Italian Shoe Construction, Step-by-Step
Fine footwear has three parts:
1) The outsole, which is the piece that comes into contact with the ground,
2) The insole, which comes into contact with your foot and
3) The upper, which covers the top of your foot.
The distinction is in how these pieces are sewn together. Two popular types of shoe construction are Blake and Rapid Blake.
The Blake, that is the traditional Italian way, comprises attaching the upper, insole and outsole with a single interior stitch. (A guy named Blake invented this method in 1856.) Because the stitch is on the inside, it is possible to cut the edges of the soles very close to the shoe’s base, producing footwear with a low, elegant silhouette. The downside is that water can seep into the shoe since the stitching goes from the outsole directly into the foot bed. (But then again, you shouldn’t be wearing your good shoes in the rain anyway.)
Rapid Blake is similar to Blake construction but with an additional layer involved: the midsole. The insole is stitched to the midsole, which in turn is affixed to the outsole via a row of exterior stitches. This solves the water problem, but makes Rapid Blake shoes unable to have soles as thin and flexible as those of the traditional Blake models.
A few words about fabric...
We asked noted menswear design Shaka King for advice. "Remember this: A fabric should be seasonably appropriate, breathable, durable and it has to feel good," said King. For summer, King recommends blends. "A blend gives the suit a lighter hand — that is, it feels lighter — and it drapes easily." Worsted wool, on the other hand, is good for three seasons. King advises, "If you're going to be wearing a suit often, invest in a high quality fabric. You want the fabric to be durable, not to get shiny or thin." Or as Shani Lawson, lead menswear buyer for Macy's Inc., poetically explains, "A good fabric should be like wine. It should get better with age."
But even following those guidelines, there's a lot of jargon that is thrown around when discussing fabric. Some of it is important, some less so. Though Super 100s and Super 120s are good signposts that you're dealing with a high quality fabric, the most important thing is to get a hand on it. "If you touch enough fabric," Lawson says, "your fingertips develop a certain memory." Lawson advises, "If you are looking for worsted suits, you're looking for a smoothness and an evenness in the way the fabrics looks. That smoothness is the product of proper shearing."
A lot of suits today, says King, are made with high spun yarns. The more high spun the yarn, the higher the TPI — that's twist per inch — and the fuller bodied the fabric seems. "When you have high twist yarns," King says, "you try to feel the nervousness of the fabric. To do this. take the fabric in your hands and smush it. Then see how fast or strongly it bounces back." The faster it bounces back, the more nervous it is. "Fabrics are like good horses. They should be nervous."
Wine and Cheese Pairings: A Guide
Anyway, to give you some guidance we asked the shopkeeper at a "high-end" deli to suggest wines and beers that would complement different cheeses’ unique flavors. Her tips:
SeaHive: “There is a sweetness to the SeaHive, partially because we hand-rub the outside with wildflower honey and salt. Those flavors go best with something crisp, like a sauvignon blanc or a dry Riesling.”
Barely Buzzed: “This is good with a pinot noir — a red that’s more mellow than robust — or a chocolate stout. Both mix with, rather than overpower, the slightly bitter coffee undertones of the cheese.”
Curds: “The curds are like potato chips, in that they’re slightly salty and chewy; they’re a good snack food. They go well with a plain pilsner.”
Full Moon: “Go with a Zinfandel here, as its sweet notes will tone down the Full Moon’s creaminess.”
Promontory: “This is our base cheddar, and it is so very versatile: It can go with a red or a white. Personally, I’d choose a muvedre, but a pinot grigio would go just as nicely.”
Apple Walnut: “This is a creamy cheese, but it has a slight intensity because we smoke the wheel over walnut shells and apples. It would go well with an oak-monster white or a cabernet.”
Shakira – Sexy Musical Video for Loca
Shakira hips may not lie, but she can definitely turn heads with her sexy booty shaking movements.
And, turning heads she has certainly been doing, as she films her new music video Loca.
Shakira has been pictured around Barcelona, Spain on roller skates or riding on a motorcycle during the filming of her new music video.
She uses her sexy belly dancing moves to shake her hips and perform some amazing leaps as part of the music video.
Credit: BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM
Shakira is currently working on a duet with British rapper Dizzee Rascal.
We just love her ultra sexy look in a pair of tight fitting metallic golden pants and matching gold top bikini bra.
Her dance moves are exquisite and hot, as she takes to the air in some very sensuous jump poses.
As her long strands of blond hair take flight in their own wildly exciting way.
Shakira can certainly pack a lot of excitement into her music videos.
Credit: BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM
Shakira New Alblum Sale El Sol
Shakira is on a roll with her new album Sale El Sol due out on November 2, 2010.
She has also been shaking up the beauty world with her new perfume called S by Shakira.
The new perfume will go on sale in September and combines the fragrances of jasmine and sandalwood.
Shakira Worldwide Area Tour
Shakira worldwide area tour will kick off at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA on September 17, 2010.
