Hawaii Style Through the Ages

Dressing appropriately for the warm, tropical weather associated with Hawaii is about a lot more than simply wearing clothing that’s as minimal as possible. Hawaiian fashion trends have always been about celebrating the culture and embracing the ideals of the region to a very high degree. That said, it’s not difficult to see why they’ve had such a profound influence on the fashions of other parts of the world, such as Hollywood.

As is the case with any region’s trademark fashion traditions, Hawaiian fashion trends have been shaped by the local atmosphere, particularly the beautiful weather and peaceful way of life on the islands. Whenever people have wanted to let their laid back attitude or love of natural beauty shine, they wear items like Hawaiian shirts; long, flowing, wrapped Pa’u skirts; or fragrant tropical blooms in their hair. This infographic gives you a closer look at how all of those traditions came to be… and lets you in on some other fun facts about Hawaii to boot

Created by I Love Hula Girl, where visitors to Kauai can shop high-quality aloha-wear and Hawaiian apparel, jewelry, gifts & arts.

The Beauty Of Designer Temporary Tattoos For The Customer And The Artist

Designer Temporary Tattoo Trend Benefits the Customer and the Artist
One of the hottest trends to hit the beauty scene in recent months is designer temporary tattoos. In addition to its dynamic look, many designers are creating the styles to accessorize with their clothing lines and the bags their clientele carry. Artists are just as excited with this new fashion statement because temporary tattoos are a new way they can showcase their artistic talents in the bold designs that they create.

Temporary Tattoos as the New Accessory

Handbags, iPods, belts and shoes have been the norm in the latest fashion accessories. However, with the emergence of temporary tattoos, designers are getting in on the action with this fashionable body art. Unlike a permanent tattoo, temporary ink allows the individual to change their patterns and designs like they would their shoes. If you’re trying to go for a particular look, you can change your style to something more edgy or less dramatic depending on your particular mood. Fashion runways this season have their models ablaze with these designs that can decorate the face, shoulders, torsos, necks, legs and arms. Some popular styles include necklace and earring art, tribal symbols around the arms and neck and flowery back adornment.

Designers want a Piece of the Action

Famous designers such as Louis Vuitton, Dereon, Chanel and Betsey Johnson are at the top of this trend and have created their own lines of temporary tattoos for the consumer to enjoy. These temporary styles allow the individual to change their artistic creations with the season which is a drastic change from the permanent designs of regular tattoos. The upper end line of tattoos can be quite expensive for something temporary, but Betsey Johnson has made the tattoos affordable for most consumers with a price of around $25. If you’re looking to make a statement, Christian Dior’s latest collection starts in the area of $120 for a set. The temporary 24-carat gold creations are jewelry inspired, glamorous and can adorn any part of your body.

What do Tattoo Artists Think?

Artists at the helm of the temporary tattoos are just as excited. They can create an assortment of designs that go beyond permanence. High-end tattoo designs allow the artists to think outside the box and come up with designs that are ornamental and can be worn in a number of ways. Instead of adorning your neck or wrist with expensive jewelry, an artist can get creative and choose a tattoo necklace that matches a glamorous dress. Weddings no longer have to be traditional. Try draping your neck or shoulders in temporary tattoo art and give your walk down the aisle a unique and unusual flair.

Up and coming trend setters see this new look as a fashion hit and are embracing the temporary tattoos with open arms. If you’re looking for a new fashion trend that will set the seasons on fire this year, you might want to look into the latest designer creations in temporary fashion art before making the commitment to a permanent tattoo.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source 

Being a fashion-forward freelance artist, author Molly Pearce recognizes all the fabulous possibilities these designer temporary tattoos have to offer. Tattooyou.com is a brand new e-commerce store offering high quality temporary tattoos designed by today's best tattoo artists and edgy illustrators. On this site, you can vote on your favorite designs and help decide which ones will be sold to buyers as high end temporary body art.

Going Green With Hemp Products

Going green with hemp products can be both life-changing and fun. There are plenty of products easily available that will transform your everyday living into a green and eco-friendly lifestyle. With natural and organic products you can be both fashionable and eco-friendly.

