The first step when restoring a chandelier is to disconnect it from its power source, so as to make its restoration easier and safer. The chandelier should be placed on a towel in order to protect it from scratches or breakage. Afterwards, the chandelier should be dismantled, placing its components such as bulbs, crystals and shades on a separate towel. The chandelier’s metallic part ought to be examined for chipped paint or rust. If there is any rust, it can be scrapped off using steel wool. The chandelier should then be sanded to its base metal and cleaned with warm soapy water. An anti-corrosion primer should then be applied and given around 24 hours to dry up, after which it should be painted using a metallic finish. The chandelier’s screws should be checked for rust, replacing the rusted screws with new ones.

Chandelier crystals should be cleaned in warm soapy water and rinsed in clean water. They should then be dried with a rag and placed on a towel. Special attention should be given to crystals which have many different pendants. It would be advisable to take digital photographs of the pendants prior to dismantling the chandelier. This will help to avoid confusion when reassembling the chandelier, particularly if they have different shapes and sizes. Crystal pendants having the same size and shape should be cleaned and stored separately, which will make it easy to restore them to their correct positions. One can refer to the digital photographs in order to ensure that they have all been hanged properly. This way, missing pendants can be identified and replaced.

The lamp shades and light bulbs should be cleaned using a damp sponge and dried immediately. If necessary, the chandelier’s body can also be cleaned with warm soapy water and then dried and polished as required. Once all the parts have been cleaned, the chandelier can be reassembled, ensuring all its parts are in place. Before restoring the chandelier to its position, it would be essential to check on its wiring. This entails checking the wiring for rusty wire connections and decayed insulation. It may be necessary to cut off the wire ends as well as peel back insulation, in order to create new connections. The new connections should be secured with wire nuts and wrapped using electrical tape. After reconnecting the ground wire, the chandelier may finally be returned to its position, fully restored.

There are some films which are commonly regarded as being fashion classics which spawned a million imitations but I thought that it would be more fun to look at how the cinema has helped shape my own personal fashion taste.

Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981

Can you believe how old this movie is? It seems like only yesterday when I settled down with my parents to watch it for the first time. I think it was shown around Christmas time and I loved the Indiana Jones style right away. In fact, it is quite possibly the only time in my life I have ever seriously yearned for a hat. I have just been looking at some stills of the movie and his tatty leather jacket was pretty cool too. I think I liked his overall style rather than one individual element but I reckon that it has in some way influenced me since then. I’ve never owned a whip though.

Ghostbusters 1984

Good lord, this is turning into quite some trip down memory lane. I enjoyed the film almost as much as the theme song in this case. I only include it on here because I once went out at Halloween dressed as a Ghostbuster. Sadly I was left completely humiliated when no one had the faintest idea who I was dressed up as. Maybe I should have gone for the Marshmallow Man look instead.

Back to the Future 1985

I loved this film when it came out and if I was given some sort of truth drug I would probably admit to still loving it. I really wanted to be like Michael J Fox but I just didn’t have the hair to be honest. The next best bet would have been to dress like him but I just couldn’t find one of these body warmer style jackets anywhere. Strangely enough, I bought one of them about 10 years later, although I never did get my hair sorted out. I wouldn’t have minded the car either but that’s a different story.

The Matrix 1999

This was the first film I saw when they finally opened a new cinema in my home town. The place was filled to bursting point and I saw at least 20 people I recognised in there.  Had I ever felt the need to wear all black clothing and top if off with a long trench coat before then? No, I hadn’t. Did I feel the need to do so afterwards? Yes, I did.  I actually bought a Neo style coat a few months afterwards although I chickened out a bit and bought a rather shorter version.  It is the last film that I really remember making a serious, lasting impact on me for its fashion element but hopefully another one is just around the corner.

The presence of highly concentrated chemicals in synthetic cosmetics has been known to cause burns or scars in the skin, which on the face can alter your appearance quite dramatically and leave you feeling ugly. Why do we risk this everyday when science keeps telling us that our skin is the most sensitive organ of our body?

Using natural makeup made form organic ingredients is really the safe option. For thousands of years women, and men for that matter, have been using herbs and roots from the natural environment to decorate their faces. For over 99% of this time everything was organic. That was the way things grew. It is only in the last hundred years that agriculture began experimenting with using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides made from oil. And it’s only in that last 1% that rashes and allergies began to appear when people used some of the products derived from these plants or synthesized from these chemical soups called petroleum.

Keeping your face looking healthy is what every woman wants, so it’s no wonder that many women are insisting on organic natural makeup to use everyday. Some people say these products are more expensive but really, what does price have to do with beauty anyway. If it costs a few more pounds for an item that lasts a few months anyway where’s the problem? Do you know how much cosmetic surgery costs to cover up scars?

There was a soft tapping at the bedroom door. Helen snapped out of the dreamlike state she was in to hurriedly change and pack the clothes away. ‘Just a minute’ she called every few seconds.

