The big day approaches.

So, the venue’s booked, the flowers ordered, guests invited, cake is ordered and the final dress fitting is imminent.  It’s all very easy to forget the tiniest details, and one of those is underwear.  So many brides go into a wedding dress shop without a clue of what they’re going to be wearing underneath, so they turn up with bra straps poking out the back, ruining the aesthetics of the dress.  You don’t want to look like that on the day, so make sure you order and try on your bridal bra well in advance!  A number of online shops are dedicated to Bridal Lingerie.  Try googling: “Bridal Lingerie” to find out online companies and make sure you order your lingerie well in advance.

Fit

When buying a bridal bra, fit is ultimately the most important thing.  Most lingerie shops offer free bra fitting services, where your chest size and bra cup are accurately measured.  When you know your size, try on a selection of bras and take the following into account:

-It should fit snugly around. You ought to be able to fit one or two fingers under the bridal bra band comfortably. If you are pulling down the back strap or pulling up on the shoulder straps throughout the day, then the band size (the # part of your bra size) is too big.

a.    Can you fit 1 or 2 fingers comfortably? If yes, then the band is right size.

b.    If you’re having a hard time putting one finger under the band, then move the hooks to the loosest fitting eyes. If it is still tight on the loosest fitting, then try on one in the next up band size.

c.    If the band can easily be pulled away from your body, or if the band rises up your back, then go down one in the band size.

2.    If you are wearing an underwire bra, the wire that comes up between the breasts should lay flat (or as close as possible) to your breast bone. If you are wearing a bridal bra with no underwire, you should have two separate breasts, not just a “one big boob”.

3.    If the bridal bra is a soft cup bra, you shouldn’t have any extra, gapping fabric. If the bra is a moulded cup you shouldn’t have any extra room in the cup. Your breast should completely fill the cup. If it is gapping and the band feels fine, then go down in the cup size.

4.    You don’t want to be spilling out of the cup – not from the top, bottom or sides. If the band feels fine then go up a cup size.

5.    If you raise your arms up (do this a few times), the bra should stay against your body, not lifting up or off. If this happens try a few things;

a.    adjust the shoulder straps by loosing them

b.    Pay attention to the band. Is the bridal bra too tight? Or too loose? Or just right?

c.    If the band is just right, and adjusting the shoulder straps didn’t work, then go up a cup size.

6.    Try on different styles of bras. Every style fits and fills different and can “shape” your breast differently.

7.    If your bra fits correctly, it should NOT be painful or uncomfortable to wear.

Comfort

So, you’ve ensured that all the points under “Fit” are right.  You’ve tried your bridal bra on and the shape is good and you’ve made sure that the bands are positioned on the correct hooks.  The question is whether the bra is comfortable.  So, once your bridal bra has been delivered, don’t store it away until your big day.  The best recommendation is to try it out!  Wear it for a whole day and see how you feel.  If it’s comfortable for the whole day, then it’s the right bridal bra for you.

Support and Shape

When wearing your bridal bra, you have to make sure that the support is just right.  If you have large breasts, you don’t want your breasts lifted high up around your neck.  You want support across your breasts, while still being flattering to your figure.  If you have smaller breasts and you have chosen a plunging neckline for your dress, you need some extra uplift, so a bra with built-in gel support will help.

Look and Style

Ok, so you’ve taken everything into account so far for your perfect bridal bra: fit, comfort, support and shape.  Does your bra look good?   There are a plethora of different styles and finishes you can choose from that will suit your skin tone and dress and most importantly, will make your partner say “wow!”  So many bridal lingerie websites offer hundreds of styles, available with matching thongs and bridal knickers.

Fit, comfort, support and shape and look and style are all very important for your big day.  So make sure you don’t choose your bridal bra too late.  It should be bought with or even before your dress, so you can ensure you’re comfortable, happy and sexy on your most important day.

Let’s talk boobs and the wonderful ways to wear them! Traditionally, bras are at the top of the chart for enhancing the breasts, but way too often, the wrong size bra works the opposite effect,

If you’ve ever seen a woman with two sets of breasts, you know what a too-small bra can do. One set sits nicely in the cups while the other protrudes like a muffin top. Just so we’re sure here, that’s not “cleavage,” that’s deformity. The back of the bra sits too high, pushing  fat up and out like little wings. Sound familiar?

