August 19, 2017

Coercing Creativity – 6 Tips For Finding Inspiration As An Aspiring Fashion Stylish

So you’ve decided to take your first steps on the journey to becoming a fashion stylist, and now that you’ve made the leap, it can be hard to gather your thoughts and inspirations into a compelling visual form.

Below are 6 tips aimed at helping you find your super-styling muse, and ways you can communicate this effectively to boost your career and your client base.

Look Out!

If you’re aspiring to a career in fashion styling, it’s important to keep your eyes open. Widen your circle of inspiration by seeking out new experiences and adventures. If you’re able to travel, it’s an excellent way to absorb influences and ideas.

Sometimes even a weekend away in a new environment is enough to trigger a new way of seeing, or some new aesthetic insight. Separate cities within the same country (think of the differences between Melbourne and Brisbane in Australia) will help to convey that there are cultural, climatic and environmental considerations to take into account when styling a client. Seeing these differences play out in situ is a very valuable experience.

Take Notes

A surefire way to ready yourself for a successful career in fashion styling is by undertaking fashion stylist courses. Armed with insider information, tips and tricks, you can be assured that your confidence and competence will skyrocket.

Completing a formal course will also allow you to make contacts and connect with likeminded individuals. It’s also a great way to update your knowledge and inspiration arsenal – industry professionals have seen and heard it all, and are willing to share their invaluable insight with you as you undertake your journey.

Culture Vulture

As with any new learning pursuit, it’s a good idea to read widely and read often. Seek out information and inspiration through the publications and journals of other countries, continents and cultures.

Think of the differences between French Vogue and British Glamour magazines. By being able to absorb and reflect on differing source materials, you will more ably form your own aesthetic opinion and style, while also grounding yourself with knowledge of emerging trends and markets on a global (not just local) scale.   

Cross Over

Art. Architecture. Music. Literature. These may seem like separate and disparate forms, but they’re all inter-related as they impact and influence our aesthetic sphere, and help to form our understanding of the world.

Understanding how wider design trends can be adapted and applied into your fashion styling will help to keep your business relevant, modern and interesting in a wider sense. It will also mean that you’ll never lack source material – whether it’s a song, a building or a sculpture. Artistic inspiration is everywhere and available for free.   

A Musing

If you’ve ever looked at another human being and thought ‘I love their style’, then you’ll find this next tip is a nod to simple instinct.

Try to deconstruct the fashion choices of people you find particularly stylish. Ask yourself questions like ‘why does this work’, and ‘why do I like this?’ By treating stylish friends and acquaintances (or even celebrities) as your muse, you will have an initial roadmap to some styling ideas, and reasons why these ideas are appealing or just ‘work’.

By unpacking simple questions you will begin to understand more nuanced notions inherent in fashion (and art and design). It can also be equally helpful to deconstruct fashions and fittings that you don’t particularly like – constructively think about why choices don’t work, and how you would change or improve outfits to create more visually compelling and flattering looks.

Pin It Up

Remaining up to date and filled with fresh inspiration is easier than ever in the digital world. Sharing platforms such as Pinterest and Reddit allow users to gather and discuss current trends, fascinations and inspirations. Pinterest is particularly helpful as it allows users the ability to create a digital pinboard where they can visually curate inspiration and get feedback from other users.  

A career in fashion styling is ever-changing, interesting, and filled with inspirations from all the senses. Remaining open to new experiences and interests, and reading widely will help to ensure your ongoing success, and will keep you current, relevant and avant-garde well into the future.

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August 18, 2017

8 Top Products By Celebrities

Constantly looking flawless, vacationing at a new beautiful destination or seen living in luxury, celebrities are often placed on a pedestal and inundated with a level of power, influence and responsibility. So when a celebrity endorses or creates a product, it’s hard not to be intrigued. However, the reliability of celebrity claims can often be jaded by commercialization, making it hard to determine which products are actually worth purchasing. Let’s check out some products that are either marketed or created by A-listers and have proven to be beneficial.

