Zibellino

A Zibellino, flea-fur or fur tippet is a Women's fashion accessory popular in the later 15th and 16th centuries. A Zibellino, from the Italian word for "sable", is the pelt of a sable or marten worn draped at the neck or hanging at the waist, or carried in the hand. The plural is zibellini.

Some Zibellini were fitted with faces and paws of goldsmith's work with jeweled eyes and pearl earrings, while unadorned furs were also fashionable.

Wearable Technology

Wearable Technology, Tech togs, or Fashion electronics are clothing and accessories incorporating computer and advanced electronic technologies. The designs often incorporate practical functions and features as well as making a statement or establishing a technological look.

Wallet

A Wallet is a small, flat case used to carry personal items such as cash, credit cards and identification documents, such as a driver's license. Wallets are generally made of leather or fabrics, and they are usually pocket-sized and are foldable.

Varieties of Wallets

Wallets are usually designed to hold banknotes and credit cards and fit into a pocket (or handbag). Small cases for securing banknotes which do not have space for credit cards or identification cards may be classified as money clips.

Breast Wallet (also called a "Secretary Wallet" or "Passage Wallet")

A wallet in which the banknotes are not folded. They are intended for men's breast pocket in a jacket, or for a handbag. They are too large for storage in a pant (trouser) pocket.

Bi-fold Wallet

A type of wallet in which the banknotes are folded over once. This has become the "standard" wallet. Credit cards and identification cards may be stored horizontally or vertically.

Tri-fold Wallet

A wallet with three folds, in which credit cards are generally stored vertically.

Front Pocket Wallet (or Money Clip)

A case with no currency compartment and very few pockets for cards. Usually banknotes are folded and held to the wallet with a metal clip.

Chain Wallet

A wallet secured to the pants by a chain. It was first popularized by bikers who wanted to keep from losing their wallet while riding a motorcycle. Its popularity had a resurgence in 1970s-80s Punk fashion and in the early 1990s with the grunge fashion movement as well as Heavy metal fashion.

Some wallets, particularly in Europe where larger coins are prevalent, contain a coin purse compartment. Some wallets have built-in clasps or bands to keep them closed. As European banknotes, such as Euros and Pounds, are typically larger than American banknotes in size, they don't fit in some smaller American wallets.

Umbrella

An umbrella or parasol (sometimes colloquially; gamp, brolly, umbrellery, or bumbershoot) is a canopy designed to protect against precipitation or sunlight. The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect from the sun, and umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect from rain. Often the difference is the material; some parasols are not waterproof. Parasols are often meant to be fixed to one point and often used with patio tables or other outdoor furniture.

Umbrellas are almost exclusively hand-held portable devices; however, parasols can also be hand-held. Umbrellas can be held as fashion accessories.

Tiebar

A Tie bar (also Tie slide, Tie clip, or Tie clasp) is a neckwear accessory that clips a tie to the underlying shirt front, preventing it from swinging and ensuring the tie hangs straight, resulting in a neat, uniform appearance. Rising to prominence in the 1920s, the tie bar gradually replaced the tie pin.

Tie bars are usually made of metal and often have minor decorative patterns (see picture). Some tie bars have a small badge indicating membership to a club or an affiliation in the same way that ties themselves often have, or some other commemorative token. Occasionally, tie bars made of leather or chain are seen.

Suspenders

Suspenders or braces are fabric or leather straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers. Straps may be elasticated, either entirely or only at attachment ends and most straps are of woven cloth forming an X or Y shape at the back. Braces are typically attached to trousers with buttons using leather tabs at the ends or, incorrectly according to traditional protocol, clips. In British English the term suspenders or suspender belt refers to a garter belt, used to hold up stockings.

Suspenders role in Fashion

While suspenders have been in and out of fashion over the last century (alternating with belts in general preference), they are becoming popular again in 2008 in America and Britain following the resurgence of styles seen in period dramas such as the 2008 re-make of Brideshead Revisited.

Current wearers include "elegant dressers such as the British theater producer Marc Sinden and the actor Martin Shaw as his TV alter-ego Judge John Deed" and also Daniel Craig - particularly as James Bond, 007. Many business people, newscasters (such as Larry King in the US) and professionals such as lawyers also wear braces. John Barrowman playing Captain Jack Harkness in the hit TV show Torchwood often wears braces.

Suspenders (nearly always referred to by the British term "braces") are also a typical part of skinhead, and to a lesser extent, punk fashion. In skinhead and punk fashion braces are typically between 3/4" and 1" in width. To some skinheads the color and placement (either up around the shoulders or down around the waist) of braces may have political significance.

