Kalmia Records Blog

If you were ever a sailor, a boy scout or a girl guide you probably know what a Lanyard is. For the rest of us it’s that thing we hang around our neck to hold onto our security cards, keys and mobile phones.

It seems that almost overnight this daggy item of office apparel has suddenly become the hottest fashion accessory dangling out of the back pocket of every hip hop and happening skanky dude and dudette around town.

Once the enforced fashion faux pas of the IT Industry, its now no longer the likes of IBM or Apple we see blazoned on these nylon strings but Nike, Adidas and maybe even Prada.

It wasn’t so long ago that gay men embraced the concept of hankies hanging out their back pockets with a wide variety of colours and designs to signify a code for one’s sexual proclivities. One had to be careful to choose not only the right colour out of over fifty plus different coded designs, but also which back pocket - left or right - dominant or submissive - to hang it out of.

So is this the case with lanyards? Does one need to be careful to choose the right logo emblazed on their tag? The right colour? And of course, the right pocket to hang it out of?

And what about the right shiny metal attachment at the end? For with any fashion craze there is likely to be a whole industry accessorizing these babies to the hilt.

So why have we chosen to re-embrace these nylon strands and tszuj them up?

Is it because the metal key chains we strategically dangled from our cut-offs for the last few seasons (another takeaway from the gay community by the way) contributed so dramatically, due to their increasing weight, to dragging our pants down that now they don’t fit anymore? And all you underwear emporiums just thought we were just being trendy and showing off your label bands.

Have we been forced to seek out a new fashion accessory for hanging our keys which doesn’t ruin our clothes?

Or is it just another fad, like the yoyo, whose time will come and go. As security swipe cards fade into memory and fingerprints, eye scans and DNA tests welcome the next phase of our security conscious evolution will lanyards too just become another fashion craze that slips into folklore only to get recycled in twenty years time.

Only time will tell. But in the meantime don’t leave the house without one dangling from a pocket lest you wish to become a noughties fashion victim.

Peter Shuttlewood is the author of webzine freshread which contains articles on Popular Culture with an Australian slant. Freshread - the everyday in a fresh way.

Although piercing parts of the body - other than the ears - may seem to be a recent fashion and lifestyle trend, body piercing actually has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. Whether as a means of personal expression, to designate societal standing, or as part of religious ritual, body piercing has been around almost as long as mankind.

Navel piercing: Although navel piercing is extremely popular today, in the ancient Egyptian civilization only the royal family was allowed to pierce their belly buttons - and anyone who broke this rule would be executed!

Nostril piercing: A passage from Genesis in the Bible’s Old Testament says, “…The man took out a gold nose ring….” Originating in the Middle East over 4,000 years ago, nostril piercing is still practiced by Bedouins today. Husbands present their wives with a ring at marriage, and the size of the ring denotes a family’s wealth. The practice traveled from the Middle East to India in the 17th century, where the type of jewel worn in the nose would designate social standing. Today, Indian women typically pierce their left nostril, in a spot associated with easing the pain of childbirth. Nostril piercing traveled to the West in the late 1960s, when young people searching for spiritual enlightenment in India returned home. Punk rockers and their followers adopted the practice in the 1970s, and it was revived again in the 1990s.

Tongue piercing: Tongue piercing was practiced by Aztec and Mayan priests and shamans, in the belief that it would help them better communicate with their gods.

Ear piercing: A passage from Exodus in the Bible’s Old Testament says, “He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl.” The oldest mummy ever found, dating back five centuries, had his ear pierced, and there is evidence that, over two centuries ago, people living on the Island of Cyprus pierced their ears. Tribes in South America and Africa would pierce their ears and stretch the holes; the larger the hole, the greater the person’s stature in the tribe. Everyone from the Romans to the Tlingit tribe in Alaska viewed ear piercing as a sign of wealth and stature. Even sailors pierced their ears, in the belief that it gave them better eyesight.

Lip piercing: Historically, Aztecs and Mayan men underwent labret piercing and wore ornamental gold labrets to distinguish themselves as members in high social standing. Among some African tribes, lip piercing carried religious significance, while others perceived labrets as beautiful body adornment, and for still others, it was part of the rite of betrothal.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Visit this Jewelry Website and Majon’s Jewelry directory.

