you have a long Christmas list, buying them all pajamas in their sizes can be very economical and time saving. You don't have to roam from one department to another. This is a great idea because everybody wears pajamas. No one can have too much of them as they are being used everyday. Want to give something extra to a boss or your best friend? Just add a matching robe to the pajama gift!

This also includes any person at any age. As pajamas are widely produced, you have different designs and different materials used in manufacturing them to ensure that you can find a pajama that will suit their taste. This is a gift that shows a great gesture and shows that you are practical as well.

But aside from just giving away pajamas, you can also buy one for your own. You also would definitely love the warm and cozy feeling of donning a pajama before going to bed. You will definitely feel very pampered and make yourself feel great. If you are comfortable with what you wear when you go to bed, the chances are high that you will have a great sleep. You will wake up in the morning feeling like a million bucks and you have your pajamas to thank for

A sleepwear that is designed for women can also be called as nightclothes, nightdress, or nightwear. These apparels are created mainly for sleeping purposes. Women who are oriented about sleep wear prefers to wear them for different reasons. However, some would rather prefer to sleep naked or only in a particular type of underwear. Using sleepwears sometimes depends on the type of season. One appropriate example is women who are wearing nightdresses on winter season. Today, women are even using sleepwears to be able to follow the latest trend in fashion.

Sleep wears for women are available within different varieties. Each design has specific features that will cater into their different preferences, styles, and needs of every woman. Take enough time to educate yourself with these various styles. Get inspiration from its different looks and appeal to help you create your own fashion statement.

- The most popular loosely designed night apparel for women is a nightgown or nightie. It is made of materials such as nylon, satin, silk, and cotton. It has also varying lengths. It can either be a floor length nightgown or a hip-length nightgown. But knee length is the usual nightgown length. Embroidery and lace appliqués are decorated on the hemlines and cups of a nightgown creating its unique appearance.

- A babydoll, popularly known as the negligee or short nightgown are created exclusively for women who wants to feel sexy when they go to bed. The garment is usually trimmed with ruffles, lace, appliqués, ribbons, bows, and Marabou fur. It can be designed optionally with spaghetti straps. The materials used are either translucent fabrics (silk, chiffon, or nylon) or sheer. A babydoll is considered a provocative dress resembling minidresses. It has six inches of hemline above the knees and hollow designs on the necks.

This fall and winter become a fashion Houdini. There will probably be a number of times when you'll be expected to look your best. Sure, you always want to look your best, but these formal events have you sitting in front of the mirror for much longer! For formal and corporate events...use this article an as inspiration to help you add scarves to what you're already wearing...to make your fashion look, perfect!

Scarves are this season's hot fashion trend and if you pick up a couple, you'll add some pop to your winter wardrobe for these formal events.

Going to work each day isn't always fun. It's even less fun in the winter when you're fighting traffic and the winter blahs. A scarf can trick your coworkers into thinking you're the regular, perky person they know the rest of the year. A bold but subdued solid, non-patterned scarf can look great against a long black wool trench coat - typical winter work wear in many winter climates.

Headed out to a wedding or other fancy affair? Time to dig out your nicest coat and consider a fur (or faux fur) wrap. They look luxurious against a bold colored coat and they are so warm and soft you won't want to take it off!

For a corporate event, consider a white silk scarf to go with your party dress. That way, you may not even have to wear a coat: your dress and silk scarf will look great together. You can choose to keep your scarf on, or take it off during the event and you'll be in season no matter what. Not sure what color to get? Purple and pumpkin are two hot colors this season...replacing black and red. While you don't want to follow fashion fads, some fashion trends can be enjoyed by following them with your accessories. It's cheaper than buying a new wardrobe!

Not sure how many scarves to get? Consider finding 4 or 5 that work well with a variety of outfits and put them all in your car. Pull them out as necessary and put them on. That way, you'll always have a selection to choose from and when you show up at the next event - whether it's formal or casual ' you'll always be in fashion.

Triple Five Soul

When you think of winter "designer" clothing you tend to picture overpriced avant garde styles that you'd never wear. Its time to think again.

Triple Five Soul is the line that bucks trends, makes friends, and has a look for everyone. This description sounds like a brand you'd pick up at Wal-Mart but if you take a look here, you'll see that it's no slouch when it comes to style.

Triple Five Soul revolves around simple principles, quality items with a look that isn't heroin chic over the top or too expensive for people with good taste but a lack of cash.

The Fall and Winter Brand?

Fall and winter fashion trends have seen a shift the last 2 years. Bright colors have been replaced with darker tones meant to emphasize more of the individual than the look. As fashion drifted into the scenester and retro stylings now found in clubs, parties, and concerts, winter and fall styles were slow to react. For the longest time bright multi-colored attire especially with holiday themes ruled American fashion.

However the step towards retro ushered in fashionable conflict as looks and closets often clashed between bright winters and subtle summers.

Now that the stars are aligned, Triple Five Soul and FashionVault bring you the brand sure to make holiday hits whether you give or receive.

Their Looks:

(Visit FashionVault to see all items mentioned)

Colors Most of the items are light brown, khaki, or dark grey.

Hats They feature traditional fitted caps along with the Minnesota caps (earmuffs attached to a hat) to Revolution caps (Che Guevara style).

Hoodies and Jackets They feature a number of different styles with the bulk of the look showing New York roots with California flare. A number of their hoods and jackets feature great patchwork and printing emphasizing the style "Revolution" that they lead.