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A special preview show on Wednesday September 15, 2010 at the Montreal Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada has been announced.
The show will offer Shakira fans a sneak preview of the worldwide area tour.
For more behind the scenes photos from Shakira new music video see Shakira Behind the Scenes Filming of New Music Video - Loca.
In closing, enjoy the following video clip as Shakira and friends working on some sexy new dance moves.
Be sure to visit the Shakira News page, for a glimpse of many more of Shakira sexy and unique outfits.
If you cannot see the video or photos in your E-mail or news reader, just go to Shakira – Sexy Musical Video for Loca.
How to get a great haircut!
Truthfully, the only way to get a great haircut is to explain what you want carefully. Barbers/stylist aren't mind readers. If you are having trouble verbalizing what you want, search the internet and magazines for a look that you feel "best" suits you. Pick your top two or three, and show them to your barber and let him/her make the final decision.
Most barbers appreciate when their clients have a picture of what they would like. Also, make sure your barber or stylist listens and can confidently communicate back to you how they are going to achieve that look for you.
Without proper communications you could have another surprise coming!
Stylish eyewear for less
Warby Parker offers twenty-seven classic frame styles in black, tortoise, amber, crystal and a variety of other brighter colors. They even offer one monocle, “the perfect accessory for budding robber barons, post-colonial tyrants and super villains.”
To see how frames look on your face, you can upload a photograph of yourself to the Warby Parker website and try on frames using their Virtual Try-On service. When you have narrowed your selection you can take advantage of their Home Try-On service. Warby Parker will ship you up to five pair of frames, free of charge, to try on at home for five days. GQ Magazine has called Warby Parker “the Netflix of eyewear.”
Groomed guys have better job prospects
What They Say:“How you look has a direct impact on how you feel, your confidence and self-esteem,” said Mark Jeffries, business consultant, communications expert and author. “This is as true for guys actively seeking a job as it is for those who are currently employed and seek a competitive advantage. At the same time, seemingly small details, like a clean shave or a great-fitting—but not necessarily expensive suit—send important visual cues to others about your professionalism and confidence.”
What We Say: It might not seem fair that job applicants are judged based on looks, but it’s a harsh reality in today’s competitive job market. Looking sloppy sends a negative message to most employers that a candidate is lazy or doesn’t care. With so much at stake when it comes to landing a dream job, it’s worth it to pick up a razor on interview day, even if being clean shaven isn’t your regular look.
What Your Favorite Sexy, Hot Lady Gaga Look?
Credit: Fame Pictures
Credit: Fame Pictures
All of Lady Gaga little monsters know that Lady Gaga has created so many unique, sexy and hot looks over the past two years.
So what are your favorite Lady Gaga looks?
We know that Lady Gaga is a big fan of fishnet pantyhose, whether knew or ripped and torn.
During her crowd surfing at Lollapalooza 2010 in Chicago, Illinois, she wore sexy fishnet panty hose and fishnet top and very little else.
During her performance on the Today Show she wore those sexy skin tight white spandex pants and hot white bra with silvery crosses on it.
She wore a black with silver studded bra as she preformed Bad Romance, which ended on a very wet note as she began to perform the song Teeth the skies opened and the rain poured down upon Lady Gaga.
Credit: BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM
Of course, one of Lady Gaga most famous outfits was the flaming, hot sparkling bra, which is definitely a show stopper on the Monster Ball tour.
For her sexy cover picture in Vanity Fair, Lady Gaga wore a silvery gray hair and almost nothing else.
Or picture Lady Gaga in a black bra and open stripe shirt, as Lady Gaga took in a Yankee baseball game.
Lady Gaga has appeared in many very unique outfits, including one very hairy outfit that remaindered us of Cousin It.
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Who can forget Lady Gaga London fashion show were Lady Gaga wore a black lace outfit with ballooning Black Rose hat created by designer Charlie le Mindu.
She also wore a silvery, lobster headdress with a golden chicken claw.
Yes, Lady Gaga has treated us to many unique, sexy outfits.
Be sure to visit the Lady Gaga News page, for a glimpse of many more of Lady Gaga sexy and unique outfits.
You can learn about great fashion and design programs so that maybe you could be the next person to design for Lady Gaga at href="http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com">Guide to Online Schools.
If you cannot see the video or photos in your E-mail or news reader, just go to What Your Favorite Sexy, Hot Lady Gaga Look?
Health food Fail ! : V8 Splash
Ingredients
Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Carrot Juice from Concentrate (Water, Carrot Juice Concentrate), Apple Juice from Concentrate (Water, Apple Juice Concentrate), Citric Acid, Natural Flavoring, Peach Juice from Concentrate (Water, Peach Juice Concentrate), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Mango Puree Concentrate, Beta Carotene.
In the advertising world using the term healthy is perfectly legal. There is NO legal definition of “healthy” or “natural” so the marketing people can state whatever they think will sell more product. They are taking advantage of the fact that we think V8 means healthy or rightous. V8 Splash is anything but.