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The continually changing vogue is now such a large part of all urban cultures that it is easy to assume it has always been a part of society. In fact, the habit of constantly changing styles of dress began in Europe in the middle of the 14th century. During this time the cut of men’s over-garments changed rapidly, the length shortened from mid-calf to mid-buttock and they became tighter. This cutting edge new style became the distinctive tailored jacket over trousers outline of the western man, an outline which endures to this day.

Historically, the fashion of men and women has differed massively. Men’s fashions often had roots in the military and women’s focussed on the dress. Although colour, cut and style fluctuated, the basic template remained the same. Women wore dresses and men wore some form of the modern suit.

One of the best known early attacks on the sex based fashion status quo was carried out in the Victorian period by Amelia Bloomer. Heavily involved in women’s suffrage in 19th century America Bloomer campaigned for women’s rights with the kind of genteel dignity of the Victorians. Surprisingly it is not her political work Mrs. Bloomer is remembered for, it is for her affiliation with controversial and politically charged fashion for which she is best known. The invention of the “Bloomer suit” by Elizabeth Miller in 1851( a pair of loose trousers gathered at the ankle similar to those worn in by women in Middle Eastern countries with a short dress on top) was heavily promoted by Bloomer in her women’s newspaper, The Lily.

Mrs. Bloomer’s advocated new clothing style was a fashion revolution, the new costume reflected her political views and those of her readership. The inclusion of trousers in western women’s dress was largely unheard of and by publicly wearing the controversial costume, Bloomer made her desire for equal rights impossible to ignore. Unfortunately Bloomer’s gender-boundary smashing fashion statement was short lived. It was met with ridicule from the press and public opinion was hardly sympathetic to her cause. Eventually even Bloomer herself gave up and returned to conventional fashions.

Trousers did not return to women’s fashion for almost a century and when they did begin to appear in the 1930s it was mainly for practicality rather than any kind of political statement. Women were becoming increasingly active, taking part in sport and leisure activities which previously were the reserve of men. By taking part in these activities and wearing clothes which, at the time, were still considered to be men’s items, women were blurring accepted gender boundaries and by doing so they began the slow evolution of the androgynous fashions we see today.

Fast forward to the 1970’s and a shocking new fashion trend was sweeping the nation. The punk look was deliberately designed to be as shocking and rebellious as possible. Offensive t-shirts featuring symbols and slogans selected deliberately for their shock value were commonplace, as were military style boots and very tight jeans or leather trousers. This non-conformist uniform was very similar for both male and female punks. The early designs of punk godmother – Vivienne Westwood clearly show the early androgyny of punk. Make-up was mainly still a feminine item, however, in punk culture it was used to match the groups aggressive, shocking aesthetic. This further separated punk women from conventional images of femininity.

The appearance of fashions that created a androgynous “third sex” continued into the 1980s. New romantic and goth looks allowed the male use of make-up and feminine fabrics such as velvet and lace. It is arguable that these fashions were a direct response to the appearance of “power dressing.” A fashion which extolled the virtues of expressing wealth through dress, men wore expensive, well cut suits with exaggerated shoulder-pads and women followed suit, adapting the style in a distinctly feminine way. By creating one unisex style that incorporated masculine and feminine elements, new romantic and goth created an easily identifiable sub-culture. The movements relied on their non gendered, unconventional style to be noticed.

In modern times youth subculture has taken the manipulation of gender convention in fashion to a new level. Previously niche unisex fashions could be viewed as a reaction to the divide between masculinity and femininity in mainstream culture and fashion. In current popular fashion no such divide seems to exist, unisex fashion is on the catwalk, the street and niche cultures.

The rise of the so-called “metrosexual” – a man with the grooming inclinations and fashion awareness of a woman is a good example of modern androgyny. Even men who dress in traditionally masculine fashions often have grooming habits that would have been considered distinctly feminine as recently as the 1990s. Men now often straighten their hair to conform to the current aesthetic, men’s moisturisers and haircare products are appearing with increasing regularity on supermarket shelves and some companies are now offering men’s makeup. This makeup is not intended for obvious use like in goth and electro fashions but instead for subtle enhancement of the features, just like female makeup. With a rising awareness of grooming even traditionally masculine men are taking on a unprecedented level of femininity. Footballers, previously muddy cheeked embodiments of masculinity, seem to be on the forefront of this revolution. The likes of David Beckham advertise men’s grooming products and publicly display a keen (if not slightly misguided) interest in fashion.