‘Oh come on sweetheart let me in’

At last – the outfit safely hidden in a box in the wardrobe- she turned the key.

‘Can’t I even have a sneak preview?’

‘No, it’s bad luck’

‘I’ll tell you something about bad luck,’ he said mysteriously.  ‘Remind me to tell you what my mother told me as a child ‘

A voice called from below. ‘I’ll tell you after dinner. Come on.’

*                             *

Brigid, Sean’s Mother, had asked her not to tell Sean about the cloth.

‘It was handed down from generation to generation. It will be a lovely surprise.’

Helen was quite surprised herself by the gift, as she had been convinced that Sean’s mother was not at all pleased with this match.

Later, as she and Sean sat holding hands on a deep sofa in the hotel bar, Sean told Helen how an ancestor had dared to marry one of the fairy folk and hence had been cursed by the Fairy king.

‘Oh gosh, what was the curse?’

‘You’re taking this seriously.’ Sean warned with a smile.

‘Oh come on you’ve started now’

‘Well, we are cursed to marry our own until we die out according to the story.’

‘But you’re marrying me.’ Helen exclaimed.

‘Yes, exactly.’

After a lengthy silence broken only by Sean contently sipping his beer, Helen asked, ‘But how were they supposed to prevent you marrying out?’

‘Oh something about a magic bolt of cloth, can’t remember. The bride gets carried off by the fairy king or something’ he laughed.

Helen just sat with her mouth open while picturing that beautifully ethereal wedding gown, shimmering, shimmering.

(follow the wedding shoes link to find the other chapters and continue reading)

The Calvin Klein range of perfumes as some of the most popular smells in the world and none more so than their iconic, Euphoria collection. For this it’s absolutely no wonder the brand has decided to expand the range and has just unveiled a new addition, Forbidden Euphoria.

Originally Launched back in 2005, Euphoria for women has a distinctive oriental scent, provided by black orchid and lotus blossom, with a fruity pomegranate finish. Euphoria Blossom, which was introduced in 2007, has a much softer smell and citrus notes kept the fragrance fruity.

Sophistication, seduction and mystery have always been at the main values of the Euphoria collection and its newest addition, Forbidden Euphoria is absolutely no different; encompassing the very same feel, in name and nature.

Strong and seductive but clean and fresh, Calvin Klein Euphoria is now back and ready to take the perfume industry by storm with a new addition, Forbidden Euphoria.

It boasts top notes of sparkling mandarin, peach blossom and iced raspberry, which offer a lighter, fresher scent compared to the previous two fragrances. Additionally cashmere, woods and skin musk give the perfume warmth and depth.

Even the packaging of Forbidden Euphoria stays true to the collection, the only difference being the splash of pink, which provides a fresh, youthful twist on the classic fragrance. If you haven’t yet experienced this sensory sensation, grab a bottle of seductive Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria today.

Bart knew his love. He knew she had his needs always at the centre of her actions, so he waited patiently while she asked to look at this set or those, looking at them but not looking at them as her eyes kept moving back to the blue velvet box wherein lay the pearl wedding jewellery of her  dreams. Bart wandered off towards the entrance where a whole city of jewellery sparkled. His Mercedes sat outside the Hatton Garden jewellers, watched by a friendly security guard that had become even friendlier when handed half a torn ten pound note. He would go back and help her decide on the diamonds. He would be the boss in their marriage, never mind how much money and class her family brought to the arrangement. He would make the decisions.

Mollie was speaking to the jeweller. Had she made up her mind? Then suddenly she was coming out of the shop with a silk bag hanging daintily from her wrist. ‘What? What’s this?’   ‘It’s alright Darling I’ve paid.’ She was smiling. ‘Oh did you want to buy the pearls for me, how sweet. I know, you can buy the diamonds for my birthday. Shall we go?’ she said as she swung gracefully into the driver’s seat.

It is certainly true that organic used to mean low style, but at least you were helping the environment by lacking style. This is not true in today’s society. Many people are trying to return to more natural elements in order to create a more stable life for their children. One way to do that is to look at the advantages organic cotton tees can offer.

First, childrens organic cotton t shirts are highly comfortable. No matter how many washes the cotton goes through it will always be softer than your synthetic cotton. This is because it is the real thing.

Second, these organic cotton t shirts are better for the environment. Companies that offer true organic products care about their impact on the world. They look to offer eco-friendly products by ensuring the manufacturing process is aboveboard. They will use machines, products, and policies that keep the cotton organic the entire way through the process.

Third, most of the companies offering organic clothing do so under top conditions. They are made by individuals who care about the person wearing the children’s tees and they will keep their facilities in a location that offers the best labour. In other words, the manufacturing of top quality organic tees is done in a plant that does not use child labour or cheap labour in third world companies. Quality organic materials are handled with care. If a product is organic and cheap it is probably best to avoid it because something is probably off, such as how it was made.

