Some folks like to take re-dressing to an extreme and sew the outfits from scratch. This is not me, as I am all elbows on a sewing machine, but the idea is wonderful. Outfitting truly personalizes your doll. Taking a photo study after in various outfits and accessories tells a story.

A lovely variation on sewing, is dressing a doll or bear in an outfit that belonged to a family member, for example, your great-grandmother’s christening dress or the clothes your son wore home from the hospital when he was born.

The My Twinn company has a line of matching doll and child clothes and even sometimes clothes for the mom to wear to match the others. Baby dolls look more real when dressed as real infants. Store bought clothes tend to stand the Topclothingbrands3544 of play more durably than artist sewn creations which are often fragile and delicate.

Clothes and accessories make the doll into a child in the world of doll photography. Whether you are working with an antique doll, or an artist doll such as the Webbie Debbies from weight-loss guru and doll collector extraordinaire, Richard Simmons’ collaboration with Knickerbocker in the late 90s, matching the size of accessory to the doll or bear add a lot. The Webbies, for example, work well when combined with some of the American Girl accessories.

Smaller Boyds bears are perfectly sized for 18 inch dolls. Three inch bears and other animals made by for instance Ganz Co. go with the Webbie Debbie collection perfectly! Magic Attic Co. with doll outfits for collections and stories designed by Robert Tonner will fit them too.

I like to use certain make up products to create special effects as they do not stain vinyl. Some eye shadow makes a great black eye for a story about a child defending her little sister on the playground. I always test on an inconspicuous area with a tiny dot before applying anywhere that counts.

Not to be over-looked is that one should always keep the original outfit with the box and tags wrapped in acid-free paper so that in the event of a re-sale, your doll or bear will have the most value it can.

Realistic and life-sized baby dolls usually require diapers. A doll parent does not have quite the dilemma a regular parent does as one pack of Pampers will last for years for obvious reasons. And some dolls don’t wear them under their dress pants or overalls. Newbornlayette498 in the June 11, 2008, Syracuse Post Standard, Daily Dose column is a great article on the re-introduction of environmentally safe cloth diapers for babies.

This, too is a great option for baby dolls. If you don’t sew your own and prefer cloth to disposable check out Designeronlineoutletshopping6669 site http://www.bebewamu.com for lots of choices in fabric design.

Rachael Ikins is an award-winning photographer of dolls at play; creating images that that mimic life and entice the viewer to take a closer look. Additionally, Juniorsclothingstore8615 writes children’s books and illustrates them with her photos to enchant her readers. You can be touched and amused by her life-like photos by visiting http://www.rachaelikins.com/rzidolls.html

In 1994, the average woman said she weighed 147 pounds but wanted to weigh 132 pounds; in 2002, the average woman weighed 153 pounds but wanted the scales to register 135 pounds. That even the desired weight of women has increased suggests there Babiesdiscountclothes9040 less social pressure to lose weight. Today the average woman weighs 163. There are no figures available at this time for the average desired weight of women over the last five years.

There could be a viscous cycle effect starting or already in progress, with each new belt notch that becomes accepted by the masses giving the unspoken okay for Infantclothingmanufacturer9059 leading the gain to keep gaining, and for fewer to feel the need to resist joining in.

According to 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 33.2 percent of American women over age twenty are classified as obese. That’s more than one of every three women. How can this not effect what we regard as normal?

Obesity, once defined as twenty percent above normal weight, has been redefined as thirty percent overweight. Dress sizes get larger but the numbers stay the same. If you used to wear a size 12 and you have gained 15 - 20 pounds, the new 12’s are likely to still fit; if you used to wear a size 12 and have not gained weight, you may be delighted to go to the department store and find that you’re now buying a size 8 or 10. Mannequins are getting larger, and plus size mannequins are no longer an oddity. For the first time in the history of their inception, junior clothes are now available in plus sizing.

Overweight actors and reporters, once a kind of Ouranhighschoolhostclubep59897 oxymoron, are now commonplace. In fact, there is a new sit com on TV this year that centers on a family whose members are almost all obese, if not morbidly obese.