Since Hemp does not need any pesticides or chemicals to grow, items made primarily from hemp are organic and help in a variety of ways. Clothing and accessories are better for the Eco system and environment we live in. If everyone were to take part in this movement we would succeed at slowing down the balances of life for an extra couple of years. In today’s society we can take simple everyday occurrences that don’t cost much at all and that will benefit the Earth. It takes small, almost unnoticeable steps – steps which are both fashionable and fun.

Along with this being the new trend, we are also preventing diseases and all kinds of complications. By using organic products we are not exposing our bodies to the harmful chemicals that the average clothing and accessories expose us to. This in itself contributes to a healthy lifestyle. By using organic products that can easily be reproduced naturally, we are eliminating the factory style manufacturing tools and diminishing the harmful toxins released for the ozone to absorb.

Hemp is a plant that is so versatile that everything – the root, stem, leaves, and seeds – are used, and this makes it totally sustainable. Many companies who use hemp even limit their overseas transportation to ships, using less fuel and releasing a fraction of emissions in the process of you receiving the product.

If hemp products are continuously purchased by the leading manufactures together we can save the essences of the world as we know it today. If more hemp is produced in turn more green will be planted providing more clean oxygen in our atmosphere. With more clean oxygen we can then move to diminishing issues such as breathing problems and respiratory issues.

If enough hemp is processed and people begin using it in their everyday lives we can broaden the usage of it and begin using it many different ways including fuel, food, clothing, and much more as far as concrete housing and paved roads. Having a material that can be used in every aspect of life as we know it is uncommon and should be taken advantage of. We have been given a perfectly good product that is both universally capable and one hundred percent economically viable, too. We can also expand the horizons and use it as a protein builder and foundation.

Another upside to purchasing hemp clothing and accessories is the simple fact that it lasts longer than the average material found in common stores. It also holds natural dyes much better so as your clothing will last longer and fade less looking newer for longer. Companies like Greenwood Hemp offer dozens of hemp products that are user and eco-friendly. All of these products help the environment and with enough usage can also help each of our individual lives.

Join the movement to a greener world with fewer diseases and happier lives! Think of this the next time you look for clothing or accessories online and do your part in moving forward and encouraging others to do the same.

How To Prepare Your Home For A Zombie Invasion

We are always reminded about the threat of a Zombie invasion either via the films we watch such as ‘24 Hours Later’ or the upcoming blockbuster ‘World War Z’, our television screens with ‘The Walking Dead’ or the games we play with ‘Resident Evil’ of course. But are any of us really prepared to counter the threat of a real life Zombie invasion?

Well do not worry, with the help of this infographic you and your home can be fully prepared to fend off any nasty Zombie’s that are after your brains!

First things first, we need to establish a perimeter. Build a 10ft chain link fence, topped with razor wire, security cameras, flood lights and surrounded by mine, this will be your first line of defence.

Inside your shed will be your arsenal, complete with plunger gun, boxing glove bazooka, a bag of marbles and even a robotic sheep.

Always have an emergency kit packed away with plenty of supplies and important documents. If the Zombies get to your front door it will be time to flee through the escape tunnel to a waiting car. Once you’re a safe distance, detonate the explosives that are rigged to your home and enjoy the smell of cooked zombies as you drive away into the sunset.

Santa's 7 Perils

Trips and falls happen all the time especially at Christmas time as there are wires all over the place lighting up the house and tree. Tripping over these wires could result in an injury.
Now, think about poor Santa, he comes into the house and can’t see as there is no light. He doesn’t want to make anyone aware that he is there so he tries to be careful, only to trip on a loose wire and bring the Christmas tree smashing down on top of him (another injury there).
This also wakes the house up and the magic of Christmas is spoilt for one and all. Those in the house see Santa but he is too injured to deliver the rest of the presents (this isn’t a film where someone else delivers them).
So, when you are laying out your decorations think about the hazards  that may occur and be sensible enough to cover any loose wires as we don’t want Santa to be hurt and unable to do his job now do we?