1. Sofia Vergara for Ninja Coffee Bar

Known for its variety of brew types, Sofia claims the Ninja Coffee Bar reminds her of the speciality coffee that she enjoyed in Colombia. Not only does this coffee system have a unique brewing technology, built-in frother and customizable servings, but it accommodates different sizes of coffee and even iced coffee without that awful watered-down effect.

2. Beats by Dr. Dre

For a long time, Beats by Dre have been popular for their crisp sound and sleek style. Now available as a wireless accessory, these headphones are great for intense workouts, warming up for a game or even doing household chores — no need to worry about them falling out or getting tangled up in the cords.

 

3. Ivy Park Activewear by Beyonce

Queen Bey prides herself on being a style icon so it’s no surprise that her line of activewear is on point. With a variety of styles and products, Ivy Park is stylish and lightweight, making you feel comfortable and fashionable when working out.

4. Kim Kardashian for Lumee Phone Cases

Not only does it have a sleek style but the Lumee Phone Case has a built-in light that is meant to allow users to take a perfectly lit selfie. Endorsed by the selfie-queen herself, Kim Kardashian, there is no one better to trust when it comes to unique phone accessories.

5. Cravings Cookbook by Chrissy Teigen

With a love for food, fun and family, Chrissy’s cookbook includes easy, straightforward recipes to all those delectable meals you crave. Including breakfast, lunch and dinner, this cookbook is great for a busy mum, young adult and even a beginner, and provides handy tricks that can be used in the kitchen.

6. 50 Cent for Glaceau Vitamin Water

Having previously owned shares in the brand, 50 Cent now endorses Glaceau’s Vitamin Water, owned by The Coca-Cola Company. Available in many yummy flavors, Vitamin Water has a number of vitamins and antioxidants and is a quick hydrator, making it perfect for constantly active individuals. You could even try Vitamin Water Zero, which is just as delicious but has zero calories.

7. The George Foreman Grill

Since its inception in 1994, the George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine has sold over 100 million machines. The original concept involved creating an indoor grill that cooked on both sides at once and drained fat away from the food, making it healthier for consumers. It has gone through a number of improvements through the years, making it a great asset to any kitchen.

8. Kylie Cosmetics by Kylie Jenner

As a young and fresh style icon, Kylie Jenner’s line of cosmetics has been growing in popularity. With her first eye palette having sold out instantly, according to product review site BestProducts.com, her range of make-up includes high quality products in a range of gorgeous colors.

Celebrity products are often instantly popular in market due to their associations, however some products actually provide great benefits to consumers. Try some of these suggestions and see the quality of product stand out.

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August 17, 2017

Top Reasons To Customize Your Mattress With The Experts!

Do you know that your mattress is a significant part of your life and in case you sleep on the wrong mattress you will invite restless sleep and back pain in your life! It is crucial for you as a person to invest in the right mattress for your sleep or else you will suffer from health issues that might turn worse with the passage of time.

 

Understand why your bed is important to you.

Most people overlook the need to buy the right mattress for their bed. They believe just any mattress will do. However, your body after a hard day’s work deserves the rest and care it deserves. In case, you sleep on the wrong mattress you will notice that pains and aches in your body increase. One of the biggest problems of sleeping on the wrong mattress includes your body sinking into the whole bed. You do not get the support you need, and the pressure points of the body are affected. It is here that you need to ensure you either change or buy a new mattress for your bed. You can opt for an innerspring, memory foam, air filled or customized bed as per your choice and needs.


Take expert guidance when you are customizing your mattress
Professional experts of bedding showrooms help you when it comes to choosing the right mattress for your health needs. You may customize your mattresses with TOILE – a name that invokes trust and quality when it comes to bedding and home décor. Ensure that you speak with experts and check for any underlying aches and pains you might have in your body. With the aid of their advice and guidance, you can tailor-make the mattress that meets and matches your needs without hassles at all.
Quality and comfort for years to come
When you are looking for the right mattress for your needs, ensure that you check for quality, comfort, and functionality. Beds come with a warranty, and they last for 10 to 20 years. At the same time, you must ensure that you take care and clean your mattress properly so that you face no problems or issues at all. In case you are not sure of the right kind of bed that is suited for your physical health and age, consult your doctor to find out.


