The Perfect Work Wardrobe – Shift Dresses

Shift dresses were actually born of the ‘undershirt’ or also known as a chemise. The exposing of the inner layers of clothing allowed the development of the shift dress, introduced by the French who pulled out the inner garments and used them as the outer.

Shift Dresses and Style Icons

The Shift dress has been popular throughout the decades, but had a few periods of highlights. Its silhouette is most iconic of the 1960s “mod” look, when it was worn by such public figures as Audrey Hepburn, Mia Farrow, and Twiggy.

Shift dresses made a comeback in the mid-1990s when business wear became popular, and at this time were most often layered over a turtleneck or t-shirt and worn with knee socks. Since then the classic design has not left the stage. The shift dress is still associated with timeless style and sophistication, and is often worn by First Lady Michelle Obama. The shift dress was previously associated with US presidency when former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy adopted it as her own signature style, paired with pearls, gloves, and a pillbox hat.

Today, the dress is hugely popular with current style icons, from Jennifer Aniston to Sarah Jessica Parker, everyone seems to be loving them.

At the office

The versatility of the shift dress is key to its popularity. Although shift dresses can come in various sleeve lengths and hemlines, the classic shift dress is sleeveless, knee-length, and features a high collar or boat neck

It can be dressed up or dressed down, and can be adapted to wear in any season. The simple styling of the shift dress makes it a versatile piece, lending itself to a variety of fabrics and accessories.

Layering is hugely popular with this dress, especially when worn for the office or business. Due to the short sleeves, it is ideally paired with a blazer or cardigan, and remains remarkably comfortable. Also, because of its simplicity, it can be paired with jewelry to give it a unique look.

The fact that they are not form-fitting and that the waist is not emphasised, they allow women to move around freely without constraints.

The simplistic lines of the dress allow for it to be produced in many materials, colours and prints. For the basic office wardrobe the main choice would be a black, grey or navy blue version of the dress. It’s the perfect dress to wear for a quick shift from desk to drinks.

For Who?

As established,the shift dress is ideal for anyone who needs to look professional, or works in an office. Besides that, it is perfectly flattering for any body type. Slimming rather than hugging the body, it narrows down every shape and size and takes you from an early morning meeting to cocktail hour with ease. If you are looking to upgrade your work wardrobe, a shift dress is a great investment, not only will you be able to pair it with many items you …

Tips on Building a Metal Garage

If you are looking to build a garage then it can be quite overwhelming with the number of choices on offer and the construction methods. They are a very useful addition to the home as they can be used to store and protect vehicles such as cars and motorbikes. The can, however, prove very useful for storage of other household items such as childrens toys, bikes, tools and gardening equipment. Unfortunately, a lot of garages become a repository for household junk. Some large garages, with enough roof space, can also provide additional accommodation, such as a guest suite or a kids den.

No matter what the use, there are a number of important factors to consider before embarking on construction:

You need to ask yourself whether the garage is going to be a permanent or temporary fixture. Temporary fixtures come in the form of prefabricated garage kits. They are particularly suited to people whom rent properties or move around a lot. They can easily be erected with common household tools and again dismantled to move on to the next property. They can be wood or metal framed, often with composite panels and roof.

If the structure is to be permanent, you have the options of a metal building kit or a construction made from traditional materials such as wood or bricks and mortar. Metal kits have the advantage of being relatively easy to construct and provide a sturdy garage that may be able to withstand environmental factors such as earthquakes, hurricanes and fire. It is advisable in both circumstances to employ the services of a professional builder. Although this may initially appear to make the project more expensive, in the long run it can be more cost effective as the build will be quicker and it will avoid costly mistakes.

Probably one of the most important factors to consider before embarking on a build and even before purchasing the kit and that is building regulations. It is vital to research and if necessary to apply for buildings consent. Most enforcers of regulations will supply limits to the size of construction and may apply regulations to the types of material from which it can be constructed.

The last issue to consider is cost. It is worthwhile searching for manufacturers online to compare designs and costs. If you have a local manufacturer, approaching them directly or through a builder, you may be able to negotiate a discount.…

Useful Tips for Choosing the Perfect Garage Plans

Having a garage outside your house is considered to be essential as a part of a home. If a house is built with no garage, the occupant would eventually think of putting up one. For most homeowners, having a garage doesn’t mean you have to own a car. Garages are not only for cars or vehicles, neither for its auto accessories. There are many benefits you could get from having a garage at home. One advantage of garages is using it for workshop purposes or even to serve as an extension of your office. If you are contemplating of appending an extra space in your home by building a garage, then you might as well mull over some these tips to help you save time and money in assembling a garage with apartment.

Before jumping into the idea of building a garage, it is important to consider your needs, as well as the things you would like as a result. If you’re particularly seeking for an approach to add more space to your home without actually building exactly onto your existing house, detached garage plans offer the perfect option which you may be looking.