Many manufacturers of organic cotton are beginning to use the same symbols, messages, and other prints of regular organic cotton t shirt products though with the environment in mind. The images may be the same, but the process is certainly different.

As a parent it can be important to provide clothing your children will be comfortable in. It is also important to buy quality clothing that will hold up to years of washing. As many of us provide our second child or a friend’s child with clothing, we want to make sure it will hold up. Saving money when you have children is important too.

This has been a drawback to the organic industry given the costs; however, when you consider the benefits, the multiple uses for the clothing, and much more it makes sense to stick with environmentally friendly products. The more people turn to all natural products the easier it will be to have a future on earth.

But that is the great thing about fancy dress. At its very core is the sense of illusion, disguise and complete anonymity. Pretending to be someone you’re not; something you can never be, or perhaps simply a better version of yourself. For one night only you can display a side of yourself that you would never normally show: a social outcast transformed into a sex goddess with the help of a pre-packaged, mass-manufactured Jessica Rabbit costume. A nervous breakdown calling himself a magician. A dull Nigel metamorphosed into a psychotic Patrick Bateman complete with slicked back hair and an even slicker business card. Magic.

Three blue, human-shaped stains were left on my friend’s wall in the aftermath of Halloween ‘09. It transpired that a triumvirate of gate-crashing Smurfs from the party next door were the culprits; they were subsequently lumped with the bill for painting over the blue-tinged blobs they had left.

Women seeking ladies fancy dress costumes face two choices: they can either go as something sexy or they can go as something sexy. For boys, the purpose of fancy dress is frankly to shock, whether this is trying to outdo each other in terms of grotesqueness or seeing how much flesh they can get away with showing before they can be considered naked. The latter objective is one that’s also shared by the girls. No matter what the occasion or costume, it has to be sexy. As a case in point, try browsing the Halloween section of any fancy dress website and seeing if you can find a single outfit that doesn’t have a sexy twist to it. It would appear that the first question to cross any woman’s mind when searching for a costume is ‘What type of slut should I go as?’ ‘Fess up, ladies – you know it’s true.

Essentially, the feeling of complete liberation that is imparted by fancy dress has gotten to us. The plethora of possibilities that arise from an invite to a costume party send us into such an innate panic that reverting to the tried and tested his ‘n’ hers outfits is the only solution we can think of. So, here’s a challenge: This Halloween, let’s mix it up – let’s dress up for dressing up’s sake and screw this sexy/scary malarkey and wear whatever we damn well want to, not what we’re expected to wear. Hell, let’s all go as magic lizards.

There are very few references to the hairbrush in history. In the time of Ancient Rome, men and women of nobility and gentry wore brilliantly coiffed wigs over their own natural hair. In these times, it is relatively safe to presume that both men and women utilized these grooming aids as a way to keep their hair and wigs in place.

These earlier hairbrushes were probably made from natural bristles such as wild boar or porcupine depending on the time frame in history or area. Boar bristle grooming aids or hairbrushes facilitated the purpose of detangling, styling and transferring the hair’s natural oil or sebum and distributed it evenly from root to tip. Basic design of the hairbrush has remained the same throughout history although the products used to make them have changed over the years. The design of the hairbrush consisted of a paddle or handle and bristles or teeth.

There are many other Ladies Grooming Products that were used throughout history that are still familiar to us today. One of the key factors in Ladies Grooming is the removal of unwanted hair. The idea that the removal of unwanted hair is good hygiene, as well as simply for cosmetic purposes, is nothing new; only the methods and tools used to do the removing have changed over time.

The ancient Egyptians were known to have excellent forms of razors made of flint or bronze. They also used a method of depilatory called sugaring. A sticky paste (bees wax was sometimes used) would be applied to the skin, kind of like waxing. Then a strip of cloth was pressed onto the paste and yanked off, removing the hair.

Ancient Civilisations further advanced their technology for hair removal by conditioning the bronze with some sort of solution, oil for example, before applying the razor.

The first safety razor protected the skin from all but the very edge of the blade and was invented in the late 19th century by a Frenchman, Jean-Jacques Perret, who was inspired by the joiner’s plane. In 1875 it was marketed by the Kampfe Brothers as “the best available shaving method on the market that won’t cut a user like straight steel razors.”

In 1901, the American inventor King Camp Gillette, with the assistance of William Nickerson, invented a safety razor with disposable blades. Over time many such products were marketed as Ladies Grooming Products. Initially, women mostly shaved their legs and underarms, but over time with an expanding product range, Ladies Grooming Products have been developed to depilate even the most sensitive areas of their bodies. One of the initial pioneers in this area was the Remington Corporation which began producing Electric Shavers aimed at women. Over time other manufacturer such as Philips, Babyliss and Vidal Sassoon have also developed products aimed at Ladies Grooming and today the market has more variety than ever before.