Specifications -get the right measurements and guidance from experts
Discuss specifications and have the mattress delivered to your home without hassles at all. Also, ensure your family sleeps on the right bed. With the aid of customized mattresses, you will never face health problems at all. These mattresses ensure you receive comfort and health at the same time. They allow you to sleep better and you will not wake up feeling tired and fatigued.
Customized mattresses are not expensive, and they are affordable for your pocket. Opt for the right one today and see the difference it makes to your life and improves both the quality of health and sleep.

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August 16, 2017

Summer Skin Issues & How to Fix Them by Board Certified Dermatologist (LCVIP)

By Board Certified Dermatologist, Dr. Margarita Lolis

As we head into the cooler months the weather change impacts our skin. We may notice changes to texture, tone, perhaps some breakouts and over all ruddiness and damage from being outside enjoying the summer. Here are some of the most common post summer skin issues I see in my practice along with some solutions for them.

  1. Sunspots and wrinkles.

Days at the beach or pool can lead to sunspots even if you apply sunscreen. We cannot reach every spot and sometimes we forget to reapply after swimming. Also, even when wearing polarized sunglasses, we may put them on our heads; temporarily squinting leading to crow’s feet.

If you’re noticing some new spots, freckles and wrinkles reach for a retinoid. Your dermatologist can offer prescription strength creams. Deeper wrinkles like the ones between the eyes usually require something like Botox but, you can minimize the appearance with creams that feature glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acid. These are wonder vitamins for the skin stimulate skin shedding and cellular turn over. A serum used at night will help; but be patient and use it regularly to see a gradual change. Chemical peels and intense light treatments (IPL) can handle any discoloration.

  1. 2. Clogged pores and dullness.

During the summertime, we perspire plus we are exposed to daily pollution in the air. When you combine these factors plus daily use of make-up, pores get clogged. Beneath the skin are our sebaceous glands which secrete an oil called sebum. Sebum sticks to dead skin cells like glue and funnels these dead skin cells through the pores. This is a process that is supposed to help you maintain healthy skin. The problem is when the weather and elements speed up the process pores become clogged. The dead skin cells get trapped along with bacteria and this leads to dull, ruddy skin with breakouts. An exfoliating face wash with glycolic acid or salicylic acid helps tremendously. Your dermatologist can create a skin care regimen based on your specific skin type and issues so you don’t deregulate pH levels in the skin which will only make things worse leading to…

  1. Acne flare ups.

Consistent heat and humidity combined with cell phone use and touching our faces after touching dirty surfaces, leads to a post-summer breakout. These breakouts can be cystic which means bigger, deeper, more painful pimples. It also can lead to a cycle of breakouts that include, treat, pick, peel, scar, and heal only to see another pimple and another. Over the counter acne treatments such as face washes with sulfur, black charcoal masks and soaps, spot treatments with benzoyl peroxide can certainly help. However, when the breakouts are consistent a dermatologist can assess your skin and present solutions that may even involve nutritional changes, vitamins and light therapy for mild or moderate acne.

  1. Dry lips.

We all know about winter time lip chapping. In the summer lips can get incredibly dry. Using a lip balm with SPF is very helpful but unless we are applying it regularly while at the beach, pool, or working out outdoors, one swipe under lip gloss isn’t enough. Drinking water, and keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum helps keep us hydrated. When we are dehydrated, we see it on our lips. Pay close attention to any freckles or discoloration to the lips after prolonged sun exposure. If you see any odd changes, see your dermatologist.

  1. Ashy, flaky, itchy, skin.

If you are often in chlorine or salt water you’ll find your skin to feel rough and dry almost as if it is shedding. Also, going from extreme heat to cool air conditioning leads to skin going from perspiration to goosebumps. This rapid drop in temperature affects skin. Taking luke-warm showers and using a gentle exfoliating skin wash followed by a hydrating moisturizer keeps skin supple. Add a few drops of vitamin E to your lotion for added nourishment.