An apartment garage design can be made easy when you utilize proper planning and designing tools. In fact, there are nearly hundreds to thousands of software and online applications that can aid you in the designing process. However, there may be some of us who doesn’t have any knowledge or idea in exploiting these applications. Some may try to learn the basics but there’ll be some who won’t even think of attempting it. For those who don’t want to spend time in designing the garage, there is an alternative way to get a unique garage plans. One way is to buy ready-made blueprints of garage. This is very valuable for those who design the whole plan from scratch.

If you’re residing in a subdivision, you will most likely need to ascertain that the plans which you are going to buy are approved by the home owners association and will adhere to the C and Rs. If you’re not in a subdivision, you would still want to ensure your design goes with your property.

When you’re searching for garage plans, always bear in mind that it will be very tough to stumble on floor plans that would precisely fit and match the area that you are planning to make use of. Remember that your floor plan should be able to provide you a guide; it should not direct you to perplexity.

Evidently, the key is to tag along the floor plan that you have acquired. But that doesn’t imply to thoroughly go after the plan to the letter, to the extent of disregarding your budget just to keep ardent with what the garage plan has stipulated.

It is important to reconcile your garage plan and your budget so you can assess if you have the means to finance this …

What to Wear (and Not to Wear) to Work

These are just a few tips and tricks to help you put together a wardrobe that will allow your work and not your poor choice of clothing to standout at the office.

1 Take Cues from Female Role Models

If you’re not sure what you should be wearing, take cues from other women at your office. Identify top performers that everyone respects. Are these women wearing shorts and tube tops to the office? Most likely no. Don’t go out and copy your role model’s outfits exactly… but pay attention to the message that her outfits convey and work within those guidelines using your won fashion sense.

2 Work Wardrobe Staples

The modern woman’s work wardrobe most likely includes quality material blouses, sweaters, skirts, dresses, trousers, and suits. There is great room for interpretation here but you should choose structured, quality pieces that fit and can be mixed and matched for versatility in your wardrobe.

3 Fit

Yes, I’m a huge fan of Stacey and Clinton on TLC’s What Not To Wear. My friends and I used to joke about turning each other in just for the free shopping trip! One thing we’ve all learned from that show is that fit is KEY!

We’ve all been there ladies-you’ve gained a few ten and you’re still trying to fit into your old go-to work outfit. Everything still fits-but it just doesn’t look like it used to. Maybe rolls can be seen through your favorite blouse or there’s a muffin top or belly bulge in those formerly amazing slacks or skirt.

I feel your pain-you don’t want to buy new things because then you’ll just continue growing into the new larger size. Trust me -just do it. Confidence is key in weight loss and business. How are you going to be successful in either if you’re going through life pulling and tugging at everything or wearing the few remaining frumpy outfits that fit in the back of your closet?

4 Keep “the Girls” to Yourself

There’s “That Girl” in every office. You know the one who wears low cut blouses and too short skirts every day and that your male colleagues gawk at. Don’t be that girl! You can look feminine and amazing while at the same time keeping your “Assets” to yourself. Rule of thumb-you should never see more than a hint of cleavage if at all before 6 pm and more than two inches above the knee is just too much for the work place.

5 Dressing Too Casual

Business Casual is not equivalent to casual. You shouldn’t be wearing jeans to an office deemed business casual unless it’s authorized for casual Fridays-check with your HR Department for further guidelines. Also, if you would wear it to the gym-don’t wear it to the office. No sweat pants ladies-please! I’m also against sleeveless shirts at the office. You don’t want to show too much skin at the office. Shorts and cut-offs are a …

The Wood Wardrobe – A Choice of Distinction

The crafting of a wood wardrobe starts with the selection of wood. For the construction to be solid and to withstand years of use, quality materials are essential. Careful thought should be put into the choice of wood. In order to determine the best wood to use, consider the type of finish. Just as important is how easy the wood is to work with and the cost. A look at a few different wood types will clarify the best type to use for crafting a fine wood wardrobe.

Hardwoods such as oak, maple, poplar and cherry are all popular choices for building furniture. They are generally more durable than softwoods and all have a distinctive tight grain. Each has its own characteristic markings and coloring that add to their individual appeal.

Out of all the hardwoods, oak is a popular choice and has been used for centuries. It is noted for its durability and strength. However, it can be difficult to work with. Tools must be kept very sharp to avoid chipping and splitting the wood. Drilling pilot holes for any screws is necessary due to its hard nature.

Maple is also very durable and its many species have very unique character. When used for furniture, maple requires special care to keep it from warping. It is not as easily available as oak and is more expensive. For these reasons, it may not be the best choice for the crafting of a wood wardrobe.

