Dark Moon (F)
Dark Moon (R)
Thursday, 26 September 2013
Dark Moon...
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival
Happy Moon cake Festival 2013
Animal lanterns floating and dancing...
...light your lanterns and enjoy their serenity by night...
...look for the rabbit on the moon and seek its blessings...
...finally have a bite of the moon cake delight!
Friday, 13 September 2013
Happy Friday the 13th!
HAPPY FRIDAY the 13TH!
ha...ha...ha...boo!...your spell is broken, have fun!
Bibliography
Reference Cited
IMAGES (2013) [Online] Yahoo! Available from:
http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0S0ue59jTJS0FcAgNNNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTFzc2hsdmQ1BHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM2OGUxODM1ZmQyZmEzZDNjMWEyYjMzYTc2MDE1ZTEwMwRncG9zAzEzNw--?back=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.images.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dscariest%2Bjack%2Bo%2Blantern%26n%3D30%26ei%3Dutf-8%26y%3DSearch%26fr%3Dyfp-t-702%26ri%3D137%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D137&w=2448&h=3264&imgurl=sarahauerswald.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F10%2FIMG_2611.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsarahauerswald.com%2F2012%2F10%2F27%2Fsony-playstation-halloween-party-w-courtney-cox-david-spade-james-marsden%2Fimg_2611%2F&size=963.8KB&name=scary+%3Cb%3Ejack%3C%2Fb%3E-%3Cb%3Eo%3C%2Fb%3E-%3Cb%3Elantern+%3C%2Fb%3Eat+Sony+Playstation+Halloween+Party+October+27+...&p=scariest+jack+o+lantern&oid=68e1835fd2fa3d3c1a2b33a76015e103&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-702&tt=scary+%3Cb%3Ejack%3C%2Fb%3E-%3Cb%3Eo%3C%2Fb%3E-%3Cb%3Elantern+%3C%2Fb%3Eat+Sony+Playstation+Halloween+Party+October+27+...&b=121&ni=144&no=137&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=13orjs3lk&sigb=147ptrslj&sigi=11qfj9c9p&.crumb=7FfYvVnBw8l&fr=yfp-t-702
[Accessed: 13 SEP 2013]
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Scarecrow Boutique
Ahh...the
ever famous leopard prints mini dress. A matching hat will be ‘over the top’.
However this black feather hat will compliment your look. Go get them (guys)!
For styles to die for, do visit Scarecrow Boutique. There
is definitely one for you, and I mean, ONLY you!
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Best of both worlds!
I would like to thank my fans and all for their invaluable support and contribution in my Monogram Blogger Contest entry
I am not a fan of loafers. When I saw a celebrity wearing them in a fashion magazine, I have to check it out. I was tempted to buy when my mate keep praising its unique design and may not be available in the future. She got hers and I, Dstysionist, ended with a mine ;-) These are evergreen classic style and function. Their designs too are intermediate. So be it a formal or casual event, my footwear is sorted. Now I am jumping for joy :-) !
For him...
...& her too...xoxo
Bibliography
Reference Cited
IMAGES (2013) [Online] Google
Available from:
[Accessed: 26 AUG 2013]
HUSH
PUPPIES WOMEN’S POSE (2012) [Online] Shoes.com, Inc. Available from: http://www.shoes.com/en-US/Product/EC1230263-5132814/Hush+Puppies/Dark+Red/Women's+Pose.aspx
[Accessed:
9 JAN 2012]
HUSH
PUPPIES MEN’S MERIT (2012) [Online] Shoes.com, Inc. Available from: http://www.shoes.com/en-US/Product/EC1227472-5131416/Hush+Puppies/Dark+Brown/Men's+Merit.aspx
[Accessed:
9 JAN 2012]
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
NAME CARD – First Impression Counts!
My
print dealer that provided excellent past services by designing and printing my
name card has surprisingly decided to rip me off when I replenished my stock. Not
knowing the reason for this, I am very disappointed. Fortunately, I have acquired
the knowledge and skills to design my own and researched other printing
resources. MY new name card now features my muse AMANDA. This is one of my many
bad experiences that have a happy ending. Now, I have a greater sense of
accomplishment and pride with my new name card.