Materials used for making suspenders have also changed over time, with newer additions such as rayon, a hard-wearing synthetic fibre, now offered as well as the standard boxcloth (a fuzzy woollen cloth). Silk, though traditional, is not long-lasting.

Stayclip

Stayclip is a form of shirt collar stiffener (also known as collar stays).

Stayclip is a patented design that stores a set of collar stiffeners which have specially designed holes in their ends. The Stayclip system uses a unique holder with a clip, to keep the set of collar stiffeners together. By pressing a button on the holder, the arms of the Stayclip open and close to provide easy access to the stiffeners.

The collar stiffeners are available in a myriad of materials including platinum (with diamonds), gold plated brass, sterling silver, stainless steel and vinyl.

Snood

A Snood is a type of headgear, historically worn by women over their long hair. In the most common form it resembles a close-fitting hood worn over the back of the head. The band covers the forehead or crown of the head, goes behind the ears and under the nape of the neck. A sack of sorts dangles from this band, covering and containing the fall of long hair gathered at the back of the head. A snood is sometimes made of solid cloth, but sometimes of loosely knitted yarn, or other net-like material.

Snoods became popular again in Europe during World War II. At that time, the British government had placed strict rations on the amount of material that could be used in clothing. While headgear was not rationed, snoods were favored, along with turbans and headscarves, in order to show one's commitment to the war effort.

Today Women's snoods are commonly worn by married Orthodox Jewish women, according to the religious custom of hair covering.

Sleeve Garter

A Sleeve Garter is a garter worn on the sleeve of a shirt. It came into wide use in the latter half of the 19th century when men's ready made shirts came in a single (extra long) sleeve length. Sleeve garters allowed men to customize sleeve lengths and keep their cuffs from becoming soiled while working.

Sleeve garters were also sometimes worn by women and at least one company still sells women's sleeve garters (fashioned of a mesh with faux pearls) for general use.

Uses of Sleeve Garter

While a century ago this item of clothing was once something a man may have worn regardless of profession (with the possible exception of the wealthy or those too well-dressed to wear non-tailored shirts).

Scrunchie

A scrunchie (or scrunchy) is a fabric-covered elastic hair tie, commonly used to fasten long hair. Large, elaborate styles and diminutive, unassuming forms are available. The scrunchie comes in many different varieties of colors, fabrics, sizes, and designs.

Sash

A Sash is a cloth belt used to hold a robe together, and is usually tied about the waist. The Japanese equivalent of a sash, obi, serves to hold a kimono or yukata together. Decorative sashes may pass from the shoulder to the hip rather than around the waist. Sash is an Arabic loanword that was introduced into the English language in 1590

Modern Civilian and Cultural use of Sash

In the United States, the sash has picked up a more ceremonial and less practical purpose. Sashes are used at higher education commencement ceremonies, by high school homecoming parade nominees, in beauty pageants, as well as by corporations to acknowledge high achievement.

In Canada, hand woven sashes (called ceintures fléchées and sometimes "L'Assumption sash" after a town in which they were mass produced) were derived from Iroquoiuan carrying belts sometime in the 18th century. As a powerful multi-use tool this sash found use in the fur trade which brought it into the North West. In this period the weave got tighter and size expanded, with some examples more than four metres in length. Coloured thread was widely used. Today it is considered to be primarily a symbol of the 1837 Lower Canada Rebellion Patriotes and the Métis peoples.

In Ireland, especially Northern Ireland, the sash is a symbol of the Orange Order. Orange Order sashes were originally of the ceremonial shoulder-to-hip variety as worn by the British military. Over the 20th century the sash has been mostly replaced by V-shaped collarettes, which are still generally referred to as sashes. The item is celebrated in the song 'The Sash my Father Wore'.

Sashes are also indicative of holding the class of Grand Cross or Grand Cordon in an Order of Chivalry or Order of Merit.

Reimiro

A Reimiro is a decorative crescent-shaped pectoral ornament once worn by the women of Easter Island. The name comes from the Rapanui rei 'stern' or 'prow' and miro 'boat'. Thus the crescent represents a Polynesian canoe.

Each side of the Reimiro ended in a human head. The outer, display side had two small pierced bumps through which a cord was strung for hanging it. The inner side contained a cavity that was filled with chalk made from powdered seashells. Although the human heads on the reimiro are unique to Easter Island, the pectoral itself is part of a wider tradition. In the Solomon Islands, for example, women wear shell pectorals which resemble reimiro.

Purse hook

A Purse or Bag hook (also commonly known as a handbag hanger) is a type of hook meant to temporarily secure a purse or handbag to a table, sink or armrest.