When it comes to the face, peeling foreheads and noses points to sun damage. Oftentimes people wait until something is visible to them or when an is followed by a dry patch. Dermatologists can look at things with a more discerning eye plus magnifiers that enable them to flag something that could escalate into something more. If everyone put October on their calendars as the month to see a dermatologist for a skin check we would see many skin conditions be solved quicker. This includes melanomas.

About the expert:

Dr. Margarita Lolis, M.D. is a board-certified cosmetic, medical dermatologist and a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon with over 20 years of experience. In her practice, she addresses common skin concerns such as acne prevention and treatment in both teens and adults, sun-damage, skin discoloration, wrinkles, changes to skin texture and loss of volume. On the medical side, she is a trusted expert in melanoma and over-all skin health. Dr. Lolis prides herself in honoring facial symmetry to deliver a natural look to her clients. She always recommends a healthy skin care regimen plus lifestyle habits that are aligned with her holistic approach to beauty.

As an anti-aging, functional medicine physician, Dr. Lolis masterfully addresses age management, starting with internal issues, such as hormone and gut health, nutrition, and detoxification leading to a vibrant appearance from the inside out.

A graduate of Yale University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Lolis has authored numerous book chapters and medical articles in leading dermatology journals, and completed a melanoma research fellowship prior to residency.

Dr. Lolis is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Surgery, and the American Society of Anti-aging. Her practice, Skin, Laser, and Surgery Specialists is in New York City and Bergen Country, New Jersey.

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August 15, 2017

Industry-First: YouCam Launches Skin Diagnostic Tool

We want to share some exciting news from the world’s most downloaded beauty AR app, YouCam Makeup. The leading beauty AR app just launched an industry-first skin diagnostic tool, bringing personalized skin assessment to the palm of your hand. The new Skin Diary relies on AR facial recognition technology, AI and deep learning to evaluate the skin’s condition in real-time via the user’s camera on their smartphone.

The new feature scores four signs of skin health, including wrinkles, spots, skin texture, and dark circles. After the skin is scanned, a detailed skin health report is shown, highlighting the user’s skin age and relative skin scores as compared to the same demographic of other users. You can also track your daily results in the Skin Diary section, which allows users to the check the efficacy of their skincare regimen over time

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/youcam-makeup-makeover-studio/id863844475?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cyberlink.youcammakeup

 

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August 15, 2017

OLD WIVES’S TALES ABOUT DIET AND WEIGHT LOSS

www.drcalapai.net

An estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet each year, and Americans spend $33 billion each year on weight loss products. Yet, nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. With all of this money expended, why are so many people unable to lose weight?  Dr. Christopher Calapai is, a New York City Osteopathic Physician board certified in family and anti-aging medicine. He says that, “People are dealing with dieting information overload. It is hard to know what is sound weight loss advice and what is a myth.”   He sets the record straight on some of our most commonly held diet and weight loss myths.

You can eat whatever you want if you workout

Unfortunately, a half hour on the treadmill isn’t going to help you lose weight if you reward yourself by downing a few slices of cake and an order of French fries. The treadmill told you that you burned off 500 calories, but those estimated machine readouts are not always accurate.  It’s near impossible to out-exercise a bad diet unless you plan to spend half your day in the gym. You must workout and eat smart to see results.

Organic food is diet food.

The word organic is enticing, but it’s also misleading. Organic means a food is grown without pesticides or other chemicals and is not genetically modified. But it says absolutely nothing about the nutrient value of the food itself, or whether it’s a good dietary choice, or whether it has excessive fat, sugar, or starch. Organic sugar is still sugar. Organic white flour is still white flour. Organic butter is still butter and organic lard is still lard. 

You Can Lose 10 Pounds in 2 Weeks.

