Evening Wear for Spring

Spring has at last arrived and for many of us it is the first opportunity in the year to have a really good look in our wardrobes and partake of a fashion update. The spring fashion forecast is bright and beautiful, whether is it for evening wear or day wear. Bold colours, feminine shapes and lots of texture are on the spring/summer fashion calendar. Sheer and floaty fabrics were very popular in the collections for spring 2009 but unpredictable weather requires most of us to have something handy in case a sudden shower appears. The likes of Tommy Hilfiger have redesigned the traditional Mac and there are plenty new Macs available in silks and satins that are lightweight but will give some extra coverage if the weather changes.

Many of us love the classic little black dress and usually buy one for each new season however this spring sees the arrival of the little white linen dress. White is a popular colour this spring and many of the delightful Grecian or asymmetrical style dresses come in various shades of white. However it is not only dresses that are in for the spring, many designers have reintroduced trousers to their collections. There are many trouser styles available from harem pants to really skinny jeans and casual trousers. Trousers should be teamed with sheer silky tops, perhaps with a print of this season’s most popular motif, the butterfly.

Very often spring has the better weather of the year and there are plenty of sundresses in this season’s collections, sundresses are light and floaty with ruffles still in fashion from last year and easy adapted into evening wear. The must have accessory for Spring is the very long, dangly earring, but these earrings should not be mixed with other bulky jewellery such as the new collar necklaces, it is very much either earring or collar necklace for this look. Again high heels are a must and there are styles for all occasions.

Dressing up for spring

Spring is a confusing time fashion wise. What should you wear outside when the weather is so unpredictable? How can you keep warm and still look good? It is all too easy to feel that the sun will never appear, and fall into the trap of thinking that dull weather means wearing dull clothes to match. However, it is possible to choose practical outdoor clothing that will keep you warm outdoors, and still look stylish. There is no need to either hide away in dark tones, so that you blend in with the grey skies, or shiver in bright but flimsy clothes more suited to the summer.

The ever-popular raincoat is absolutely perfect for the variable spring climate. Obviously, it is designed for wet weather, but also keeps out the cold. The raincoat, however, combines practicality with style. For that Parisian touch, accessorise with a beret (best avoided if it makes you look more like Benny Hill than Audrey Hepburn). Black is always stylish; try swapping the belt for another, contrasting one (if you buy a belt for this purpose, take the coat with you so that you can be sure that the belt will fit through the loops). A plain raincoat can also be jazzed up with colourful accessories, such as gloves, but you could consider a coat in a different colour, such as bright red, which would certainly cheer up a dull rainy day.

There can be cold winds in spring, and this is where scarves come into their own. Not only are they useful as a fashion accessory, but also add a practical touch. If by some miracle the sun comes out, they can be easily removed and stored in your bag, without taking up much space. Avoid the heavy winter version; instead, choose a lighter alternative. These are fabulous for a stylish spring outfit, as the variety of scarves available is endless. They can also be very inexpensive, which means that you can have a small collection without spending a fortune. In addition, scarves are a versatile item and can be tied in many different ways, or even used as a belt.

Hats are also a great way of keeping warm and are a much underrated accessory that deserves more attention. Most people can find a style to suit them, and it is well worth going to a hat department and spending some time trying on different styles to see what suits you. At the other end of the body, boots still have their place in the winter wardrobe. Wear with fitted trousers or jeans on days when it looks like rain, or under wider-legged trousers on dry days. If knee-length boots are too warm for your legs, ankle boots will still keep your feet dry on rainy days.

Feel good winter thermals

The recent weather this winter of snow storms and freezing rain has done little to turn those credit crunch frowns upside down. The snow was good for a day, maybe you got a day off work and built a snowman but once the snow has started to clear and it turns to ice and slush then the fun is lost.

The cold weather has only really just begun and the bitter wind is biting hard. Wrapping up warm is essential and you’d be a fool not to. Gloves, hats and scarf’s are all essentials but have you ever thought about wearing thermal underwear?

Thermals are great at keeping you toasty warm, they are often made of a lightweight and thin material that can be worn underneath you ordinary clothes without you even noticing that you have them on. The difference that they can make is extraordinary and most defiantly noticeable. The level of insulation provided shines against that of just a regular long sleeved top or t-shirt.

Damart is a name that is synonymous with thermals and they have been supplying high quality thermal underwear made from the insulating material Thermolactyl for over 50 years. They are also selling a limited edition pink thermal vest that supports the Breast Cancer campaign so you can feel extra special in your new Damart thermal underwear.