Types of Purse Hooks

There are four types of purse hooks available.

*The original L style type with a circular pad and a rigid bent wire.

* The link type with circular pad and a set links that either wrap around the pad or make a "hook"

* A Spring closing bracelet type

* A Twisting ring type

Prudence Millinery

Prudence, designer for Prudence Millinery, designs and makes couture hats for major designers all over the world.

A graduate of New York's Fashion Institute of Technology and a former assistant buyer for the Associated Merchandising Corporation, Prudence left New York and moved to London in 1986. After working as a free-lance fashion stylist, she trained for several years in couture millinery. All of her hats are made in the classical manner using only traditional millinery techniques. She designed her first collection for spring 1991 under her own label, Prudence Millinery, and received orders from Bergdorf Goodman and Henri Bendel both in New York. Prudence's collaboration with Vivienne Westwood started in 1990. Nowadays, she still creates hat collections for Vivienne Westwood and for many other top designers.

Pocket Protector

A Pocket Protector is a sheath designed to hold writing instruments and other small implements, such as slide rules, while preventing them from damaging the wearer's shirt pocket (e.g., by tearing or staining by a leaky pen). The pocket protector is designed to fit neatly inside the breast pocket of a man's shirt, and may accommodate pens, pencils, screwdrivers, small slide rules, and various other small items. A flap overlapping the pocket exterior helps to secure the pocket protector in place

The pocket protector was invented during World War II by Hurley Smith while he was working in Buffalo, New York. He was awarded USpatent2417786 for the device on March 18, 1947; the patent was filed on June 3, 1943. Originally fashioned from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), pocket protectors were first marketed toward corporations as branded promotional fare. However, a more general market for the product soon arose, comprising students, engineers (prominently mechanical), and white-collar workers in sundry fields.

Obi-ita

An Obi-ita is a thin stiff board that helps keep an Obi in place and prevent it from getting wrinkled. It is worn underneath the second layer of the obi, after wrapping around the body twice. Modern versions have an elastic band or string, so it can be put on before the obi.

Womens Obi

Obi , is a sash for traditional Japanese dress, keikogi worn for Japanese martial arts, and a part of kimono outfits.

Nowadays, a woman's wide and decorative obi does not keep the kimono closed: this is done by different undersashes and ribbons worn underneath the obi. The obi itself also requires the use of stiffeners and ribbons. There are many types of obi, and most of them are for women: wide obis made of brocade and narrower, simpler obis for everyday wear. The fanciest and most colourful obis are for young unmarried women. The contemporary women's obi is a very conspicious accessory: sometimes even more so than the kimono robe itself. A fine formal obi might cost more than the rest of the entire outfit. Obis are categorised by their design, formality, material, and use. Informal obis are narrower and shorter.

Women's obi

The wide women's obi is folded in two when worn, to a width of about 15centimetres (5.9in) to20centimetres (7.9in). It is considered elegant to tie the obi so that the folded width is in harmony with the wearer's body dimensions. Usually this means about a tenth of her height. The full width of the obi is present only in the decorative knot, musubi.

A woman's obi is worn in a fancy musubi knot. There are tens of ways to tie an obi, and different knots are suited to different occasions and different kimonos.

There are many different types of women's obi, and the usage of them is regulated by many unwritten rules not unlike those that concern the kimono itself. Certain types of obi are used with certain types of kimono; the obis of married and unmarried women are tied in different ways. Often the obi adjusts the formality and fanciness of the whole kimono outfit: the same kimono can be worn to very different situations depending on what kind of obi is worn with it.

Nosegay

A Nosegay, Posey (or Posie, Posy), flower bouquet or tussie-mussie is a small bunch of flowers, typically given as a gift. They have existed in some form since at least medieval times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice to mask the unpleasant smells of the time - literally, to keep the nose gay (to keep the nose happy). In their current form, they rose to popularity during the reign of Queen Victoria, from 1837 onwards, at which time the tussie-mussie became a popular fashion accessory.

Watches in Fashion

A sapphire cabochon on the crown of a Men's dress watch. Wristwatches are often appreciated as jewelry or as collectible works of art rather than just as timepieces. This has created several different markets for wristwatches, ranging from very inexpensive but accurate watches (intended for no other purpose than telling the correct time) to extremely expensive watches that serve mainly as personal adornment or as examples of high achievement in miniaturization and precision mechanical engineering.