You probably can lose 10 pounds in two weeks if you crash-diet, but that pace is rarely sustainable.  Most of the weight will return once you start eating normally. To truly lose 1 pound, you need to “eliminate” 3,500 calories—the amount stored in a pound of fat—by eating less and moving more. If you cut 500 calories (or cut 300 and burn 200 through exercise) every single day of the week, you’ll lose about a pound a week. And that’s real weight loss.

amount stored in a pound of fat—by eating less and moving more. If you cut 500 calories (or cut 300 and burn 200 through exercise) every single day of the week, you’ll lose about a pound a week. And that’s real weight loss.

Cleanses and detoxes are a good way to jump-start a diet.

Nobody needs to detox.

Unless you’ve been poisoned, you have a built-in, super-efficient system for filtering out most of the harmful substances you eat. It’s made up of two toxin-bashing organs: the liver and the kidneys. Our kidneys filter our blood and remove any waste from our diet, and our livers process medications and detoxify any chemicals we ingest. Paired together, these organs make our bodies natural cleansing powerhouses.

You can’t eat after 8pm

It doesn’t matter what time of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activity you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight. No matter when you eat, your body will store extra calories as fat. If you want a snack before bedtime, think first about how many calories you’ve eaten that day.

You must keep your blood sugar topped up, and eat little and often to achieve it

This is one of the least accurate bits of advice. Every time you eat a carbohydrate, and your blood glucose levels rise, the body needs to release a substance called insulin (from the pancreas) to return your blood glucose levels to normal. Any “topping up” simply places a demand on the body to get the blood glucose levels back down again. This might be the  reason for the explosion in type 2 diabetes – the body is asked to release insulin too much, too often and has no way of recognizing some of the foreign substances we consume in modern man-made food. 

Wait Until You’re Hungry to Eat.

Myth!: By waiting to eat until you’re very hungry, your hunger simply builds and builds until it’s all consuming, causing your appetite to spiral out of control. In fact, new research reveals that by skipping breakfast, you’ll end up eating more calories in total and making less healthy food choices throughout the day than you would have otherwise. Research also shows that forgoing breakfast activates your body’s insulin response, triggering fat storage and weight gain.

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August 11, 2017

Top 5 Back to School Stressors and How to Bust Them

Mother Helping Stressed Teenage Daughter Looking At Laptop

While the start of a new school year comes with excitement for kids, it also comes with stress. It’s common for kids to feel overwhelmed this time of year especially as they navigate the challenges that crop up with a new school year. This stress can manifest itself in stomach aches, headaches, loss of appetite, even depression. Here are 5 common top back to school stressors and how parents can help their kids to bust them.

  1. Facing the bully.

For kids who are bullied, summer break also means a break from the relentless verbal and at times physical abuse that can be crushing to a kid’s self-worth. Oftentimes kids won’t tell parents that they are being bullied because they are embarrassed or fear telling school administrators will only escalate the bullying. As the school start date approaches, pay attention to your kid’s anxiety level. Communicate and ask them what they are looking forward to this school year. Ask them who are they most excited to see when they return to school. Listen for any negativity and seek to understand where it comes from. Ask if they ever witnessed bullying and what they would do if they did. If your child reveals that they don’t want to see a certain group of kids ask why and get as much information as you can. You want to show your kid that they have your support without judgement.

  1. Extra work!

Kids who once did great may enter the new year and feel overwhelmed with the additional school work. Perhaps they aren’t grasping the material as quickly as they once did. This is common especially in math at the junior high level. Once parents can no longer help kids with homework, they may want to invest in tutoring. Before selecting a tutor it’s wise to have your child be evaluated to get clarity on how they learn best. Some kids are visual learners making a math tutor who helps the student to “see” how the equations play out in visual analogy are tremendously helpful. Another solution that can benefit the whole family is hiring a time management or accountability coach to help the entire family to manage schedules effectively.

