The Guide to All Things of Fashion | Forever-taylor.net

Archive for October, 2011

No other ring in the history has as beautiful of tory as that of the Irish Claddagh ring.

The story of the Claddagh starts when a fisherman, Richard Joyce, and other crew members were captured by pirates shortly before Joyce was to be married. He was sold into slavery in Algiers and made the property of a goldsmith who taught him the craft. With his beloved back in Claddagh on his mind he fashioned the first Claddagh ring. The hands were to represent friendship, the heart was love, and the crown represented loyalty and fidelity.

In 1698 King Georges III agreed to free all of his subjects. Richard Joyce was once again free. His slave master offered Joyce his daughter in marriage and half of his wealth if he would stay in Algiers. Joyce refused the offer and instead returned home to Claddagh where he found his love waiting for him. Neither of them had married. Upon discovering this, Joyce gave his love the ring and they were married shortly thereafter.

The ring was dubbed The Claddagh because of the village Joyce and his Bride were from. There were others who made the ring much later and added jewels and an intricate crown design. The basic hands holding a crowned heart has never changed. Joyce wanted something that would his love for his Beloved.

The design is the clasped hands of the ‘fede’ or faith rings. These rings date from Roman times and were popular in the Middle Ages. The ring is worn now by many to speak to their Irish heritage. The Claddagh tells the story of two lovers who are separated and yet their love and commitment withstood the passage of time. It’s simple design and my heritage influenced my decision to purchase a Claddagh.

 

High school is a time of growing up. It is a time of socialization. It is a time of declaring who you are. All these and more are reflected on high school fashion today. There are various looks that high school students have. Here are some of them:

1) The Rocker – this high school fashion is very popular among fans of rock bands. This may include shirts that make statements or shirts featuring their favorite band. This high school fashion also often includes a lot of trinkets including studded bracelets, a tribal necklace. Of course, taking on this high school fashion needs the appropriate attitude to go with it. You need to be truly passionate about the music. It helps if you have an ipod with huge headphones to go with the look. Other optional accessories include a musical instrument used in rock such as a pair of drumsticks or a guitar case.

2) The Jock – Just wearing the varsity team jacket will transform any outfit into “jock mode”. Some people who wear this fashion often try to hide their poor fashion sense behind the huge letters and colors of the high school. The jock look is easily accomplished by trying out for a school team and actually earning the right to wear a jacket. The school varsity chess team does not count, though.

3) The Goth – Goth fashion can be defined using one word: black. This high school fashion is often used by people who wish to make statements of angst. Weird looking accessories are a must, as is black eyeliner and black lipstick. Although students who make use of this fashion claim to do so to show their individuality, it is more commonly caused by wanting to belong to a group of people who want to show that they do not belong.

4) The computer geek – in the past, geeks and nerds were distinguished because of their not-so-cool-clothing. The thing is, they are too busy with other projects to be too much concerned with what they are wearing. Today, though, having geeky clothing is not necessarily such a bad thing. This is because of the fact that geeks today are thriving because of computers. Even role playing gamers have risen from the status of suspected Satan worshippers to world class cyber athletes. Isn’t that a big improvement? In order to achieve the look of this high school fashion, you need to really be preoccupied with solving the problems of the universe to actually care about what you are wearing. A shirt with a witty saying or technological jargon would help complete this look for you.

5) The Fashionista – this is the hardest look to maintain since it requires that you always be updated on the latest high school fashions. You need to research thoroughly on the subject of what’s hot and what’s not. You need to constantly scout out malls in order to be the first one to have the best outfit ever. You need to have the instincts of Carson from “Queer eye” in finding the perfect outfit. Your duty does not end here. As a fashionista, you will have to establish the highest standard of high school fashion.

Of course, these are just some of the high school fashions in circulation today. In order to learn more, just look around at your local high school.

When it comes to sunglasses, is retro the way to go?  You are probably seeing a lot of different designs of shades these days, are they new?  Truthfully, there are really no new designs, just redesigns of a formerly popular style.  In the fashion world, retro designs are everywhere–and sunglasses are no exception.

One design that has poked its head back into the fashion world is well known all over.  Onassis Glasses, or the Jackie-O design sunglasses were popularized by the former First Lady Kennedy.  After becoming Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, she flaunted this oversized style of sunglasses all over the globe.  The style was so closely associated with her, that it has shared her name since the late seventies.

After fading from the public eye, the Onassis Glasses lay dormant for about thirty years.  However, poised for a comeback, these sunglasses have begun making waves on red carpets and runways all over.  The women credited for bringing back the infamous sunglasses are Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton.  Since then, Jackie-O’s have been seen on the faces of famous women and trendy-but-average Janes everywhere.

Another retro design of sunglasses that has made big waves recently is the cleverly named Aviators.  Originally designed in the 1930′s for military pilots, Aviators were hot on fashionable faces in the 1960′s and 1980′s.  True to their every-twenty-year trend, Aviators are back with avengance and have been favorites for men, and women, with style.  It is particularly true that this style of sunglasses has caught on with the younger “MTV Crowd” more than with adults.  Johnny Knoxville has adapted Aviators as his signature style.

Some styles of sunglasses have briefly shown themselves in fashion, only to never be heard from again.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  There are those sunglasses the human race still feels a little silly about.  However, let’s not speak too soon.  These sunglasses could be waiting in the wings for their triumphant return.

OVER-Oversized sunglasses are one fashion faux-pa most of us would rather not make.  The design is a retro tribute to the late Lady O when they are slightly oversized and conservative.  However, when the sunglasses appear to be attempting to take over your face, you may have crossed the line into ridiculous.  Save the supersized look for clowns and put this design back in the vault.

Another design that some hope will never return carries a soft spot in the hearts of many women.  The Wayfarer sunglasses were first made popular by Hollywood’s bad boy, James Dean.  After his death, these sunglasses were worn for a time, before slowly falling by the wayside to make room for the newer styles.

However, the Wayfarer was gone but not forgotten.  The sunglasses made a double comeback on the faces of James Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, better known in the eighties as the Blues Brothers.  The sunglasses with a clean black, square design were a perfect complement to their all black suits, hats and ties.

Wayfarers made one more comeback in 1983 when a sock and underwear clad young man slid into the living room and into our hearts.  Before Tom Cruise was the controversial figure he is today, he was a hot high school graduate just trying to get into a good college.  The Wayfarers sunglasses haven’t been much on the fashion scene since then, but we’ve never forgotten.

It’s hard to tell what may come next in the world of fashion sunglasses.  If you really want to keep up with it, just check the fashion magazines in early spring and see what new old styles are unfolding.  You may have seen them all before, but these retro sunglasses are bound to have a new and exciting twist.