The other problem you might have noticed is the bra that’s too big. The cups are squished and any resemblance of support is nowhere to be found. It’s so loose that it doesn’t turn when she does and the straps are constantly falling off her shoulders.  When I see this sort of thing I wonder, “why are you even wearing a bra?”

A good fitting bra has cups that are large enough to support and contain the bulk of each breast. Even demi-bras with a smaller amount of coverage, should be large enough to securely “hold” each breast. If the top of the bra is cutting into your breast, try the next cup size. The band, which is the part of the bra that goes all the way around you, should be snug enough to support both breasts without discomfort, and the back should sit on an even keel with the front. In other words, if the back is higher than the front, the bra is too small. Keeping the back at a low line adds support, is comfortable, and doesn’t create those ugly little fat bulges.

If you lose or gain weight, change your bra size. Keep in mind that a “C” cup on a size 36 bra is not the same as a “C” cup on a size 34. If you go to a smaller band size, try the next larger cup size. So, a 36C equals a 34D, a 32DD and so on. The same goes if you need to move up to a larger size. A 36DD equals a 38D. See what I mean? The cups change according to the band, so don’t be fooled into thinking a D is a D no matter what the bra’s band size is.

Try a lot of bras on. Not only are there oodles of different styles, but each brand – even in the same style – will fit differently. If you want a beautiful cleavage, try an under-wired plunge bra. If you want full coverage under a tee shirt, try different “tee shirt” bras. They are super smooth with extra material in the cups for no show nipples (who knew!).

Here are some simple tips for finding your perfect bra:

STEP 1: While wearing your best fitting bra, loop a tape measure under the pits of your arms and above your breasts. The tape should be snug, but not cinched tight. this measurement is your torse size.

STEP 2: Lower the tape measure so it reaches around the fullest part of your breasts. Subtract your torso measurement from this one and the difference determines your cup size (see the following list:)

A – up to 1″
B – up to 2″
C – up to 3″
D – up to 4″
DD – up to 5″

STEP 3: Bras and bustiers are usually sized in even whole numbers (32, 34, 36, etc.). Take your torso measurement and discard any fraction (for example, 35-and-a-half inches becomes 35 inches. If the result is an odd number, round up to the next even number (for example, 35 to 36). You now have your band width.

Bra Size Calculation Examples

Example 1: If your torso is 35 inches around and the fullest part of your breasts measure 37 inches, then the difference is 2 inches, which according to the table above would be a B cup. Your band width would be 36 (because odd numbers are rounded up to the next even number). Therefore, your bra size would be 36B.

So there you have it. Now you know how to make the most out of your bra which, of course, will make the most out of your beautiful figure! No more double boobs, fat bulges or sags. Just lovely, sexy, picture perfect…you.

You can now buy almost anything online, and petticoats are not an exception. Petticoats are generally underskirts, which are a bit shorter than external clothing. They are usually designed with a laced, pleated or ruffled edge. If you are coming up with your wedding outfit, then a petticoat would be an essential piece to complete your wedding ensemble.

When buying petticoats online, you would need to keep some pointers in mind.

Because most bridal gowns which are available in the market today already have built in petticoats, you might not need to purchase one anymore. However, if you wish to make the look of your gown puffier, then wearing a petticoat underneath it would be able to do the trick. There are even some brides who prefer to use two petticoats so that they can achieve the fullness that they need for the skirt.

Now, the kind of petticoat that you would have to wear would mainly depend on the dress you would be wearing, and so you would have to choose the wedding gown, which you would be using. It would advisable that as you browse for petticoats online, you have a picture of your wedding gown handy to use as a reference. That way, you would be able to check if the petticoat and the wedding would be matching color. That is crucial, as you would not want everybody seeing the lingerie you have under your gown.

As you buy your petticoat online, go for the more reputable online stores, which sell petticoats specifically. That way, you would be sure that you would be dealing with a dependable store. Make sure that you would be choosing a piece, which would satisfy your preference and style. Also go for a kind of fabric that would be comfortable on the skin and that would not be prone to any tears and snags.