First4Lawyers.com want to bring a little humour to you this festive period

(click for a bigger version)

A Full Century of Women's Clothing

Fashion is not just about the clothes but the accessories and shoes as well. For women, shoes make and break the outfit and are therefore a notable part of women’s fashion. Unlike men, women are known for having unlimited designs when it comes to shoes.
The roaring 20s saw women wear t-strap heels which were worn with their flappers. These shoes were quite comfortable due to their low heel and also doubled as dancing shoes. As time went by, shoes designs changed and wedges were now a part of fashion. Cork soled wedge shoes made their mark in fashion in the 50s and have continued to go in and out of fashion. The 50s had more variety as ballerina flats and saddle shoes were the popular shoes worn back then. The stiletto heel also gained popularity in the 50s.  Interestingly, these shoes are still making rounds in fashion today. The 60s were an outrageous time and go-go boots were the popular shoe. Since then boots have been fashionable.

Written by the staff at Prime Time Clothing, where you will find the latest styles at low wholesale prices.

How are Eco-Fashion clothes made?

Eco fashion uses natural or recycled products that are manufactured in an ethical way that does not damage the environment. It offers a way of buying clothes that look good, feel great as well as being generally harder wearing and better value over mass produced low grade clothing.

You should not be put off by the term eco fashion because this term does not mean that the clothes that you buy will be shapeless unflattering or make you look like a hippy. These days many of the great fashion houses are beginning to work with eco fashion principles with designers from Burberry,  Yves Saint Laurent, Manolo Blahnik and Alexander Wang just a few who are gradually becoming more green.

The environmental costs of intense factory production in the third world and the ethical concerns over the employment of child and slave labour are becoming increasingly untenable to many people.

Eco fashion offers an ethical alternative to this as well as a more pleasurable experience to the clothes wearer. With eco fashion clothes you know that the materials used are soft and natural and will not cause any unpleasant reactions to your skin. You know that the people who have produced your clothing have been paid a fair wage and have reasonable living conditions.

Non-eco fashion clothes often use so-called natural products such as silk and cotton but these are usually treated with pesticides during the growing process and treated with bleach during the dying process. These processes contain many dangerous chemical elements that can damage and irritate skin.

Eco fashion materials are made from organic raw materials. If the garment is made of cotton, it will have been grown without the use of pesticides so is safe for workers and wearers alike. If made of silk, the fabric will be spun by silk worms fed on organic leaves, rather than chemical alternatives.

A major area of concern in mass clothing production is the use of bleaching materials which use high levels of hydrogen peroxide and nitric acid. Eco fashion uses dyes, which are plant based so are not only safe for the environment but are also are softer and more friendly on the skin.

Hemp is also a fantastic clothing material that is growing increasingly popular with the move towards eco fashion.  Previously used for clothing and rope it fell into decline with the emergence of man made fibres but now is sweeping back into fashion in a big way.

Hemp is easy to grow anywhere and is very adaptable for use with no dangerous by products. It has the strongest fibres of any plant known to man yet can be broken down and softened for a range of purposes including clothing and bags.

Eco fashion also looks to using recycled materials such as previously used textiles for high end clothing and even uses recycled plastics in shoes and bags. Although originally these materials may have been produced without any concern for green issues, giving them a new lease of life is fully in line with eco fashion principles.

The Influence of Alternative Fashion on Mainstream Fashion

There’s a group of individuals out there who see fashion in a rather different light. Instead of following the norms that the mainstream fashion society dictates, they go the different route, going against the grain of some sorts, and rediscovering fashion on their own – without rules, without limits. This is alternative fashion. Although alternative fashion has somewhat been linked to emo or goth, alternative fashion really is something deeper, something that’s beyond the tangible, as it aims to reflect what’s on the inside, a form or self-expression that many in the mainstream industry sometimes deem as “underground”.

Despite this seeming need to veer away from the norm, alternative fashion does rub off on the mainstream scene. Grunge, for instance, is a product of alternative fashion that has been embraced by the mainstream industry. Many clothing magazines for women have tackled the grunge sense of style as A-list figures seem to have a knack at dumping the “sleek” for something more comfortable. Ripped jeans, clunky boots, and huge plaid shirts are just some of the well-known proofs. Grunge fashion had a huge following back in the ‘90s, but knowing how mainstream fashion works, grunge has made its comeback this year – proof that alternative fashion has secured its roots in popular culture. Purists may cringe at this fact but nevertheless, the mainstream industry will continue to keep a close eye on the alternative fashion scene, to draw inspiration from what may seem to be “deviant” but raw.