The modern penchant for androgyny seems to be here to stay, with men becoming increasingly aware of fashion, grooming and even emotion this could well be the first fashion trend that positively impacts society. Perhaps the typically feminine qualities of nurture and compassion will pass into mainstream men’s culture, if so we have fashion to thank.

Samantha is a London theatre fanatic and regular West End theatregoer. She is currently researching the new West End show Marguerite – http://www.show-and-stay.co.uk/marguerite.html

Everyone wants to have the most romantic and memorable wedding possible. There is one wedding dress that makes this possible to do with little effort to the rest of the details. The distinct look of a renaissance wedding gown sets it apart from the other styles. These dresses are a reminder of Shakespeare’s plays or the royal courts of centuries ago. White and cream are the colors these renaissance wedding dresses are normally found in.

The way renaissances wedding dresses are designed is that the waist is tighter than the rest of the dress and they all have a kind of under dress or drape. Bodices are tight fitting and beaded with extreme and careful detail. These wedding dresses also posses free-flowing sleeves. Renaissance weddings make the bride feel like royalty.

The Juliet Wedding Gown is inspired by ‘Romeo and Juliet’. It has a silk charmeuse under dress and the over drape is silk organza or metallic mesh. There may be a shimmer to the gown as well. The over drapes are attached to the base of the gown on the side seams. They flow from the waist and form an illustrious train that falls behind the dress.

The necklines, sleeves and waist along with the front sides and back drapes are all trimmed. The back closes with lacing and the waist along with the trim are covered with pearls that are scattered about. They are lined with china silk.

This renaissance wedding dress comes in silk white or ivory for the under dress with the over drape being available in metallic or silk organza. The netting comes in either gold or silver. These gowns may also be made to sparkle with glitter.

English Renaissance Wedding Gowns have a chemise beneath the bodice to imitate the corsets worn during the renaissance. Unlike the corsets the gown does not tie but closes in the center of the back. The fabric underneath is visible through a slit in the side of the outer skirt and the sleeves have slashes in them. The sleeves have half moon padding and the front and sleeves are beaded to add to the appeal. Like the Juliet gown this dress also posses an elegant train.

There are some retailers both online and conventional that carries a numerous selection of renaissance wedding gowns to choose from. The selection of online retailers is not as large and will only show a few of them in there catalogs; although finding one of these dresses is difficult because the number of stores that sell them are limited.

A master seamstress can take a costume gown and turn it into the perfect renaissance wedding dress for you or you can have one custom made. The alterations will cost you less than starting from scratch.

There are various styles of Renaissance wedding dresses and a person can spend thousands of dollars due to the intricate detail that is involved with the design of these dresses.

Whether you chose to spend the money to get an actual renaissance wedding gown, have one made or turn a costume into one of these magnificent gowns it is worth the look you will achieve with these gorgeous dresses.

Author designs renaissance clothes and specializes in renaissance dresses for faires. For more information, visit http://www.faireattire.com

The Themes and Varieties of Sexy Costumes

Sexy Costumes are growing in popularity for a number for a number of reasons and one of those reasons is that there are now so many different themes of sexy costumes available. Not only that, but the variations within the costume themes themselves provide increased variety. For example, if you want to dress as a sexy devil, there are not just one or two sexy devil costumes available online or in bricks and mortar stores, but if you look around, there are hundreds!

Some years ago, costumes, sexy or otherwise, were quite sparse with one or two of a theme to choose from. That is no longer the case and, as the industry develops, more and more costumes will be available.

Costumes used to be very cheap looking, something that could be thrown together in an hour or so at home by a poor machinist. Those are still available if you want them, but most people now appreciate the attention to detail, and overall quality that you can buy online these last few years.

So let’s consider a few themes of sexy costumes in a little detail.

Pirate Costumes.

The popularity of pirate style costumes has grown probably more than any other theme. I would suggest that that is at least in part due to the successful film series “Pirates of the Caribbean” staring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. Interestingly he claimed to have based his depiction of a pirate on Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and even managed to persuade the guitarist to take a small role in one of the later films. It has been suggested that Mr Richards didn’t need much help with his pirate outfit or his make up!

Pirates were usually men in history, but that’s not important when it comes to dressing up. That are plenty of costumes for would-be lady pirates and what a great theme it is to express yourself within. Ladies can add all sorts of accessories here and turn a basic pirate costume idea into something completely original. It may even be possible to create a design without buying anything but by piecing together articles from different outfits the lady already owns.