Depending
on one’s preference, a presentable conditioned name card is important for a
good first impression. Unfortunately, I did not receive any advice and I
discovered these through costly experience. Below, are invaluable tips I would
like to share in hope that none will repeat my mistakes:
1)
8.5cm x 5.0cm size – This may seem
small but it fits comfortably in most wallets and purses. There is still a lot
more allowances should these pockets or compartments are smaller.
2)
Rounded corners – Looking good has
a purpose. This will minimize ugly bends and friction effects.
3) Matt Laminated Art Paper – Request for tear
and water resistant ones with a weight NOT below 200gsm. This will
ensure durability.
4)
Card box – Regardless of
material, ensure that the name card storage box has a hole underneath. This
will ease removing the name cards from the box without fumbling over.
I hope these will work well and leave a lasting good impression for
all.
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
I feel good NOW!
Treasure - BRUNO MARS
These colour, glitter and grace are all in place here. I never like BRUNO MARS but this make me feel GOOOD after sooo long... With inspiration from music, I make wonders in fashion!
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Still looking 'Posh' 50 years on...
These first meets newest photos clearly show how tradition and identity are maintained while growing through mordenisation. My, my, has the 911 grown.
Bibliography
Reference Cited
PORSCHE 911 -
50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (2013)
[Online] Facebook Available from:
[Accessed: 21 JUN 2013]
PORSCHE 911 -
50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (2013)
[Online] Porsche Cars Great Britain Ltd. Available from:
[Accessed:
21 JUN 2013]
Monday, 24 June 2013
Buying fashion - Where is my money going?
The
price of a pair of jeans – who profits?
Thursday,
13 June 2013
IN_DEPTH_ Though often divided,
retailers, brands, factories and suppliers are more often than not in complete
agreement when it comes to the question of margins. There just seems to never
be enough of a profit to cover even basic costs, let alone invest in things
like better wages and improved worker safety. How can these essentials move
from “nice to haves” to “must haves”? And what are the actual costs that go
into producing a garment? Using the example of a pair of jeans, this next
installment in our sourcing series breaks down the expenses at each step.The excellent
Bloomberg infographic “Ninety
cents buys factory safety in Bangladesh on 22 dollar jeans” looks at a 14-pound
(22.12 dollars) pair of George jeans, an Asda brand, a British Walmart
subsidiary, manufactured by the Sepal Group in Bangladesh and shipped by Hong
Kong-based trading group Li & Fung. Exactly 1.16 dollars is the factory’s
share, leaving - as the title implies - merely 90 cents to cover all their
operational expenses including wages and safety measures. The profit per jeans
is 0.26 dollars or 22.4 percent of the manufacturer’s share.Only 5 percent of the total is spent on manufacturing
If 1.16
dollars (or 5 percent of the total jeans price paid by the customer) are spent
on manufacturing, what are the remaining 20.96 dollars for? The biggest chunk
of 10.50 dollars (47 percent) is taken up by distribution and store costs,
followed by the next biggest chunk of 4.33 dollars for shipping (20 percent).
Fabric costs factor in at 3.94 dollars (18 percent), the trim at 1.05 dollars
(5 percent) and other expenses for wash, commercial and freight charges at 1.13
dollars (5 percent), almost identical with the manufacturing costs.
To get an idea of the profits at each step, let’s break them further down. In distribution and store costs, the latter take up as big a chunk as value added tax - 3.86 dollars. That leaves 3.14 dollars for central costs (1.04 dollars), distribution (0.87 dollars), markdown (0.36 dollars) and the Asda stores profit at 0.87 dollars or 8 percent of the total costs allotted to this segment.
To get an idea of the profits at each step, let’s break them further down. In distribution and store costs, the latter take up as big a chunk as value added tax - 3.86 dollars. That leaves 3.14 dollars for central costs (1.04 dollars), distribution (0.87 dollars), markdown (0.36 dollars) and the Asda stores profit at 0.87 dollars or 8 percent of the total costs allotted to this segment.
Shipping as a profit-rich segment
Shipping
is an interesting segment as profits seem to hide here. But let’s look at costs
first – shipping and port fees only make up 0.30 and 0.20 dollars,
respectively; financing costs another 0.07 dollars, leaving 3.76 dollars or 87
percent of this segment for profits. That’s right, the Walmart profit totals
0.60 dollars and the Li & Fung gross profit a whopping 3.15 dollars.