Photo Credit: weheartit.com

Guest post by Ronald Aguilar

Tips for buying original vintage clothes on the internet

Buying vintage clothes over the internet should be one of the most enjoyable and easy experiences any online shopper could have. Firstly items are typically very difficult to find; which makes finding exactly what you were looking for a rare and joyous moment. Secondly more and more vintage websites are popping up every, each with increasingly efficient focus on ecommerce.

However as with buying anything online there are some pretty hefty potholes, which if not considered could result in you being left unhappy & out of pocket. This article aims to provide a brief guide to buying vintage clothing online, hopefully preventing you from having a miserable vintage shopping experience.

Vintage Inspired Vs. Vintage

Image source: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4489283530_7efe1bd34f.jpg

With the rise in popularity of vintage clothes has come the rise in ‘vintage inspired’ clothing manufacturers. Original vintage clothes are typically hard to find, both by the fashion buyer and subsequently you the enthusiast. As a result clothing manufacturers have started copying cuts and prints of original vintage clothes and selling them as ‘vintage inspired’. These imitations are therefore easier on your wallet but will not satisfy the purists among you.

Check & double check sizes

Image source: http://www.marionsmerryminis.com

Buying vintage clothes requires a tape measure and some patience. Firstly the sizes indicated on the labels obviously do not translate to the same size in today’s standards. Therefore never buy an item of original vintage clothing based on label size alone. Most reputable vintage clothing stores will give you precise measurements of various parts of the item you are buying. You will need to have your tape measure at the ready to compare these against your own.

Discover the condition

Some of the items you are looking to purchase will have been around for the best part of a century. Over this period they will have been worn and stored, which will undoubtedly have resulted in some amount of wear and tear. Always keep in mind the fact that your item may not be “perfect” when you take it out of the box. All good retailers will have either a condition scale guide; ranging for example from “good” to “unworn”. Alternatively they will describe each issue on the product description page. If unsure ask questions.

Check the returns policy

Due to the issues mentioned above there is a higher likelihood of you having to return your purchase. Make sure you read the returns policy before making the purchase.

This article was brought to you by Mela Mela Vintage, a womens vintage clothing boutique in South West London. Mela Mela stocks a huge range of vintage clothes including vintage 1940s dresses & skirts.

Get the Burlesque look

Image source

Get the Burlesque look

The last few years has seen the popularity of wearing vintage and 1950’s fashion soar, meaning that naturally, and burlesque style in in, big style. Women all around are getting back to grips with their sexy and sultry style.

If you’ve never worn a burlesque style before, it can be hard to know where to start to create a look that has the desired effect. Here we take a look at how you can achieve that look relatively easily…

Make-up

Burlesque make-up is all about being sultry with your make-up, but it’s also important to keep it clean and fresh. It’s important to get a good base with a quality foundation, and go for the matt look as opposed to bronzed. For the eyes, add a sleek line of eyeliner on the top lid- with a flick if you like- and then add generous coats of mascara.

It wouldn’t be a burlesque look without some bold lipstick. The traditional colour would be red; however, bright pinks and bold purples work well too.  Finish off with some pink rouge and you’ll have the perfect make-up look.

Hairstyle & headpiece

When choosing a hairstyle for the perfect vintage look, think 1950’s glamour. Think curls, waves and finger waves, constructed into neat and sleek styles to give you a look which says you’re sophisticated but sexy at the same time.

Keep all curls close to your head- the current big hair styles including back combing and volume aren’t burlesque. Keep your hair sleek and shiny to ooze glamour.

Head pieces are also a big part of burlesque fashion. Fascinators are a great way to dress up your outfit and give you a big of pizazz.  Any which add a touch of glamour or are synonymous with the style, and can really complete an outfit.

Headpieces with net that covers part of the face are good choices; they help to add an air of mystery.