Sexy Nurse Costumes.

Usually a popular costume idea with the guys. Possibly something maternal, or caring for the man’s needs is involved in the psychology but we needn’t delve too much into mycology here. It’s enough to say that the nurse idea is sexy, fun and popular. Degrees of sexyness may vary, as with all costumes, but the costume theme is sexy by nature.

A more exposing costume may be more appropriate for home role play fun or gently teasing and nursing a “man flu victim” to better health. A slightly less revealing nurse costume may suit a girly party night or charity fund raising event.

Sexy Cop Costumes and Outfits.

This is another theme the guys like. There may be some dominance/submissive psychology going on with this one but either way if a guy is going to be arrested, he would prefer a sexy lady cop to give him a good frisking and slap the handcuffs on than another man taking away his freedom any day of the week. “Are you going to come quietly sir?”

French Maid Costumes.

Variable in the amount of cleavage the lady cares to show and the length of the skirt too, but the skirt should always be short enough to show some hosiery. A romantic and enticing costume as is the French reputation, but also naughty as it may suggest something which should technically be out of reach. The maid is there to tidy the rooms not romance the inhabitants. At home less housework may be accomplished than was never intended anyway.

Halloween Costumes.

Not necessarily sexy at all but included here because they can be, and that is more apparent these last few years. By nature, Halloween is a scary time of the year when the witches and the “undead” may make an appearance but modern society has increased the fun element of the event by making it more sexy than scary, in respect of costumes anyway. We have all kinds of sexy devils, vampires and witches available to buy these days if we search around the Internet. More so, perhaps, than scary equivalent costumes.

Sexy Sporty Costumes.

Ladies are known for complaining that their man takes too much interest in sport and not enough in her. Here she can get double the attention as some sporty costumes are quite sexy but are designed very accurately to the particular sport. Be it a football, soccer, baseball or general cheerleader costume that is chosen. But it is also a fun costume idea for a girls’ night out and worthy of note here are the sexy cheerleader costumes which are always popular for birthday celebrations or pre-wedding hen nights.

If you can think of an idea for a sexy costume, there is probably something already available that is similar. So use your imagination, enter the words, including costume, into a search engine and see what comes back! Also bare in mind you usually get what you pay for with sexy costumes.

Tidders is the MD of Femme Fatale Online Ltd specialising in the online sale of erotic and sexy lingerie including sexy leather lingerie, clothes and sexy costumes. http://www.lingerieandperfume.co.uk/costumes.php

Formal occasions can be quite costly as dresses are very expensive to buy. However, there is an option to buy cheap formal dresses instead of paying a great deal of money for a dress that you might not wear a lot. When looking for cheap dresses you might be surprised to find that there are some great dresses out there for much less. The key to finding these dresses is looking hard for them as they may be hard to find.

There are quick and easy ways to buy cheap dresses that can be used at formal event. The best thing to do is look for a classic black dress that looks good for any occasion. The key is to look for a dress that can be easily accessorized and therefore changed for each event. For example, you can add a beautiful necklace during one event and then an elegant scarf for another, making it look like you have two different dresses on.

The best place to find cheap dresses is a resale shop. These stores specialize is buying used dresses, having them dry cleaned and then selling them again for a reduced price. This is where many people go to sell their dresses that they want to get rid of from their closets. It is a great place for other people looking for cheap dresses to go to find the perfect dress.

There are many sites online that offer great deals on beautiful dresses. There are hundreds of discount dress stores online. Some of these stores have emails that allow you to email your dress requirements and they will search their inventory to see if they have what you are looking for. These dresses sell for considerably less than most retail stores and if you lucky they will include the cost of shipping and handling if the dress needs to be shipped.

If you are handy with a needle and thread then you can get a dress and alter it and change it into whatever you want. Some dresses can look completely different with just a slight change to the hem or the sleeves. For example, you can take a bridesmaids dress and change it into a simple elegant dress that would be perfect for any formal occasion.

If you are flexible in the colours that you are willing to use then you are opening up more options for finding a great dress. For example, if you are set on having a red dress only, then you are limiting yourself to particular dresses. If you have more colours to choose from you also now have more styles to choose from. Vintage dresses are great dresses that can be purchased at a reduced price. In some cases you can buy a vintage dress that you can wear at a formal event for less than one hundred dollars. Thrift stores are great places to find cheap affordable dresses. People often skip these stores because they think the dress will be of poor quality but sometimes looking in these stores can really pay off.

