Fashion And Style

Some Interesting Swimsuit Facts You Must Know

goa_frontDid you know that the world’s most expensive swimsuit costs $30 million dollars? The bikini was made of over 150 carats of D flawless diamonds that are all set in platinum. This was designed by Steinmetz Diamonds and Susan Rosen.

Speedos were once called “Budgy Smugglers” in Australia. This is a term derived from the domestic budgerigar, a small parrot. This body-hugging swimwear seems to conceal a parrot if viewed from the front.

The seamless Speedo polyurethane LZR suit was designed in coordination with NASA. This laser suit has helped plenty of swimmers to break more than 200 records in only 23 months after its introduction in February 13, 2008. But in January 1, 2010, the LZR was banned along with other high-tech suits by the FINA.

Other Fascinating Facts About Swimsuits

The largest bikini parade in the world – This happened on November 9, 2009. 289 girls paraded wearing only bikinis in Johannesburg, South Africa. The aim of this parade is to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The largest swimsuit photo in the world – On September 25, 2001, the world’s largest swimsuit photo was taken in Sydney, Australia. There were 1,010 women wearing bikinis.

First formalized bathing costume – This was not actually a piece of clothing but a piece of architecture, which is a bathing machine that lets a fully clothed woman to enter the sea privately. This was invented in 1753 by a Quaker.

Trivia Info Resource: www.blueinkbeachwear.com

Tailoring: Then And Now

Tailor came from the “tailler”, a French word that means to cut. It only appeared in the English language during the 14th century. Custom or bespoke refers to garments that are made to measure for a certain client.

History Of Tailoring

suitBefore, tailoring was taught through traditional apprentice-ships wherein the skills are passed on from master to apprentice. Hence, written manuals were unnecessary. Tailors made use of cloth patterns since parchment and paper were very expensive at this period. It was only in the 19th century that paper patterns became popular and widely used.

During the 19th century, tailors patented a wide range of inventions, systems of measurement, manuals, and fashion journals. The finest tailoring has combined the principles of art and science to come up with garments that are both sculptural and engineered.

In about 1800s, the modern tape measure was introduced. The metric system was used for measuring the body in post-revolutionary France. British tailors, on the other hand, preferred inches. Soon after, the tape measure was joined by a ruler, a compass, and tracing paper so as to come up with more elaborate geometric systems.

In the clothing industry, the suit remains the classic form of formal attire. And tailors will always aim to elegantly dress their clients. These include those whose bodies won’t fit the norms of the ready-made clothing industry as well as those who turn to the tailor for an innovative or classic suit of clothing that is made to their precise measure.

Trivia Info Resource: http://www.alphasuit.com

What You Did Not Know About Suits

036Suit tailoring is a traditional practice. If it was a celebrity, it would be Bob Dylan who is a bit eccentric after a lifetime at the top of his musical game but still cool. Indeed, donning a suit is the vital statement in masculine style and it has the distinctive credential of making a man look great.

Facts About Suits

Do you know what a Super Number denotes? This represents the fineness of the individual fibres making up the suit fabric. Higher numbers will designate a thinner, silkier fabric. Oftentimes, this has a higher price tag.

Have you heard of Melton? This is the dense, woollen cloth that is under the suit collars. The fabric originates from the Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray, which is also the home of the pork pie. Its main purpose is to offer durability, strength, and to help maintain the shape of the collar over time.

Do you know why suits have buttons along the cuffs? This was to accommodate the work of surgeons. Cuffs must be rolled up and out of the way during surgery.

Tradition commands that you must always leave your suit jacket’s bottom button on undone. Hence, if you have a 3 button, you just have to fasten 2.

Trivia Info Resource: www.regentandbrummell.com

How Baby Carriers Came About

Today, you can find plenty of baby carriers everywhere. Many mothers are investing in it so they can easily take care of their babies. It is quite interesting on how it began.

The Invention Of Baby Carriers

Baby CarrierWhen Ann Moore was serving in the Peace Corps in the early 1960s, she devoted most of their time with the natives of Togo in French West Africa. After she returned to Colorado in 1964 and having a child, she wished that the American culture offered something that is quite similar with the African tribal carriers, allowing women to bring their children along at work.