Clothing stores carry a variety of sizes, but they stock up on those sizes that are most common for their particular area. When I wore a size 18 I could Clothesfree6111 buy clothes on clearance as my size was always gone except for in the most disastrous of buyers’ mistakes, and the ugly or poorly cut items. I will never forget not being able to ever order from the Spiegel catalog, because their size large was a 10-12. Even the plus size stores operate this way: if you wear an 18/20 or a 26-28 you are often out of luck shortly after the new lines come in.

The stores now carry plenty of 18’s, and most stores carry up to size 20’s in their regular misses sizing areas. Hiphoptoddlerclothes7901 and more I find that non-specialty clothing stores have plus size departments (more often now called womens sizes). This all supports the notion of fat moving its way into the norm.

According to a recent study completed by research firm Mintel, nearly $32 billion was spent on plus size clothing in Babydiorreceivingblanket2773 The growth in the plus size clothing market in the last five years has exceeded 50 percent.

Anyone who was obese thirty years ago can affirm that plus size clothing used to be solid black, navy, charcoal or brown pants and obnoxious stripes, dots or floral tops. Now you can find almost any style in 20-36, even those that should probably never be worn by anyone over a size 10.

The obese have screamed fashion discrimination for thirty years. It’s not that the industry has suddenly decided to try to rectify this situation out of compassion for those of us who had no choice but to go to work looking like wallpaper and drapes; it’s simply a matter of meeting the needs of the new normal and doing so at a plus size profit.

Contains excerpts from The Big, Bad, O: the Brutality of Obesity by Francine Hemway © 2007

Francine Gail Hemway is a former school teacher and district superintendent. Her first book, Beauty and the Yeast Beast: from Fat to Fairy Tale, was a presentation of the theories that led her to lose over 186 pounds without surgery and a program to follow to obtain similar results. Her latest book, The Big, Bad, O: the Brutality of Obesity, offers an honest perspective of the state of obesity in America and warns that the ostrich mentality of the U.S. in regards to the broad social and economic implications of obesity must change. You can contact Francine by going to http://thebigbado.com or http://beautyandtheyeastbeast.com

Besides a name, what else does Isotoner Slippers offer? I will tell you, comfort, well constructed slippers, and slippers that actually stay on your feet without a lot of effort on your part. The Isotoner Slippers have become a widely known brand of slipper for good reason. They are dependable and long lasting. If you purchase them, you will not find yourself needing to replace them every month or two.

As with any other product, brand or model, when you find something that is just a good deal, and I mean the whole package, you tend to tell your friends and family about the great find you discovered. Therefore it makes perfect sense that the Isotoner Slippers are so popular. People try them, like them and tell others.

If you are going to buy a pair of Isotoner Slippers, whether for yourself or for a gift for a friend or family member, make sure you complete a thorough job of shopping around. There is no sense in paying more for the slippers than you have to. They do make a very nice gift as long as the price is right.

In conclusion, the Isotoner Slippers are made to withstand daily wear and tear. They are a smart purchase as long as you know you are not paying too much for them.

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Leather is a natural skin and will mold if it is not exposed to air. So, never store your leather items in a plastic garment bag or airtight container. It is best to place it on a hanger in a well ventilated place and cover it with a cloth or sheet if you are concerned about dust. Keeping it on a hanger will also help the item keeps its shape. If it does get wrinkles and you must use an iron, be sure to put the iron on the lowest setting. Never use steam and put a heavy cloth or other material between the garment and the iron. Be very careful not to overheat your leather or you could ruin the item.

Most cleaners offer professional leather cleaning. This is a good option if you need to have an item deep cleaned or if it has bad stains. This option is not necessary for small stains or occasional cleaning however. You can use a common leather cleaner like saddle soap for this. You can also use a leather polish in between cleanings to keep your garment looking like new. It is safe to wipe down smooth leathers with a damp cloth to remove light dust. However, never expose your leather garment to extreme wetness or put it in a washing machine.

If your leather lingerie or clothing does get wet, allow it to air dry and do not expose it to heat. Once it dries, applying some type of leather conditioner is recommended to ensure it stays supple. If you are concerned and know your leather clothing will likely get wet, you can apply a water repellent as a preventative measure.

Leather clothing is a beautiful addition to your wardrobe and it can be worn any time of the year. Leather is a breathable fabric that is not overly hot if worn in the summertime and provides warmth in colder conditions. With the proper care, your leather lingerie and street wear will provide you with years of ‘like new’ wear.