The fabric segment is straightforward – 3.69 dollars spent on the primary fabric, 0.15 dollars and 0.10 dollars on embroidery and extra pocket material, respectively. No profits here. The trim segment is similar: 0.31 dollars for thread and other materials, 0.23 dollars for the hanger/stickers, 0.16 dollars for rivets, 0.15 dollars for the zipper, 0.12 dollars for garment labels, 0.06 dollars for the button and 0.02 dollars for the box end label. That’s it. Now let’s look at the profits by percentage of the total jeans price to consumer.
The fabric segment is straightforward – 3.69 dollars spent on the primary fabric, 0.15 dollars and 0.10 dollars on embroidery and extra pocket material, respectively. No profits here. The trim segment is similar: 0.31 dollars for thread and other materials, 0.23 dollars for the hanger/stickers, 0.16 dollars for rivets, 0.15 dollars for the zipper, 0.12 dollars for garment labels, 0.06 dollars for the button and 0.02 dollars for the box end label. That’s it. Now let’s look at the profits by percentage of the total jeans price to consumer.
Profits, profits, profits – who gains most?
Li & Fung as the middleman stands out with 3.15 dollars
or 14 percent. Next, we’ve got the Asda stores with a 0.87 dollars or 4 percent
profit, followed by Walmart profits at 0.60 dollars or 3 percent. Last, and in
this case least, is the factory with a measly 1 percent profit. On a pair of
22-dollar-jeans, that’s 4.88 dollars or, with 22 percent, a good fifth in
profits. That certainly seems enough to factor in fair wages and worker safety
– a shake-up in profits seems called for rather than passing the buck to the
consumers. Given that one dollar on each garment could make a huge difference –
if placed in the right hands – they may be more than willing to do so though.
There are different calculations out there of course and thankfully so but as an average calculation on a pair of jeans in the lower price range, the one used here is quite representative. Readers of the previous article in the series, “What to buy – can consumers make a difference?” will remember that we determined that “price alone is no indication that a bigger proportion [of margins] is spent on worker and building safety”. This break-up proves why. Don’t miss the next installment in this series on Thursday and do send us your feedback at news@fashionunited.com.
Simone Preuss
Image: A pair of George jeans for 14 pounds (22 dollars) / Asda
There are different calculations out there of course and thankfully so but as an average calculation on a pair of jeans in the lower price range, the one used here is quite representative. Readers of the previous article in the series, “What to buy – can consumers make a difference?” will remember that we determined that “price alone is no indication that a bigger proportion [of margins] is spent on worker and building safety”. This break-up proves why. Don’t miss the next installment in this series on Thursday and do send us your feedback at news@fashionunited.com.
Simone Preuss
Image: A pair of George jeans for 14 pounds (22 dollars) / Asda
Dstysionist says, 'Now we know where the chunk of our money goes when we buy premium fashion!'
Bibliography
Reference Cited
THE PRICE OF A PAIR OF JEANS – WHO PROFITS? (2013) [Online] www.FashionUnited.info Available from:
http://www.fashionunited.co.uk/fashion-news/fashion/the-price-of-a-pair-of-jeans-%E2%80%93-who-profits-2013061317845
[Accessed: 16 JAN 2013]
Friday, 21 June 2013
Jeans are Denim o (a big period)
Skinny jeans not tight enough? American Eagle Outfitters takes spray on to the next level
US fashion company creates 'spray-on' jeans that fit you like a second skin...
By Kim Hookem-Smith | Yahoo Lifestyle – 15 hours ago
Skinny jeans have been taken to a new level as American Eagle Outfitters solve that age-old conundrum - what do you do when your jeans just aren't skinny enough?
You know the story, you're going about your cool, hipster life sporting super skinnies, but they're creasing around the knees and keep slipping down to reveal your muffin top (what muffin top?) to the world. Well fear not, AEO has the answer.
Skinny jeans that fit perfectly to your curves... AEO introduce the spray-on ©AEO
The US clothing company is offering truly spray on jeans, that won't crease, catch or ride up. But on the down side, they might not keep you very warm...
Posting an ad for the new 'jeans' online, the company announced: "Introducing our newest fit #AEOSkinnySkinny! It's our skinniest fit yet and is so comfortable you'll feel like you're wearing nothing at all."
You know the story, you're going about your cool, hipster life sporting super skinnies, but they're creasing around the knees and keep slipping down to reveal your muffin top (what muffin top?) to the world. Well fear not, AEO has the answer.