  1. Tuition bills.

With the skyrocketing cost of education, many kids listen to parents discussing the stress they feel about college tuition and then take on that stress themselves. Money is a stressful topic because it is usually never spoken about openly and honestly. Some students may wonder if college is even a right option for them but fear voicing this opinion. Many feel that higher education leaves them ill prepared for “the real world.” Many parents and kids question the value of the six-figure tuition price tag. There has been a slow shift away from traditional education in favor of entrepreneurship. Perhaps an internship at a small business a few days per week after school can provide them with more hands-on experience on a path that truly interests them and can be even more lucrative. Showing your kids there are many ways to achieve success, presents options they may not have ever known existed.

  1. The unknown.

Whether your child is starting school for the first time or entering junior high, high school or even college; anxiety is common when we are uncertain. Anxiety doesn’t discriminate and older kids get anxious about the unknown just the same as the younger kids do. It’s common for small children to have separation anxiety at the start of school and for homesickness to strike college freshman living away for the first time. Touring the school, getting to know teachers in advance, and getting as much information beforehand helps kids to mentally prepare for what they can expect.

  1. Social status and drama.

The return to school comes with the return to more kids and more social drama. Usually in the summer, kids stick to their immediate group of best friends. During the school year, they are forced to get along with everyone. The gossip and constant pressure to fit in can cause anxiety. Simple things like choosing clothing, hairstyle and over all appearance can cause a lot of pressure. Teens especially are trying to get a handle on body image and are often feel anxious about being judged by other kids. It’s important to be supportive and understanding while reaffirming your child’s strengths and larger goals. When your kids are busy focused on what they want to achieve and what they enjoy doing, they’re less likely to have time to concern themselves with the opinions of others.

About the expert:

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. 

 

Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.

 

Connect with her via twitter @comprehendMind or www.comprehendthemind.com

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August 11, 2017

Victoria Justice Loves Henri Bendel!

Los Angeles, CA – August 10, 2017 – Victoria Justice was photographed carrying Henri Bendel’s Influencer Wallet on a String ($198) while showing off her toned stomach leaving a workout in NYC yesterday. Victoria previously carried Henri Bendel’s
Influencer Tote in Black  ($298; www.henribendel.com) from the same collection, that allows you to personalize each bag with charms, key fobs and pins.
 Photo Credit: STARTRAKSPHOTO/Michael Simon
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August 10, 2017

Top Reasons for Doing Trampoline Exercises

Today everyone is concerned about promoting health and fitness. Now you could consider doing trampoline workouts for staying not only fit and active but for having loads of fun at the same time. If you feel that trampolines are meant only for kids, you are sadly mistaken. Trampoline workouts are supposed to be a fabulous way of staying fit and active for adults. Here are some of the top reasons why you must include trampoline exercises in your fitness regimen.

Fantastic Way of Burning Calories

You would be pretty surprised and impressed to learn about the speed at which your calories are burned thanks to a trampoline workout session. Trampoline workouts if performed properly have the capacity to burn as many calories in just 10 minutes, as you would be burning after dedicating solid 30 minutes to jogging. It is simply amazing, as far as, speed and efficacy are concerned.

Effective in Fortifying Leg Strength

While performing trampoline workouts you would be landing on your feet. You require engaging your legs for perfect landing. When your legs are involved in exercising, it makes your legs stronger. In this context, you must know that trampoline exercises are actually low-impact workouts that do not exert any pressure on your joints. So, you would not be experiencing any joint pains while you land on your feet. Within just seven days of doing trampoline exercises, your legs would be fortified. Browse http://getairfayetteville.com/ for more about trampoline and fun time.

Great for Making Your Bones Stronger

Trampoline workouts could be done with great ease and definitely without causing any kind of pain or injury. Trampoline workouts boost bone density that would, in turn, make your bones stronger. High-density bones would certainly be much less prone to injuries and fractures. Trampoline workouts are great for making your tendons and ligaments stronger. Trampoline exercises would effectively reduce your chances of arthritis and osteoporosis or any other bone-associated issues.

Perfect for Enhancing Heart Health

Trampoline exercises are best for your heart as they provide a tremendously vigorous aerobic exercise and that accelerates the rate at which your heart would be pumping blood to the rest of the body. A trampoline workout would be fortifying the muscles that are required for a fit and active cardiovascular system.