Corset and stockings

No burlesque look is complete without a corset and stockings. A corset will help to give you the perfect feminine figure, including a smaller waist and an ample cleavage. If you really want to go burlesque, go for black, red or purple. Any style will suit, including under bust corsets, ones with straps and any material will do. And of course, if you go for an under bust corset, it’s worth investing in some nipple tassels for behind closed doors…

Stockings are vital to achieve this look. A burlesque dancer will make a statement by removing stockings in a very suggestive way. Stockings can be very sexy, and make you feel a million dollars.

Go vintage

Burlesque isn’t all about flaunting your underwear. You can still wear the 1950’s sex siren look without being overly sexual. Invest in some vintage tea dresses and some peep toe shoes to get that 50’s look. This teamed with hair and make-up can still make a burlesque look which is suitable for everyday wear.

You could even wear the corset and stockings underneath your dress to keep your confidence high. And only you will know about it.

This is a guest post written by Becki Hall from corsetsupplies.co.uk

To find out how you can guest post on Queen's of the Wild Frontier please click here

Goth Gift Ideas

Mike Ruiz for YRB

What is Goth?

This is probably one hardest question for any person; parallel to answering “Who is God?” as it has so many facets that it defies any definitive explanation. All that’s certain is that they’re a close-knit artistic sub- culture group of people who desires darker and more ethereal emotions to be invoked, and that are unified in all the varying takes on fashion with definitive limited colors of black, white and red.

For people’s nook of knowledge, pre-dating the Goth account was the punk rock history, where band artists like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols from the 70’s and today’s Greenday are among of the greatest examples. These celebrated people have brought so much influence

and bearing to Goth’s existence. And as they sway people’s minds with their lugubrious, mystical sound, and outlook tendency on music, the journey of rejecting mainstream social and religious values in favor of questioning the norm continues to live on.

People, sadly, denounce this particular group as a part of a wicked and malicious movement, saying that they bring destruction to the civilization. But not did these people know that these individuals seek belongingness which they later found from each other’s 

 company, and that they too have differences in life’s perceptions. Denying the typical does not mean a sin. For them, they perceive it as an ability of finding art where art seems to be lacking; of finding light in the darkness, and embracing it for all its worth.

Where is the truth behind the saying, “Equality is the soul of liberty”, if people can’t read between the lines, and if they keep on harassing and discriminating unique groups? Unity surely is not within reach if acceptance is discounted; don’t be a stereotype, and don’t start now. They say that apologies have gone overrated, so why not show our respect and affection to these people by bestowing them the recognition they truly wanted, and what makes such a good idea more meaningful is by giving them gifts.

Here’s a list of gifts we could surprise them off. It would also make an impact if we could wrap them in black, and dress with a large gift bow.

1. Hair Products. It is the hair that completes the Goth look, and they really invest a lot of time achieving the style they want, so giving them hair products would just be so fitting. Also, these products are cost-effective. Just make sure to buy those which are environment- friendly.

2. Gift Vouchers. Consider purchasing one for their favorite clothing and beauty supply shops. These people take in mind seriously on how they’ll sport their fashion enigmas.

3. Music. Buy them records or cd’s of the music they cling too. Also, an i Tunes gift card would become handy if they want to download songs they prefer.

4. Room Decor. Since these people have great reverence for goth bands, buy them some posters and some interesting finds. You may want also to purchase a black comforter set or some electricity- generated black LED pillar candles to complete the look of the room.

5. Cosmetics. Make up is critical for achieving that perfect Goth look. Pale white foundation and severe eye shadow gives that wanted radiance. Also, nail polishes are generously needed. You can purchase these make up items and put them is a customized coffin- shaped gift box.

6.     Books. Books that have stories about Vampires, Draculas, Werewolves and other mystical creatures are good gift choices. Ex: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte; Dracula by Bram Stoker; etc.

Author Bio: Mitchlanie Uy, based out of Florida, is the online content coordinator for Big Red Bows. She is a freelance writer and blogger, a photographer and a traveler. You may follow her on Google+.

To find out how to guest post on Queens of the Wild Frontier, please click here

Korea Promotes Itself to The World Best Through Starcraft and Hallyu

What is hallyu? 