Skinny jeans that fit perfectly to your curves... AEO introduce the spray-on ©AEOThe US clothing company is offering truly spray on jeans, that won't crease, catch or ride up. But on the down side, they might not keep you very warm...
Posting an ad for the new 'jeans' online, the company announced: "Introducing our newest fit #AEOSkinnySkinny! It's our skinniest fit yet and is so comfortable you'll feel like you're wearing nothing at all."
[Related: Finding the perfect skinny jeans]
They let you 'live your life' in jeans that give you the freedom to sit playing your guitar the way you want, skateboard like a pro without them creasing up and without the restrictive feeling tight denim can cause.
In fact they feel so natural and freeing you'll probably never go back to wearing normal jeans again. As the girl in the ad says, "they feel like they were made for me".
Spray on jeans, for when skinny's not enoughBodyform managed it last year, producing an ad that revealed (gasp) the 'truth about periods'.
Available in indigo and bright light, you can pick them up for a limited time only on the AE website for $29.99 (£32.90). You might want to think about stocking up on thongs too.
Dstysionist says, 'Jeans are denim with all its perfection and and features (though a minority call them flaws) These make them what they are. There are ALWAYS room for improvements. This is definitely NOT and many steps BACKWARD! If you do not like its features, DO NOT wear them. Let us not make a mockery out of this legendary apparel.'
Bibliography
SKINNY JEANS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH? AMERICAN OUTFITTERS TAKES SPRAY ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL (2013) [Online] Yahoo! Available from:
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/spray-on-jeans-american-eagle-outfitters-spoof-100946683.html
[Accessed: 23 MAR 2013]
Friday, 29 March 2013
EASHION 3...the finale...Happy Easter 2013!
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Dear Fashionistas,
Thank you for spending your holidays visiting us.
Cheers from the Dstysionist!
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Chocolate Easter Egg treat for myself this season. Yea... Yummy...
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Monday, 25 March 2013
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Sunday, 24 March 2013
International Shoe Festival 2012
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
International Beauty Expo 2012
Illuminated Stage
DAVID MERCER's final hair line-up (S)
DAVID MERCER's final hair line-up (F)
Hair models posing for me, TQ babes xoxo
The one thing that I do not like about hair stylists are their boring monochrome presentation. Not that it matters to the industry anyway. Why cannot they break free from these and embrace colour and vibrancy in this new age? I am not a hair professional and from my layman point of view, Toni & Guy's DAVID MERCER is impressive! His quote that I will definitely remember, "As we teach others, we continue to learn". It took me some time to figure this out. Maybe comment what he means by that?
Friday, 18 January 2013
Smartphone: Which is yours? :-/
Buying smartphones made simple - what you need (and what you don't)
Buying a smartphone can be an overload of mystifying numbers such as screen resolutions and processor speeds. Our guide explains what you need (and what you don't).
Recombu – Tue, Jan 15, 2013- View PhotoYahoo! News - Choosing a mobile can be difficult - we look at what statistics you need, and what you don't. (Image: Recombu)
Buying a smartphone can be an overload of mystifying
numbers such as screen resolutions and processor speeds - delivered in
terms such as 1.4GHz and 1136x640.
Our guide explains what you need (and what you don't) - modern mobiles pack more power and functionality than the Apollo 11 space mission, so it can often be easy to pay for functions you don't need.
Is a dual-core processor essential? Does screen resolution really matter? How about internal and expandable memory options?
Think about what you use your phone for - if you just like to talk, more than surf the net, opting for less power will likely bring down the price without compromising your enjoyment and use.
Our guide explains what you need (and what you don't) - modern mobiles pack more power and functionality than the Apollo 11 space mission, so it can often be easy to pay for functions you don't need.
Is a dual-core processor essential? Does screen resolution really matter? How about internal and expandable memory options?
Think about what you use your phone for - if you just like to talk, more than surf the net, opting for less power will likely bring down the price without compromising your enjoyment and use.
[Related: Get the best deals on smartphones here]
Screen
The window to everything you do on your phone, the screen is the crucial first element. Think about size, resolution and display technology.
The bigger the screen, the better your experience will be surfing the web, watching video and checking photos. But the bigger the display, the better the resolution needs to be or you could end up with pixelated pictures and tough to read text. The end of 2012 saw the first Full HD 1080p phones unveiled with the likes of the ZTE Grand S and the HTC J Butterfly, but any four-inch screen with an 800x480 pixel WVGA resolution will be good enough.