<b>Why Should I Buy Gold?</b>
The world has been in love with gold ever since it was discovered. It is called a precious metal because it has a high economic value and is relatively scarce in relation to the level of demand for it. Gold was the standard in which the values of many currencies around the world were based until recently; because of confidence in its ability to hold it’s value over the long haul. At times of trouble, people always default to valuable portable property such as gold, diamonds and other valuable gems.

Gold has been the preferred metal for wedding rings in the west for a long time. It is very rare that couples exchange rings other than gold rings when getting married. In fact, in some Asian cultures, wealth is transferred unto the newlyweds in the form of gold jewelry.

Gold is very malleable and so has been the preferred metal for jewelers over centuries. It also does not rust or decay. If it gets dull, just applying a quick polish restores it’s luster and shine.

Gold is virtually indestructible and everlasting.

Gold keeps it’s value over time and is easily marketable
Gold is easy to work with so you will get the most beautiful jewelry made out of gold
Everybody loves gold.

What kind of Gold Should I Buy?
Before buying gold jewelry the most important thing to ask yourself is the reason why you are buying. This is important because it will help you determine how much to budget for your purchase, what quality and type of jewelry to buy and from where to buy it.

If you are only interested in buying a gold ring for fun, then you might not care too much about the quality of the ring or the supplier as long as it looks good on your finger. If, however, you are buying an engagement ring, an anniversary ring or a wedding ring, you had better pay more attention to the quality of the ring and the service you can expect from the supplier. A wedding ring, we hope, will be appreciated for a long time and you will want your partner to know that you put some thought into the selection of their ring. You want the perfect ring so you need to make sure that your supplier has a good return or exchange policy and that they are easily contactable.

There are different qualities and colors of gold used in jewelry. The different types of gold jewelry are determined by the metals mixed in with the pure gold, and whether the piece of jewelry is formed as a solid piece, plated or maybe hollow.

Gold Quality:
Pure gold does not rust or tarnish, and people that are allergic to some metals are rarely allergic to pure gold. However, pure gold is very soft and easily bendable. It is also very expensive. So to make it practical for jewelry that can be worn everyday it is mixed with different metals.

Gold jewelry is generally marked 18K, 14K, or 10K. The higher the Karat (k) the higher the percentage of pure gold to other metals in the jewelry.
·    24K gold is pure gold.
·    18K gold contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 75% gold.
·    14K gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 58.3% gold.
·    12K gold contains 12 parts gold and 12 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 50% gold.
·    10K gold contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 41.7% gold.

10K gold is the minimum karat that can be called “gold” in the United States. A high proportion of gold Jewelry is made in 10K gold.
European Markings:
Jewelry from Europe may be marked is a different manner with numbers that indicate their percentage of gold like this:
·    18K gold is marked 750 to indicate 75% gold
·    14K gold is marked 585 for 58.5%
·    12K gold is marked 417 for 41.7%

Genuine gold jewelry should have, in addition to the karat marking, a hallmark or trademark that identifies its maker. Sometimes the item’s country of origin might also be included. The hallmark or country of origin may sometimes be left out in very small and delicate pieces of Jewelry.

Colors of Gold:
Pure gold is, of course, gold in color. However, gold can be made into jewelry of different and exciting colors by adding different metals to it. When other metals are added to pure gold the result is called an alloy. Any gold alloy from18K, down to 10K can still be called solid gold. Anything less that 10k is not solid gold.
White Gold: Created by adding Palladium or Nickel to pure gold.
Rose Tint Gold: Created by adding copper to pure gold.
Greenish Cast Gold: Created by adding silver to pure gold

Gold Coated Jewelry
Applying a coating of gold on lesser value metals has always been a way of producing jewelry that looks as valuable as gold but not as expensive to manufacture. This is OK as long as the buyer is aware that the piece of jewelry they are buying is not SOLID gold and as long as they are also aware of the quality of the plating.
Gold Filled Jewelry:
Gold filled jewelry is usually 14k gold heavy-layered over sterling silver. More recent gold-filled jewelry have markings that indicate how much and what type of gold was used for the layer. A marking that says 1/20 12K G.F. means that the jewelry is at least 1/20th 12K gold by weight. Gold filled jewelry generally retain their coating longer than gold plated jewelry.
Gold Plated Jewelry:
The gold layer in gold plated jewelry is usually thinner than the gold in gold-filled jewelry. This means that the goal plating usually wears away more quickly. However, all gold plating is not the same. Some will be thicker and more even than others and thus may provide you with long lasting true gold finish, sometimes comparable to gold-filled jewelry.

