Why, Beauty?

Global warming is a serious and very real threat to not only our generation but also generations after us. We all know that we need to recycle more, use our cars less and just use far less energy in general but sometimes it can be difficult to make so many changes to your life.

One great change that is so simple and cost effective is to grab yourself some thermal underwear and thus decrease the amount of heat needed in the home. Thermals can make a huge difference to the amount of energy your house consumes; by turning the thermostat down by just 3^oC can reduce your heating bill by up to 10%. As well as getting a massive saving you can also feel great about knowing that you are doing your bit to help curb the ever increasing threat of rising sea levels and fuel shortages. With the money you save from the heating bill you could buy a more fuel efficient car and in turn save even more money.

Now I know you’re thinking to yourself that you wouldn’t be seen dead in thermals but they have changed a surprising amount from that awful long john image. I too was sceptical but having seen thermal expert Damart range of colourful and fashionable thermals my opinion has changed considerable, the thermals range was trendy and the garments could even be worn as standalone pieces.

Other clothes made from natural fibres such as cotton, wool, hemp and recycled materials i.e. fleeces and some synthetic threads are great for reducing your carbon footprint due to the lack of chemical and industrial processes involved however avoid petroleum based synthetic threads as they cause hazardous waste and don’t biodegrade which isn’t too great for the environment.

With the world’s economic crisis getting into full swing, the price of energy can only go higher so if you want to reduce this cost as much as possible and help with the global warming crisis then dress green the easy way – don some thermals, have low fuel costs, feel good about yourself and be the envy of your friends.

Hiking and outdoor gear has become stylish and fashionable, particularly designs from manufacturers such as the North Face and Berghaus.  The range of brightly coloured, Berghaus fleeces and hiking gear is not only being worn by intrepid hikers and fell-walkers, but also in the high street.

To ensure maximum warmth while hiking it’s best to wear clothes with thermal or fleecy linings.  This type of fabric enables the skin to breath and traps heat within the layers.  Fleecy woollen hats, gloves, trousers and boots also help to keep you warm on the fells, and the range of designs is becoming increasingly stylish.

When deciding on a hiking trip in the winter months it’s necessary to be dressed suitably for whatever the weather brings.  Thermal underwear is a must, topped with North Face Polartec Salathe pullover, priced at £50.  This design comes in dark colours, such as black, grey/black and deepwater blue.  Complete with the North Face logo prominently displayed on top pocket, this top not only looks great but feels comfortable to wear.

Berghaus, Regatta and Sprayway also do great ranges of fleece hiking gear, it’s hard to go wrong with any of their styles, they vary in price from £36 for a Berghaus women’s Spectrum jacket in a fabulous range of colours.  Craghoppers, Kiwi, along with other manufacturers offer large ranges of hiking trousers.  All are hardwearing, practical and weatherproof.  Most ranges aren’t considered stylish but jeans or cords which are always fashionable, would be suitable for hiking anywhere.

A hat is necessary for colder winter walking and there are many stylish designs on the High Street.  Fleecy berets bobble hats, or even a snood would keep out the icy cold, and look great wherever you are walking.  The colours are great, from burnt orange, red, icy blue or cool greens.  Pulled well down over your ears, they look stylish, while keeping you warm and comfortable.

For hiking over rough terrain a strong, sturdy pair of boots is essential.  Timberland leads the way with some stunning designs.  Men’s Shackleton range boots are stylish wear anywhere, but are extremely expensive with designs starting at £130 upwards.  Timberland Earthkeepers boots look fantastic with a tartan inset in the leather. They are very hard-wearing, and with the correct care, will last many years.  They’re definitely a good investment.

Hiking and walking are becoming increasingly popular past-times, and designers such as Sprayway, North Face and others are designing up-market, stylish clothing and equipment suitable for wear.

I think that the denim jeans found on the high street are just as resilient as designer denim. However, the high street brand may not be available in all shapes & sizes. They tend to only cater to the masses where you will find that the designer label has a much wider range of sizes, leg lengths (full leg, Capri etc.) & styles (straight, bootleg etc.).

As all denim is basically cotton woven in the same way, I believe that in many cases you are just paying extra for the social status for a designer label.

Many people that I know wear cheaper jeans to work, especially if it is to a manual labour job. These jeans would stand up to a lot of hardship & while they tend to get very dirty they also stand the test of time & remain intact.

I think that we need to consider that in many cases it has more to do with value the manufacturer places on the jeans than the quality of the denim itself. High street retailers do not heavily advertise their jeans where as the designer labels do. I think that it is this extra advertising & branding that puts a large price tag on a lot of designer denim.

Jeans. Everyone owns at least one pair, don’t they? Whether the cheapy ones from supermarkets or high-end designer jeans costing hundreds of pounds, they’re the ultimate in clothing that can be dressed up or down and can be used for any occasion.

Jeans, heels and a cute t-shirt - perfect first date outfit. There’s nothing more comfortable than your favourite baggy jeans and a hoody for curling up in front of a DVD, or for writing essays and slobbing around the house in. There are jeans you can go to work in, jeans you can go out and sparkle in and jeans you can go to the stables in.

But does the brand make any difference? To me, the name on a pair of jeans means nothing, but the quality is everything. I’ve had some pairs which have been inexpensive, but have held their colour and shape for years. Equally I’ve bought some horribly expensive designer jeans which have fallen apart rather rapidly (although I don’t suppose using them to ride horses in really helped…)

Generally I reckon you get what you pay for, and the more you pay for a pair of jeans, the better you can expect them to fit and last. However, this doesn’t always follow and you can easily be conned out of a lot of money simply for the name on the back pocket and the studs, as most jeans are still made abroad, and denim is still denim no matter who it’s made by. Overall I suppose it depends on how brand-conscious you are, and whether having a name on your jeans matters to you or not.

I work in the fashion industry and it is definitely true that more and more women are buying clothes over the Internet. This is made even easier when shops allow customers to return items bought over the Internet, to their High Street shops. Thus avoiding costly charges and timely Post Office trips if items need to be returned.

Shops are even encouraging shoppers to buy over the Internet by creating ranges that are largely only available from their websites such as the Wallis Limited collection that is only available in a few selected stores and online.

It is important to remember that many shoppers don’t like or don’t have the time to try things on in store fitting rooms and so buy with the intention of trying it on at home and returning the item if it doesn’t fit properly or they decide they don’t like it which is essentially what the Internet does.

With the increasing cost of parking in city centres, it isn’t surprising that many people are turning to the Internet for their fashion needs and it is becoming increasingly easy, convenient and safe to do so.