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The Fabric

The fabric used to manufacture top-of-the-line brand name handbags is noticeably different than the material used for fakes. If there is wrong stitching or if the material is flawed in even the slightest manner, chances are it is not a name brand purse. High-fashion handbags will always have real materials, they will not use fake leather or fake animal skin and you will get the real deal 100 percent of the time.

Small Detailing

The great thing about authentic handbags is that they are unique and hours upon hours go into making each one exactly right. Designer handbags will often have extra stitching and detailing such as little diamonds, buckles or zippers which make them truly unique to any other designer. As noted above, the diamonds on name brand handbags will also be real 100 percent of the time.

Study the Celebrities

The best way to determine whether or not a handbag is a fake is by studying the real ones and the best way to do that is through celebrities. Celebrities will always have real name brand designer handbags. Most people recognize the design of Louis Vuitton purses because of Jessica Simpson and the hype she has created for the company. When you constantly see celebrities sporting specific types of handbags you will be more inclined in noticing the difference between real and fake ones.

Brand Name Labels

Many brand name handbag designers will put a custom label or logo on their items which indicate that they are authentic. The names sometimes appear on zippers or pockets and some companies like to put it in the same spot on every handbag to ensure their customers know it’s real.

It is important to know that you are getting what you pay for when it comes to designer handbags. If you’re instincts are telling you that the purse is a fake, chances are you’re probably right and its best to leave the bag where it lies. With the amount of money you are spending on these items, you want to make sure the bag you’re buying is authentic and worth every penny you are spending.

Cathy Feldman is an avid purse enthusiast who has more handbags than she can count. She has become complete addicted to name brand bags and enjoys sharing her knowledge as a contributing editor of http://www.designerhandbags101.com - a site that offers information about designer handbags, designer bags, Louis Vuitton purses and more.

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The slippers started off as just a plain flat bottom slipper with a simple likeness of the Serta Sleep Sheep on them. Then as more customers told their friends and family members of the sweet little gift they got when purchasing their mattress, something strange began to happen.

Within a month of the last of the first batch of Serta Sheep Slippers being handed out at the Mattress stores, people started coming in to see if they too could get a pair of the cute little Serta Sheep Slippers. This was a course of action that had not been anticipated. Yes, it was true that people responded positively to the advertising using the Serta

Counting Sheep but who would have thought that a simple pair of slippers could bring in new prospective customers.

Once the popularity of the Serta Sheep Slippers became realized it was really a no brainer. They would need to start producing more of these slippers. The slippers became such a popular item people would get them with a purchase of a new mattress set and then turn around and sell them on eBay.

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Sunglasses clearly perform a very functional duty which makes them a part of our everyday routine. Sunglasses shield our eyes from the glare of bright sunlight and allow us to comfortably perform a multitude of activities during daylight hours. This actually allows us to minimize wrinkling around the eyes as we alleviate the need to squint in the face of a glaring sun. On a deeper level, sunglasses provide protection from the dangerous UV rays of the sun; rays that can cause long term damage to our eyes. For this reason, most sunglasses come with a UV protective film that covers the lenses of the sunglasses. Obviously celebrity sunglasses are worn just as much for these reasons as any other; but in most cases celebrities choose sunglasses that offer both functionality and form.

What differentiates celebrity sunglasses from the sunglasses most often worn by the public is the fact that celebrities have the money and ability to follow top designer trends and purchase accordingly. Most of the top fashion designers of the world now produce a line of designer sunglasses — expensive, beautiful, and undeniably trend-setting. What we see on the red carpet is what we look for in our department stores; it’s that simple. Designers, of course, know this and look for ways to give celebrities pairs of their sunglasses. In turn, the celebrities act as a human billboard of sorts — promoting the brand of celebrity sunglasses simply by wearing the glasses.

And what can always be assured is that celebrities are always in need of sunglasses — for style, for function, and to help them move incognito through a public place. The need for celebrity sunglasses will always be alive and well in Hollywood; and consequently it will always be alive in well in the shopping malls across America.

For easy to understand, in depth information about celebrity sunglasses visit our ezGuide 2 Sunglasses.

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