For more information on cheap formal dresses,homecoming dresses and discount dresses visit http://www.TalkPromDresses.com

Who doesn’t love women’s designer shoes? A great pair of shoes can really put together a look. Shoes can also really boost your confidence and are often used as a guilty pleasure. The thing is, women’s designer shoes can easily run in the low hundreds to thousands of dollars. If you’re going to buy a pair of women’s designer shoes, you want to make sure you buy something that looks great, something that you can wear often, and something that’s going to be comfortable. So you’re getting ready to go and make that investment, the question is…So what should you look for when buying womens designer shoes?

Many times women’s designer shoes revolves around a high heels. When buying a pair of shoes, the heel is one of the first places you should look. When First of all consider the heel height and what you are going to be wearing the shoes for. Many women are buying high heels to try to be taller. While buying shoes to be taller often works, if you buy heels that are too low long or high, for your height based on proportion to look can be funny. You don’t want to look like an adult star.

Ask your self how long you’re going to be on your feet. When buying womens designer shoes it doesn’t matter how nice the shoes are if you can’t wear them because they kill your feet. If you work at a desk job, wear business attire all day and the extent of your walking consists of walking to the copier and back then any size heel will work just fine. Imagine working in a department store all day, and walking back and forth between departments. Those same 4 inch heels that you have at the office, while probably look really great are not going to be your best friend at the end of the day. For good office where, and a durable wear, a closed toe shoe with a heel between two and 3 inches is considered a good compromise. This is one that looks great in the office, and one that you should be able to handle wearing for long periods of time.

Another alternative to the straight high heel, is the wedge shoe. A nice pair of wedge shoes that have a little bit of a platform on them will get you some of that extra height, but will minimize on the excessive angle that he hides you’ll will create. The platform on the wedge platforms are great for giving you that extra height and reducing the strain on your feet and heel. Again, platforms add height in the sole reducing the angle your foot rests at and makes the shoe more comfortable, like wedges and other platform type shoes. There may be a stigma around platform shoes, that they are only four the women that are dancing in the adult industry, but that stigma is based around for inch and higher platform shoes. Now, you can go to a woman shoe store and find very tasteful work wage shoes.

Here is another easy way to have great shoes that feel comfortable. The problem is, it’s the most simple thing but probably the worst followed piece of advice. Here it is, be sure that the shoes you buy are in fact your size. Do not let vanity get in the way and get you to buy shoes based on the size not on the fit. Are you one of those women who is wearing a pair of shoes that is a size too small because you will not buy any size different? When trying on shoes, ask for a few different sizes. The sales person shouldn’t have a problem with you making sure the shoes you buy are the right size. After all, on average are going to be spending at least $50 and upwards to hundreds of dollars, make sure the shoes fit your feet perfectly. Just because you think you are a size 7, you may not be in the designer shoes you are buying and your feet will pay for it.

One of the big things you can do to improve shoe comfort, are some little things you do after you buy the right shoe. Add some of the cushion insoles to your shoes for comfort. This one little thing can make all the difference in the world. Comfort insoles are inexpensive, disposable and every woman should have them in every pair of shoes she owns. If you haven’t done so already give it a shot, once you try you will never go back.

When buying a pair of shoes from a new designer, a designer you may have never gotten a pair of shoes from, don’t just buy them by the looks or the picture. Go and try them on for real. You lose nothing when you try on a pair of shoes and if it turns out you didn’t like the way they looked send them back. Once you know how the shoes fit from a particular designer, then you can go online and search for great deals. But it is very important to make sure that upfront you are very comfortable and know exactly how the shoe fits and looks.

Buy cheap shoes online and check out http://ibuyshoesonline.com to buy running shoes online or buy women’s designer shoes online.

Looking for some chic maternity shirts? Yes! So, you are one of those women who believe in flaunting their inflated bellies and turning their pregnancy term into a party! You don’t wanna hide behind those over-sized, baggy clothes. And why should you? It’s time to tell the world about your “accomplishment”.

Fashionably Pregnant!

Who says pregnant ladies cannot be sexy? Just take a look at the huge range of maternity clothes; and you’ll shout “wow!” There are fitted jeans to team up with cute tops. There are stretched denims featuring side panels that you can adjust with buckles. For a growing belly, low waist jeans are the best. These fit below your stomach and are very comfortable.

How about getting into a pair of cropped jeans with embellishments? It’s the best attire for malls and other such shopping spots. If you find jeans a bit uncomfortable, go for Gaucho pants. Ah! And how can you overlook the skirt! Get some sexy maternity shirts and team them up with flowing skirt. Complete your look with boots. You’re dressed to kill!