Cherry wood is rich in color and character. The tight grain of cherry gives it a very even texture. Although a durable hardwood, cherry is better for smaller pieces of furniture that will be stained to enhance its natural reddish color. Additionally, the cost of cherry may be prohibitive for such a large piece of furniture.

If the wood wardrobe is to have a painted finish, poplar is a good choice. It has a very unusual color, varying from beige to olive green with hints of purple. It is less expensive than cherry and maple. Poplar is relatively easy to work with and takes nails and screws well. Tools must be kept sharp or the wood may tear. Poplar is difficult to stain and with its unique color, painting may be the best finish.

Pine is the predominant softwood used in furniture, especially wardrobes. It is stable, durable and has great natural character. It is notably easy to work with, though caution should be taken as it dents easily. Sharp tools are a must due to pines nature to be crushed instead of cut. Pine is preferred wood of choice for many woodworkers and manufacturers because of its low cost and ease of workability.

Choosing the best wood for crafting a wardrobe can be daunting. But when you think in terms of durability, natural characteristics and ease of workability, the choice can be easier. Add to that affordability and the finished look, and the choice becomes clearer. Oak …

Why Sliding Mirror Doors Can Transform Your Bedroom Instantly

If you are considering installing sliding mirror doors in your bedroom, then you have come across one of the easiest ways to not only visually create more space, but add a touch of class to your house.

In choosing the mirror doors for your bedroom make sure you do not sacrifice on functionality for style though. In terms of options to choose from – you can get a wardrobe built from scratch by a carpenter, or you can buy a ready-made one and jazz it up. There are definitely special techniques to install these doors and a trained professional can do it in minimal time and also suggest ideas about different ways to ensure that you have optimum space and light streaming in to the bedroom. If you are looking to save money – make sure you are confident before you undertake this task.

As mentioned mirrors are a great way to make a room appear larger than it actually is – so if you live in a small house or apartment then this is a great plus- particularly if you want to rent or sell your home / apartment. Furthermore you will be creating an absolutely clutter-free bedroom by sealing off the inner part of your wardrobe.

Swinging Doors vs. Sliding Doors:

When compared, the swinging door design takes up more space than the sliding design. Further to this, if anything goes wrong with the doors then this variety is extremely easy to repair.

Additionally, you can have them in several different styles and designs – from the plain mirror glass to the over-the-top designer ones. You can add on your own personal touches to the mirror – perhaps fixing or lacquering photos and or painting parts of the mirror. It can easily merge with the rest of the decor in the room and go on to make it look far more chic than you would have ever imagined.

Mirror doors can really bring about a relaxing and sensual ambience into your bedroom, and make sure you maximize the natural light in the space. Don’t hesitate, start your search for sliding mirror doors today, as it really is one of the simplest ways to improve the look and feel of your bedroom.…

If you are a wine enthusiast or just a general lover of wine, you most likely host a great collection of reds and whites, and you might be looking into ways to store your wine without it spoiling; thus, many people often opt for either a wine cooler or a wine cellar fridge, which option you go with all depends on the size of your collection. If you fancy yourself a proper wine connoisseur and want to preserve your wine the correct way, then a wine cellar fridge is the one for you, but if you just enjoy a good glass of wine now and then, a wine cooler small or big is the option for you.

Separating the two

When it comes to wine coolers and wine cellars, there are vast differences between the two, making each of them unique in their own way. Yes, they ultimately serve the same purpose, but the manner in which it is done and the vessel thereof are completely different. One of the most notable differences between the two is that a wine cellar is a temperature-controlled room that stores and preserves the wine. In contrast, a wine cooler is simply a unit built with the purpose of storing and cooling a small collection of wine. However, wine cellars are generally built in the basement area of a home which, if you are thinking about it, will cost a pretty penny as there are many costs involved in this process. In contrast, a wine cooler is a compact unit you purchase. You are able to place it anywhere in your home, from units small enough to fit on your counter to units big enough to stand next to your refrigerator, but this all depends on your needs and the size of your wine collection.

Your wine’s best mate

Whether you are getting a wine cooler or a wine cellar, each of them has its own benefits, and one can trump the other based on your personal opinion; however, it would be in your best interest to do your research to find the option best suited not only for you but for your wine as this is to take your wine to be at its peak ultimately and is the perfect serve every time. Regardless of the option you choose to go with, you can rest assured that your wine will not only be perfectly chilled every time but also well preserved over time.

Looking to the future

Therefore, if you are considering acquiring a wine cooler or wine cellar, it would be wise for you to consider your needs and budget beforehand, as installing a wine cellar can be quite costly. Therefore if your wine collection only consists of a few bottles of wine, a small wine cooler might be the better option. However, although a wine cooler serves a similar purpose in a more compact unit, a wine cellar can be seen as an investment and an improvement to your home, …