Fabulous for Building Strong Muscles

Your leg muscles are strengthened thanks to the power-filled jumping that is the characteristic of the trampoline. With repetitive trampoline exercises that involve a lot of jumping, your muscles are compelled to contract more frequently than they actually do with all other workouts that boost their stamina.

Conclusion

We have discussed some of the top few reasons why everyone should opt for trampoline workouts for boosting and maintaining overall health and wellness. There are numerous other reasons why trampolining is a good idea. It helps in boosting natural detoxification. Moreover, thanks to the jumping, your lymphatic circulation is enhanced. The lymph fluids would be traveling all through your body eliminating the toxins, fat cells, and impurities that come on the way. In short, trampoline exercises are the way to go if you wish to lose weight and stay fit and active.

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August 9, 2017

Fashion Trends to Watch in 2018

Fashion is a constantly evolving industry, and one with a long and rich history. Changes in fashion trends reflect changes in society and technology; whereas all clothes were once made by hand, advances in manufacturing now allow us to mass produce clothes cheaply. This has added value to clothes that are still made by hand and elevated them to luxury item status. In addition, this ease of manufacturing has meant that fashion trends can now be set by just about anyone.

Fashion designers maintain a high degree of control over which trends emerge and which fall by the wayside, whereas trends used to be set by the preferences of those with a higher social status. It is notoriously difficult to predict which fashion trends will catch on, and the industry regularly throws up many surprises, but below is a guide to some of the emerging trends worth keeping an eye on during the next year.

Psychotropic

Psychotropic is a throwback to the psychedelic trends of the 1960’s. So-called hippy fashion has never really gone away and has remained popular as a cornerstone of youth counterculture since its inception. This is in spite of the commercialization involved that runs counter to the initial goals of the hippy movement. Modern manufacturing and textile techniques allow designers to be more creative in producing multi-colored, multi textured clothes and more complex patterning. Both psychedelic and psychotropic fashions take their cues from the natural world and the colors, patterns and textures combine to evoke memories of sunsets, flora and other examples of natural beauty. These natural evocations sit alongside bright and vibrant synthetic colors, highlighting the contrast between the synthetic clothes and the natural world they are trying to emulate.

The original psychedelic movement was largely inspired by the rise of psychedelic drugs which rapidly gained popularity among the youth counterculture of the time. The range of sensations, the nature of the epiphanies, and the hallucinations users experienced while under the influence of psychedelics such as LSD have since inspired a broad range of art, music and literature and, of course, fashion. The psychedelic fashion trend was not only a celebration of what many considered to be the most important aspects of this newly discovered youth culture but was also a way of expressing what many considered to be the most positive aspects of participating in the culture to outsiders.

A key theme of the psychedelic movement was its communal nature, valuing shared experiences and ideas as well as a sense of communalism over the individualism that conservative America was trying equally hard to push upon people at the time. This attitude is perhaps best demonstrated by the lack of big fashion names associated with the movement; it was a movement created by and for the hippy youth and resoundingly rejected any attempts to capitalize on it or twist it into a commercial venture.

As time went on the staples of hippy fashion such as the homemade tie-dye t-shirts were replaced with mass produced offerings that replicated the style and, gradually, the initial goals and purpose of psychedelic fashion fell away and was replaced by a commercialized imitation of what once was.

Psychotropic fashion is an attempt to rectify this injustice and to retain the style to its roots. Some argue that, when removed from the broader context of the concurrent social movement and the broad political consensus it generated, any attempts to replicate the aesthetics of the fashion will always be missing a key ingredient and therefore will never quite have the same impact or relevance as the original movement.

Futurism

Futurist fashion takes advantage of the technological leaps we have made over the last decade or so and is greatly inspired by concurrent advances in artificial intelligence. As with psychotropic designs, futurism embraces the increasingly synthetic nature of our world, but unlike psychotropics, it celebrates this aspect of our modern world and makes no attempt to balance it with natural themes.