T-Shirts To Woo Your Hubby Again!

There’s a vast collection of stretchable and soft cotton shirts especially designed for large bellies. Most of these T-shirts contain high quality fabric with 1-2 percent spadex, which expands with your growing belly. Thus, you can wear such t-shirts even till the last month of pregnancy.

Do you know you look more curvy and sexy right now? Just look at the mirror! Don’t hide your curves; flaunt them by wearing cool t-shirts with V-necks or other designs that you’re comfy in. T-shirts with messages are the hottest trend. T-shirts with a straight arrow or big letters or drawings are passe.

Don a shirt saying “Babies on Board”, or “This Belly Rocks”, or “I can do it!” How about shirts saying “Coming This Winter”? Wanna be naughty? You could try maternity shirts with messages like “I drank the water!” or “Birth control for Sissies.” Watch your hubby fall madly in love with you all over again!

Flaunt Your Belly!

There are more maternity clothes available in the market. You can get casual, formal, and semiformal wears, including the evening gown. Choose clothes according to comfort. There’s such an enormous collection that you’re definitely gonna get your choice. The catch is to dress in style and comfort. Don’t stop being fashionable just because you’re pregnant. Besides, now you’ve no excuse to hide behind loose clothing, as a large number of stores have a separate section for maternity clothing.

Big bellies are in. Oh! Didn’t you know that? Well, it’s time for a wardrobe change, if you still haven’t invested in some stylish pregnancy clothes. You’re passing through one of the best phases of life. You deserve to be pampered. And what better way to do this than shopping for chic clothes and shoes? Get a spa treatment, wear sexy maternity shirts or a classy evening gown, and walk the red carpet.

Pregnancy is an important phase of your life and you can jazz it up by wearing attractive maternity shirts.With so many choices available for maternity clothes, pregnant ladies need not worry about their looks during the pregnancy period.visit http://www.pregnancy-period.com

Although nobody ever sees them, women feel more confident that what she is wearing underneath is simply hot and dazzling; that is all that matters. If you want to feel good about herself, try buying her a few sexy bra sets with matching panties. Sexy bra sets typically come with an even sexier pair of matching panties. Wearing matching bra and panty sets are not only fun to do, but it also makes women feel good about themselves throughout the day. Indeed sexy lingerie can help her acquire that positive vibe. According to Amanda Cotterill: There is actually a little psychological effect that tends to happen when a woman is wearing nice lingerie under her clothes. She thinks about it all day. As time passes, she feels sexier and sexier. Her imagination runs a little wild.

For the men the task of purchasing that special bra and panty set can be quite daunting as Cotterill, author of Sexy Bra Sets to Enhance Your Sexy Curves. Here she gives men some practical purchasing advice.

The large number of styles available can trip some guys up, though. Bras come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. There are choices to be made about fabrics, colors, and cuts. In order to find a style that your lady will appreciate, you might need to do a little investigating. Pay attention to what she wears. Does she seem to have a favorite color? What do her other bras look like? If you are planning to purchase sexy bra sets that include underwear, it is good to know what type she likes. Consider whether you are better off purchasing bikini panties, a thong, or even boy style shorts.

Buying sexy bra sets can be difficult if you have no idea what your partner likes. Take a peek in her lingerie drawer first. Is there something that you both like? You might want to get her something similar but a little more daring. Take into consideration her cup size, too. Does she have a larger bust size? If so, then she may need thicker straps. The important thing is to have fun with it and remember to keep her taste into consideration, too. After all, she is the one that has to wear it.

The cut of the cups is another choice you will need to make. The push up style can make sexy bra sets that much sexier, for example. On the other hand, you may find that a demi cup is what will really look the best on your lady. An underwire bra is likely to offer more support for a fuller figured woman, and a plunge style bra is going to afford a lot of cleavage.

Sexy lingerie is great for both of you and can add a little excitement to your relationship. Buying sexy bra sets that really suit your ladys style will make her look great, which is the best self-esteem booster. It also shows her that you pay attention to what she likes and wants; and that is just a certified turn on. So take the plunge and get up that courage to but this special gift for your girl.

Matthew Stanton writes an article about Sexy Lingerie and has written articles similar to the topic. This gives people some ideas on the best for Sexy Lingerie. Just visit this website at http://www.rightlingerie.com/sexy-lingerie.html