Dangers to Watch out for
Gold plated jewelry can provide a great deal of satisfaction and joy to the buyer as long as they know what they are buying. It is unfortunate, but there are still unscrupulous people out there that try to pass off gold plated jewelry as solid gold. The only way to protect yourself from this is to look carefully at the markings on the jewelry; observe the color; feel the weight in relation to the size of the jewelry; and most importantly, know whom you are buying your jewelry from. If you’re not sure take an expert with you when buying.

So Now You’re Ready To Take The Step
When buying gold always aim to buy solid gold if your budget allows. This will last you a lifetime, many lifetimes actually. Anything from 10k to 22k or 24K is good.
If you are allergic to nickel or other metals then you should aim to buy the higher karat gold jewelry such as 18k or 22k gold. It will cost more but you can offset this by buying a smaller piece of jewelry or by buying fewer pieces and only buying ones with higher pure gold content. Your skin is still your most important and valuable piece of jewelry and you should treat it accordingly.
Gold plated and gold-filled jewelry is great for fashion jewelry that will not be subject to heavy usage. And oh yes, try not to wear your gold plated or gold filled jewelry when washing up or using any form of detergents. Although not as valuable or durable, gold plated and gold filled jewelry are cheaper and can last for years if treated kindly.
When wearing Jewelry always remember that a confident and happy wearer can make almost any piece of Jewelry look more beautiful and valuable.

By Alexander Michaels
© 2006 Alexander Michaels
<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.kensingtonjewelers.com” target=”_blank”>www.kensingtonjewelers.com</a>

The ring of the doorbell is greeted with a smile, and you eagerly open the door to find your loved one bearing a bouquet of flowers.

For some time, you continue to exchange flowers on a semi-regular basis. Perhaps, you make your way down a flower-lined aisle to the tune of a piano.

The years pass, and each brings its own milestones for good and for bad. Children are born, promotions are gained, anniversaries are celebrated, there are fights to be made up for, and there are the sad times when you bid farewell to loved ones forever.

All these occasions have one thing in common – the flowers. Flowers lie twined around every milestone in our lives – from the newborn’s crib to the bridal bouquet to the coffin.

Flowers are a mode of expression that requires no words. A bouquet of red roses says “I love you” as clearly as a love letter, while white speaks of the purity attained only in mourning and the afterlife. Bright, vibrant yellow, pink or orange conveys comradeship at multiple levels. In fact, each flower and herb has a particular significance in folklore, and is said to convey a specific message.

If you want to convey a powerful message without words, why not create a bouquet or decorate with carefully selected flowers and an attached key to unlock the cipher?

What do you do, though, when you can no longer ring the doorbell and gift flowers with your own hands? What do you do when you are too busy to scour a hundred florists’ shops to find the best arrangements for an occasion?

Yes, you can do exactly what you would do if you were unable to book your plane tickets in person – you buy flowers online.

Over the Internet, you can view the work of experienced, dedicated and expert florists. These florists can show off their best creations on their websites, as they continually think up new and innovative patterns.

What’s more, there are many florists who deliver all over the country, so you can access services that you would never have found by searching offline. Some florists also tie up with gift shops, which allow you to send flowers, candy, keepsakes and wine to your lover, no matter how far away you may be.

The flowers you buy online get delivered to the designated address exactly when you want them to be, and can also have a personal message from you attached. You can also place bulk orders with specific instructions for special occasions, and rest assured that they will be carried out to the letter.

If you live apart from your loved ones, are away due to work tours, or too old/sick/busy/tired to buy in person, buying flowers online is the way to go. This holds true equally well if you want to order flowers to take to a corporate party in person – in today’s world, the time saved is absolutely invaluable.