Thermals have other benefits other than keeping you warm; they can help lower your energy bills if you wear them around the house as they allow you to turn the thermostat down a bit. They can also help with your blood circulation as keeping warm improves the circulation to your extremities.

Enjoying the snow and the cold weather is best when you continue to stay warm, so get some thermals and get back out there.

How often do you find yourself saying “I have to get away from it all”?

I would recommend that you get up, get yourself dressed in the proper outdoor gear, and go for a walk outside.

The charity “Mind” published a report that shows more than about 9 in every 10 individuals who took part in their ‘green’ exercise program noticed a difference in their mental state of wellbeing.
The study says: “Ecotherapy is a natural, free and accessible treatment that boosts our mental wellbeing. Whether it’s a horticultural development programme supervised by a therapist or a simple walk in the park, being outdoors and being active is proven to benefit our mental health.”

A 30 minute walk outdoors can boost your mood, and help you feel energetic and revitalised. Research found that the serotonin levels in the brain are altered. Since Serotonin is the link identified to depression, by lowering it, you improve your mood and feelings of well being. Endorphins combined with proteins are also released from the brain and spinal cord when walking. This then acts on the nervous system and reduce pain, again to improve the mood.

In one particular study, it was shown that the body temperature increases, which in turn may have a positive influence on the brain chemicals.

Thirty Minutes of brisk walking is evident. However, it is believed that by taking that outside and enjoying your environment could help you maintain your good health and mental wellbeing with little to no drug treatment, and even prevent the symptoms from recurring! Although walking outdoors is not a replacement for professional treatments, it is highly complementary to the conventional methods.

And just in case you need more motivation, here are other health reason why it would be a rather good idea to take up walking:

• Walking increases your lung and heart capacity to supply oxygenated blood to your system, thus improving Pulmonary and Cardiovascular fitness.

• Bone density can be increased through walking especially for the lower back and hips. Since walking is a weight-bearing exercise, it strengthens the muscles. This can prevent osteoporosis and minimise the chances of hip fractures as we grow older.

• Walking creates a healthy body, but apart from that it also keeps our brains functioning at its optimum best. By walking outdoors and being stimulated in a positive manner you reduce the chances of mental deterioration. This in turn can help you dealing in a combat against diabetes, heart disease and strokes.

To get the best out of your walk, it is suggested that you walk at a steady, brisk pace. Should you feel a bit uncomfortable, slow your pace down a bit, and breathe in deeper. Start of slowly if you have not done any exercise for a long while, and build up gradually.

Also, a rather important and often overlooked piece of advice is to make sure wear the correct gear! Outdoors clothing is vastly different from indoors, and thus, you should kit yourself in warm, comfortable and durable outfits.

There is more to skiing than après ski!

I got married nearly nine years ago, it was a Winter wedding, in February and we were very undecided as to where to go for our honeymoon. I do not mind flying but I am not a fan of long haul flights, neither am I a sun lover. After much deliberating we decided to go for a ski holiday. We booked after Christmas into a French ski resort and neither my husband nor I had ever been skiing before so this was going to be something new and unknown for us.

We booked our trip through a ski specialist and I must say everything about them was very professional, we received lots of details about the resort, where we would be staying and had a very detailed travel itinerary. As we were complete novices in the ski world we had no idea what we should bring with us, would we need ski equipment, ski wear etc. We checked all this with the tour company and were advised that we would not need to bring any specialist equipment or clothing that everything could be hired on our arrival in the resort. The only specific items we did bring were hats, gloves and ski goggles.

I have a fear of heights and my main concern was how I would get off the ski lift, to be honest this was a worry I need not have had. As we were novices we were able to stay on the school slopes for the complete holiday. When we arrived at our resort we were able to book a five day course of lessons in the ski school, this left us another day and a half where we could have ventured onto the more difficult slopes but I was more than content to stay on the school slopes.

We were able to hire all the equipment we needed through our hotel, boots, skis and ski suits, also our lessons. We arrived at the school to be met by lots of young children, I did not find this off putting as I had completely no idea what to do and so needed to learn the very basics. The ski instructors were very good and we were not treated like children, although some of the children were excellent and really learned very quickly, unlike us older learners.

We had lots of fun but it was quite hard work and at the end of the course although I may not have been a proficient skier I was definitely a much more confident skier. I did feel content to ski on the nursery slopes and would be willing to venture onto more difficult runs when I return. I would definitely recommend skiing to anyone, although it is hard work but still it’s very good fun. We stayed in a very beautiful and picturesque resort and it was busy but not too crowded. The food was very good and the après ski was even better. There was no snobbishness in the resort and nobody looked down on us because we were novices, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and when my children are old enough we will take them skiing.