She took a long piece of fabric and utilized it to attach her daughter, Mande, to her chest. However, her daughter kept slipping off. With the help of Mande’s grandmother, Ann was able to make a pouch from an old sheet, with straps which crisscrossed at the back and openings for the baby’s extremities. With this invention, Ann could bring her daughter along wherever she went.

In 1977, through word of mouth, Ann patented the Snugli and started Snugli, Inc. with her husband. By 1983, the company was already grossing %6 Million a year. Ann, now more than 50 years old and a mother of 3 grown children, feels she has contributed a lot to the well-being of mothers everywhere.

Andrea Proudfoot of Eugene, Oregon, however, was not happy with the Snugli baby carrier which she has received as a gift and found it uncomfortable. Thus, she decided to come up with a baby carrier design taking the weight of the child on the back, not on the chest. Andrea’s Baby Pack was then patented. Andrea along with 15 companions sewed the backpack and her other clothing designs in a small cottage industry.

Trivia Info Resource: www.miamily.com

Cosmetics – Then And Now

Each morning people go through their beauty routine, cosmetic facts aren’t something that they usually think of. Being aware of some of these facts will help you understand today’s beauty industry.

Interesting Facts About The History Of Cosmetics

CosmeticsEgyptians and Cleopatra were believed to be among the very firsts individuals who made use of cosmetics as far as 4,000 B.C. They usually fill in their brows and line their eyes with Kohl, which is cream made from the fat of sheep combined with antimony and soot or powdered lead.

Around 100 A.D., wine (as a cheek stain) and chalk (as face and body paint) were used by the Romans. In fact, they even came up with acne treatments by mixing butter and barley flour. Greeks, on the other hand, used vermillion and berry juices to stain their lips and cheeks. Apart from that, they used black incense to darken their lashes.

During the 15th to 16th centuries, royalty and their court were the only ones who made use of cosmetics. In France, fragrances are becoming popular. Also, whitening products (composed of hydroxide, carbonate, and lead oxide) are already being used for the face.

In the 1800s, most social classes are already using cosmetics. Still, lots of these products contain toxic ingredients. For this reason, zinc oxide was introduced as a facial power, replacing the deadly arsenic versions.

In the 1900s, the cosmetic industry started to grow significantly. The use of mascara was only accepted worldwide when T.L. Williams developed Maybelline.

Today, the beauty industry is consistently growing. Emphasis is placed on looking young and anti-aging. From the natural looks to theatrical, dramatic looks – various makeup looks are already embraced nowadays.

Trivia Info Resource: www.glamgobeauty.com

Facts About Synchronous Menstrual Cycles In Women

Synchronous Menstrual Cycles In WomenWomen living in close quarters tend to synchronize in their menstrual cycles. It has been observed that after spending a lot of time together, women have synchronized periods.

The Science behind This Phenomenon
Known as the McClintock effect, this theory of synchronized ovulation has also been noted in mice, hamster and rats. Martha McClintock, the author of the first article to discuss this phenomenon states that menstrual synchrony is the result of the effect of pheromones exchange between women.

The Mechanism
When a lady is menstruating, she releases pheromones into the air. This substance which is like a hormone will stimulate the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of close ladies. It will then send signal to the hypothalamus which leads to hormonal changes where menstruation and some behavioral changes are induced.

McClintock’s Menstrual Synchrony and Suppression article which appeared in Nature in 1971 was challenged by scientists. As an undergraduate, they asked her to explain the issue scientifically. McClintock pursued the topic and then published it. Further research did prove that it was pheromones causing the synchrony. Two pheromones have been discovered to be involved in such synchronicity.

In a 2003 review however, the menstrual synchrony has been concluded an erroneous theory. Further studies proved that women are not biologically responsive to others’ cycles.

Trivia Info Resource: www.themakeover.me

Interesting Facts About Diamonds

Perhaps you are already aware that the hardest natural substance on Earth is the diamond. It has a very high melting point of 3820K and a boiling point of 5100K. Did you know the word “diamond” came from? Well, it actually came from “Adamas”, a Greek work meaning “indestructible and unconquerable”.

Must-Knows About Diamonds

DiamondPlenty of diamonds found in nature are between 1-3 billion years. Since the Earth is believed to be about 4.5 billion years old, the oldest diamonds may have been crystallized around 3.3 billion years ago. This substance was actually first discovered in India, and then in Brazil.