It’s a desire to express what Korea has to offer the best at this moment, not just for the Asian fashion market, but for the entire world. It’s a movement to bring forth a clear, young idea that many other people will catch on to. And it expresses itself best when it comes to fashion beauty and hairstyle. It has created a market for Korean fashion, to be a provider of products and of merchandise in Asia, but also in other parts of the world.

The fact is, Korean movies and korean stars are making shows with big ratings around the world.  When a viewer is watching some of these shows, they see how the actors look and the clothes of the characters,so they want to be dressed just like that. This in turn, created a great demand for Korean fashion who has grown a lot in the last 5 years, turning Seoul into one of the capital sought out for innovation in the Asian fashion market.

But when we talk about hallyu its not just about shows, it’s also about how everyday people look. Koreans today are having the courage to dress how they like and this in turn is inspiring other individuals around the world, and especially in the Asian fashion market to be themselves.

One of the biggest followers of this trend called hallyu is Japan. If we are talking about clothes, make-up style or design, Japanese young people are using Korean products to make themselves look and be just as they want. An entire industry of fashion websites of shops and retailers has appeared, and is thriving because of the fact that many people desire to be unique and hallyu is helping them to do that.

Also hallyu is propelled by really good Korean fashion designers who have managed to create beautiful collections presented in all the major fashion stages of the world. These kinds of appearances of people like Doo-Ri Chung in New York, where he presented his new line of clothes, didn’t happen 10 years ago.
From a Korean point of view hallyu has helped the country grow immensely regarding its financial status. But more than that it helped put Korean fashion on the market. People are looking forward to what will be produced furthere by halllyu, and desiring to be involved in it.

It’s an example of how a country can promote itself through its brand, in this case a Korean fashion brand. It’s something that other countries could follow in making great products, presenting them to the world, and then building on the success.

Hallyu in Asian fashion has left its mark, and who knows maybe it will continue to do so in the future.
Hallyu is a national Korean fashion strategy that not only has taken over the Asian fashion market, but its aiming to be something nobody in the world can ignore.

To find out how you can guest post on Queen's of the Wild Frontier please click here

Guest Posts

So as you're all probably aware I vanish sometimes for a whole week, and during those times I don't post at all or as much, and there's a point coming up in a few months time where I could be gone for a whole fortnight so I want to try and have other people write guest posts in my absence.

So here's the deal I want to trial this for a little while, I sometimes miss posting one day a week when I'm visiting my family and so I want to have guest posts on those days if anybody is interested in guest posting.

Here are some ideas of things that I would consider being fitting posts for this blog:

Hairstyle tutorials - This is something I haven't yet myself done, but as hairstyles are starting to become a bit of a theme around here a guest tutorial or two would be great (plus I could try them out myself in the next post I do!).

Alternative Fashion Posts - This could be anything from a piece on a runway show you liked that seemed quite alt (Punk, Goth, Lolita etc etc etc), tips on how to coordinate items into the perfect outfit, your own fashion shoot (please no self timer/webcam outfit shots...I tried that for a few posts and looked derptacular...We're trying to avoid derp at all costs now), or even some kind of alternative street snap!

Alt crafting tutorials - I know I've slipped a little with the tutorials lately, I must get back into the routine of post those more often...Anyway, do you have a craft you want to show us how to do? Can you crochet a cobweb? Bake bat bread? Make a top hat out of a tin? Show us some Goth crafts (or Lolita, Punk, etc)

The Gothic Home Guide - How do you add a little bit of deathly gloom to your every day life? How about a house tour? (I've been meaning to do a "Cribs" style post about my hose for a while now but we keep having things break on us meaning I keep having to pile stuff up all over the place and we're never really in any fit state for pictures :( ).

If you have other ideas that don't fit into those categories don't hesitate to get in touch with your ideas.

Not only will this be great for me because it means my blog with almost always be active, I want it to be great for the guest posters too and so every guest post will have a link back to the poster's blog at the top of the page with their name or username and you can have a maximum of four links at the bottom of the post too (for example: Blog link, Tumblr, Facebook Fanpage, Twitter).

I hope this interests some people :)

To apply to be a guest poster hit me up at random_havok@hotmail.co.uk with "Guest Post" in the subject line and we can talk :)