There are also two types of display technology widely available – battery-sapping LCD which offers the best colour reproduction and brightness, and less power draining AMOLED, which also offers improved black colour on screen.
Best examples to compare the two come with the two most respected phones currently available. The Apple iPhone 5 offers a 4-inch LCD Retina display with 1136x640 resolution and 326 pixels per inch, while the Samsung Galaxy S3 offers a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display with 1280x720 resolution and 306 pixels per inch.
[Related: Get the best deals on smartphones here]
Cameras
Digital cameras are as common on phones as screens, but with a huge variety of megapixel ratings. While some mobiles go all the way up to double figures (the Nokia 808 PureView offers 41 megapixels, more than most cameras), a 5-megapixel camera is more than good enough to shoot pics for printing, posting online and adding to the family album.
Look too for features such as autofocus, flash, face recognition, aperture ratings and optical image stabilisers (particularly handy for shooting in low light). Most offer video recording too, with Full HD 1080p now commonplace. Panorama picture taking is also widely available, with the phone automatically stitching shots together to create one seamless wide-angle image.
Consider too a front facing camera if you like to Skype chat. While these don’t need to be anywhere near the resolution of the primary camera, anything around the 1.3Mp mark with a decent 30 frames per second (fps) video rating will be good enough for video chat.
[Related: Get the best deals on smartphones here]
Processor
The processor (or CPU) is a phone’s brain, with top end smartphones featuring quad-core processors and super high clock speeds (measured in MHz and GHz) that make them powerful and fast.
For basic day-to-day use opt for a minimum processor speed of 800MHz or preferably go for a single or dual core processor - the latter will more than suffice for the majority of people. If you love multiple apps, gaming and big media files then quad core may be your best bet.
As with everything though, more power means more money – for example the HTC One X+ features a quad core 1.7GHz CPU for around £400 while the Samsung Galaxy Ace features a single core 800MHz CPU for around £120.
Storage
The capacity available to store stuff on your phone is measured in MB and GB, and is typically internal or available via an expandable SD card slot. Although many manufacturers now offer cloud based storage too, with your content available over the air without actually living on your phone.
For modern needs, look for a minimum of 4GB storage, which will allow for some extra capacity beyond that used up by the phone’s essential functions. Make sure you check how much memory is actually usable - some phones quote 16GB, but only 10GB is available to use.
Capacity obviously varies according to file size but as a rough guide, 1GB will allow for around 170 MP3s and 500 photos.
Connectivity
The primary point of a mobile phone is to be connected, and there are myriad ways to do so. Every phone has network connectivity (allowing you to make calls and send texts), which mostly now includes 3G for a faster connection and the ability to send and receive larger files.
Just emerged (and thus still very expensive) is 4G (LTE) connectivity, which is up to five times faster than 3G and worth considering as a future proofing option if you’ll hang on to your new phone for a while. WiFi is of course commonplace and an essential money saving option for getting online over your home network or public hotspots.
Then there’s device-to-device connectivity such as Bluetooth, recently upgraded to version 4.0 for fast wireless connection, and NFC, or Near Field Communication, which is a quick and easy way to send files simply by having two devices near each other.
The battery
A simple but crucial element, your phone’s battery life can be key in deciding which to go for. Typically a modern smartphone’s battery will last around one day with moderate to heavy use, but the more powerful the phone the bigger the battery needs to be to power it.
A quad core mobile really needs at least a 2000mAh (milliamp hours) battery to power the big CPU and large bright screen, while a less powerful single or dual core will suffice with something around 1300mAh.
Operating system
There are four major operating systems that make up 90 per cent of the mobile market – Android, iOS, BlackBerry and Windows Phone. While they all offer similar functionality, they deliver it in entirely different ways and the only real way to find out which you prefer is to try them out. So don’t be afraid to visit a phone shop, ask for one of each and have a play.
Bibliography
BUYING SMARTPHONES MADE SIMPLE - WHAT YOU NEED (AND WHAT YOU DON'T) (2013)
[Online] Yahoo! News Network Available from:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/buying-smartphones-made-simple---what-you-need--and-what-you-don-t---154223639.html [Accessed: 16 JAN 2013]
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