1477 was considered the earliest record of a man first gave a diamond to a woman when the Mary of Burgundy received a diamond from the Archduke of Austria. In order to produce a single one-carat diamond, experts say that 250 tons of earth must be mined. The Cullinan at 3106 carats was the biggest diamond ever found.

80% of the world’s diamonds are not actually suited for jewelry; rather, they go toward industrial uses.

According to ancient Greeks, diamonds are splinters of stars which are fallen on the earth. Romans, on the other hand, believed that diamonds had the power to ward off evil and so they wore them as talismans. This belief was actually inherited from Indian mythology.

Trivia Info Resource: www.engagementringinsight.com

The Most Common Breastfeeding Myths Ever Told

PeachyMamaBreastfeeding is a confidence game. Most often, many mothers are fooled into thinking that their bodies cannot produce the amount and quality of milk their baby needs. Hence, it is essential for breastfeeding mothers to be equipped with the right knowledge before they start on their breastfeeding journey. Reading is a good way to gain knowledge. However, you must be sure to read information from credible sources since there are also breastfeeding myths that may confuse a first-time mother.

Read below the most common myths told about breastfeeding.

It is normal for breastfeeding to be painful. It is common, especially during the first few days, to feel a little pain or discomfort when breastfeeding. However, the discomfort should go away after a week. If breastfeeding is painful, it is best to check if the bay is latched correctly and seek help from a lactation consultant.

Breastfeeding causes the breast to sag. The sagging if the breast has nothing to do with breastfeeding. It caused by a variety of factors such as the sudden loss of weight and pregnancy.

Only mothers who gave birth can breastfeed. If you decide to adopt a child and breastfeed her, this is possible. However, it will take dedication and you will have to consult a lactation specialist to be able to lactate.

Mothers who breastfeed have less sleep. This is not true since babies differ in their sleep pattern and there are different factors that contribute to a baby’s sleep. Breastfeeding mothers may even be more relaxed at night since they do not have to prepare formula for their baby, breast milk is always available and always at the right temperature.

Trivia Info Source From: www.peachymama.com.au

Peter Henlein – The Father Of Modern Clocks

WatchHorology is the science or study of measuring time and the art of making clocks, watches, or any device that tells time. Before clocks were made, people in the ancient times made efforts to measure time – these include tracking the movement of the sun across the sky, the use of oil lamps with a marked reservoir, candles that were marked at intervals, and hourglasses.

The Invention Of Clock

Peter Henlein is considered the father of modern clocks and the originator of the clock making industry. His first appearance in the history books was on September 7, 1504 because of his involvement in a brawl in which his friend and fellow locksmith was killed. 4 years later, he returned to Nuremberg where he became among the most famous locksmiths. He was praised for his ability to create small spring-powered brass clock which became very rare and expensive.

Peter’s first clock was invented in 1510. By 1541, he became well-known for his craft and has been tasked on creating not just small clocks but also a big tower clock for the Lichtenau castle.

The first Spring-driven clock created by Peter has proved to be the instrumental starting point for other inventors to come up with small, easy-to-use, sturdy, and precise clock.

Trivia Info Resource: www.time4diamonds.com

Facts You Might Not Know About Breastfeeding

BreastfeedingBreastfeeding is highly recommended to new born babies since it provides lots of benefits, not just to the baby but also to the mother and to the society. Cited below are some facts about breastfeeding that you might not know:

Breastfeeding Facts

Did you know why human colostrum is yellow? This is because it contains huge amounts of beta-carotene, an anti-oxidant that will protect the gut from different kinds of diseases. Researches have shown that food rich in beta-carotene can reduce the risk of cancers of the digestive system in adults.

Why milk is white? It is actually because of casein, a milk protein that is rich in calcium. Whey is another milk protein that looks watery and clear. Lots of the immunoglobulins and protective proteins are actually in the whey portion of the milk. Women’s milk is about 20% casein and 80% whey – this is why such kind of milk whizzes through the digestive system of the baby. On the contrary, cow’s milk is made up of 80% casein, which makes it very difficult to digest. Researches have actually shown that introduction of cow’s milk protein in the first 8 days of a baby’s life will increase the risk of having Type 1 diabetes.

Trivia Info Resource: www.peachymama.com.au