In today’s competitive world everyone wants to look better and smarter than others. So for that, they can get a total makeover for themselves. In this process, eye gear or sunglasses play a major role. At the moment, protective and stylish sunglasses are important fashion statements. If we go back a few years, earlier sunglasses were only used as fashion accessories, but now they have become useful, by protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Many retailers have started purchasing bulk stocks of sunglasses from wholesalers. Very few people know that wholesale sunglasses are less expensive than what is available in the retail market. Generally, wholesalers purchase an array of sunglasses of various brands and styles in bulk, and then they sell it to retailers. Basically, wholesalers act as middlemen between the actual manufacturers and the shopkeepers who sell sunglasses. In short, a wholesaler’s basic function is to guide shopkeepers and retailers regarding brands and fashions prevailing in the market.

Wholesale sunglasses are available for every gender and age. These days, most sunglasses are unisex so that anyone can wear it, whether male or female. You also get the chance to shop around, or see the latest trendy sunglasses worn by models or film stars. But what should be kept in mind is that when purchasing wholesale sunglasses you must check the quality, not just the price. Always make sure that you buy sunglasses with a quality perfect frame and lenses. Plastic lenses provide maximum durability.

So if you want to look your best and be the envy of others, then buy the best and latest wholesale sunglasses, which make you stand out from the crowd. Moreover, choose the best style and be ready to flaunt it.

Wholesale Sunglasses provides detailed information on Aviator Sunglasses Wholesale, Designer Sunglasses Wholesale, Motorcycle Sunglasses Wholesale, Polarized Sunglasses Wholesale and more. Wholesale Sunglasses is affiliated with Polarized Sun Glasses.

When it comes to hair length, medium hairstyles are the most dominant as it is a safe area for all types of hair. Longer lengths can be troublesome to take care of and shorter lengths may not fit different facial shapes or looks as well but medium hairstyles seem to be just right for a lot of women. Because it is in between longer and shorter hair lengths, the number of hairstyles increases greatly as many shorter looks or longer hairstyles may work with medium length hair. There are a lot of advantages besides just an increase in different hairstyles to choose from.

Medium length hairstyles are easy to take care of and style than longer hairstyles yet more versatile than shorter hairstyles. Medium hairstyles match most facial shapes well as there is just enough hair complimenting the facial region and enhancing other features. Where as with shorter hair, all facial features or greatly enhanced, sometimes too much. Most women are comfortable with medium hairstyles as it allows them to go about everyday with a good hairstyle that can be change from short to long with some slight changes.

Because there are so many great looking medium hairstyles to choose from, selecting the one to match your occasion or facial feature can be fun. There are many different medium hairstyles that match many different facial shapes and features ranging from everyday wear, to business looks, to very formal, elegant hairstyles. Trying the different looks out during a day at home is a great way to experiment with some of the great looks. Many teen girls try out different formal looks provided by medium hairstyles months before their prom to test several of the hot looks that would best match their dresses. With so many selections, there is only enough space here to touch up on some of the best medium hairstyles.

The medium length updo

Because medium length hairstyles are long enough to tie back into updos, there are a number of updo hairstyles available for formal occasions. Although they are not as fancy as longer length updos, they provide cute, charming looks. They are popular for every event from school dances to the Hollywood ‘Red Carpet’. My favorite celebrity updo for medium length hair is Mandy Moore. In many images, her simple updo with parted bangs simply brings out her eyes and cheeks which gives her a very alluring look that many women can accomplish as well. So have a look ladies at this style.

Layered Medium Length Hairstyles

Medium length hairstyles are great for layering because of their versatility. Layering medium hair length correctly by framing the facial area often brings out a person’s eyes, lips, and other facial features in a non-obtrusive manner. There are so many ways to layer medium length hairstyles because it is long enough to go short in different areas and short enough to keep in others. A variety of layering options is available. Many celebrities have medium length layered hairstyles including favorites like Heather Locklear and old pop queen Britney Spears. There are too many hairstyles in this category so experimentation is allowed here.

The simple flow down hairstyle

This medium hairstyle is popular because it is very simple. Just letting your hair flow down with either bangs down or parted with additional waves, ringlets, or curls at the ends. This looks is very quick to accomplish and looks great for women who take care of their hair. This style is best for on the go girls with little time but desire a pleasing look.

Cindy Marcus is the editor of Latest-Hairstyles.com, a popular hairstyle resource site that provides tips and resources for new style ideas. For more ideas on medium hairstyles, visit Cindy’s web site today.