With computers becoming smaller and more sophisticated, we are rapidly approaching an age where even our clothes will be connected to the world around us in the same way that our smartphones are now. Ultra light, protective, and thermos regulating clothes are all being designed and some are expected to enter the prototype stage before the year is out. Futurism also marks the first time that the fashion industry will collaborate extensively with other industries, in particular the technology and computing fields, whose own work is driving the development of the necessary advances that are making futurist designs a possibility.

In the same way that psychotropic fashion evokes natural themes, futurism is designed to evoke otherworldly themes. The materials involved are unlike anything previously seen in the fashion world which aids in creating a true sense of the future. The incorporation of LED lights and flexible screens opens up new worlds of possibilities for designs and individual customization. They represent the first steps on the road to programmable clothing whose appearance can be set and altered at will by the wearer.

3D printing has radically transformed our approach to manufacturing in a variety of areas, but the technology is still in its infancy, although it is maturing fast. As it does so, we move ever closer to being able to 3D print fabrics as well as incorporating metal fibers resembling cotton that are capable of conducting electricity into the design. Sportswear manufacturer Nike has already turned to 3D printing in order to produce a running shoe that it describes as being the most advanced ever made.

Near Field Communication (NFC) is the technology that underpins contactless card payments, it allows a device to emit a small field that, when in range of a device capable of reading it, can transmit and receive information. In the future, it could be incorporated into clothing, allowing the wearer to experience a previously unthinkable level of immersion and interaction with technology around them.

Metamaterial science is the science of designing and producing materials with specific desired properties. There are endless applications for such technology in everyday life and the fashion world is quickly waking up to the potential offered for designing clothes. For example, fabrics that change color according to temperature or weather conditions may soon be within our reach.

Bohemianism

Bohemian fashion, much like psychedelic fashion, has never really gone away since its inception, although its popularity has waxed and waned. Starting in 2013, bohemianism has seen a popular resurgence and is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, bohemianism is now spawning offshoots that are also proving to be increasingly popular. The most recognizable features of bohemian fashion and the ones most commonly associated with the trend are flared denim, sandals, and loose, flowing clothes.

Bohemian fashion first emerged as early as the 1860’s when the bohemian lifestyle referred to someone who had made a conscious decision to withdraw from the usual conventions of the society they lived in. In those early days, it was loose, flowing clothes and more relaxed hairstyles that typified the movement and the accompanying fashion trend. During the 1920’s, the bohemian fashion trend underwent what is now referred to widely as a ‘jazz age’ during which bobbed hair replaced the previous trend for naturally flowing, untamed hair. The beginning of the great depression and the arrival of World War 2 and its accompanying rationing led to widespread re-evaluation of the trend and the emphasis switched to sourcing cheaper materials and employing them creatively in designs.

Following the end of the war and the transition to a more globalized world, bohemianism began to take inspiration from other fashion trends from around the world, kaftans from the Middle East, kimonos from Japan, and exotic Hungarian embroidery were all incorporated into the Western bohemian style, and their influence has remained strong ever since.

One of the contemporary offshoots of bohemianism that looks set to become even more popular in 2018 is the ‘surf gypsy’ style. It is one of the subsets of bohemianism that has arisen from the influence of other cultures and fashions from around the world. The style revolves around multi-colored, lightweight fabrics and a relaxed surfer inspired vibe. The style has attracted the attention of manufacturers looking to promote sustainable fabric production and as such is attracting a large number of those who would previously have opted for psychedelic or hippy options. Clothes in this style match well with bedroom décor from VisionBedding.

Few industries move as fast or as unpredictably as fashion and, while predicting the future trends of the industry is very difficult, by looking at the history of what has come before and how trends that have fallen out of favor re-emerge down the line we can make an educated prediction as to what direction the industry is heading in. 2018 looks set to be another year full of twists and surprises, but hopefully it will also see the arrival of new technological innovations and gives us our first glimpse at what the future of fashion might look like.

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