Traditionally, men's dress watches appropriate for informal, semi-formal, and formal attire are gold, thin, simple, and plain, but recent conflation of dressiness and high price has led to a belief among some that expensive rugged, complicated, or sports watches are also dressy because of their high cost. Some dress watches have a cabochon on the crown and many women's dress watches have faceted gemstones on the face, bezel, or bracelet. Some are totally made out of facetted sapphire (corundum).

Many fashion and department stores offer a variety of less-expensive, trendy, "costume" watches (usually for women), many of which are similar in quality to basic quartz timepieces but which feature bolder designs. In the 1980s, the Swiss Swatch company hired graphic designers to redesign a new annual collection of non-repairable watches.

Still another market is that of "geek" watches-watches that not only tell the time, but incorporate computers, satellite navigation, complications of various orders, and many other features that may be quite removed from the basic concept of timekeeping. A dual-time watch is designed for travelers, allowing them to see what time it is at home when they are elsewhere.

Most companies that produce watches specialize in one or some of these markets. Companies such as Patek Philippe, Blancpain and Jaeger-LeCoultre specialize in simple and complicated mechanical dress watches; companies such as TAG Heuer, Breitling, Panerai and Rolex specialize in rugged, reliable mechanical watches for sport and aviation use. Companies such as Casio, Timex, and Seiko specialize in watches as affordable timepieces or multifunctional computers.

Muff

A Muff is a fashion accessory for outdoors usually made of a cylinder of fur or fabric with both ends open for keeping the hands warm. It was introduced to women's fashion in the 1500s and was popular with both men and women in the 17th and 18th century. By the early 1900s muffs were used in England only by women.

In Roman times the place of the glove was taken by long sleeves (manicae) reaching to the hand, and in winter special sleeves of fur were worn. In Medieval Latin we find the word muffulae, defined by Du Cange as chirothecae pellitae et hibernae. He quotes from a cartulary of the year 817, of the issuing to monks of sheepskin coverings to be used during the winter. These may have been, as the Roman certainly were, separate coverings for each hand, although the cartulary cited also distinguishes the glove for summer from the muffulae for winter wear. The old French moufle meant a thick glove or mitten, and from this the Dutch mof, Walloon mouffe, and thence English "muff," are probably derived.

Money Clip

A money clip is a device typically used to store cash and/or credit cards in a very compact fashion for those who do not wish to carry a wallet.

Metal Money Clip

A metal money clip is generally a solid piece of metal folded into half, such that the bills and credit cards are securely wedged in between the two pieces of metal. Metal money clips are typically made out of stainless steel, silver, gold, titanium, or platinum. They are typically sold as luxury items. The chief disadvantage of a metal money clip is that, due to the inflexibility of the metal, it cannot typically hold large amounts of cash. Depending on the design, it may also be difficult to push the bills into the clip. Money clips fabricated from titanium can to a great degree overcome these technical limitations that many metals have. This is due to the greater flexibility of the titanium. The flexibility allows for greater capacity (without stretching out)and also requires less "spring tension" in the closed position. Titanium also has excellent resistance to cracking and fatigue and does not wear out or fatigue like many types of metal money clips can over time.

Carbon Fiber Money Clip

Although rare, carbon fiber money clips are starting to see market acceptance. Using advanced moulding techniques, the high strength and durability of carbon fiber make for ideal qualities. The carbon fiber allows the clamping surfaces to open beyond parallel, without the deformation of normal metal money clips. Also, being non-metallic they are ‘scanner proof' which allows the user to pass through metal detectors without having to remove cash and credit cards.

Magnetic money clip

The magnetic money clip is generally made of two strong flat rectangular or round magnets encased in leather, with a small piece of leather separating the two pieces and allowing them to swivel into a closed and open position. There are also clips made of three magnets and two pieces of leather. A magnetic money clip typically has a greater carrying capacity than a metal money clip and the strongest clips are able to hold up to 15 bills folded in half. Magnetic money clips are not recommended for holding credit cards as the magnets may distort or erase the magnetic stripe.

Money Clip Wallet

A money clip wallet is a clip designed specifically to hold both credit cards and cash. The conventional hybrids are a credit card holder with either a swivel magnetic clip attached to the back side or a solid plastic clip. These are sometimes known as hybrid money clips.

Rubber Band Money Clip

Another type of money clip is the rubber band variant. The user may group credit cards together while folding the cash into thirds, and wraps the rubber band around the combined stack. As is often the case with such users, credit cards may not be present, so instead the money is rolled into a large roll and the rubber band is then wrapped around the entire roll.

Paper Clip

Paper clips have been used to organize banknotes. This type of clip is used by banks and stores, not only individuals. The popularity of this type of clip may be related to its low cost and ease in replacement. The popularity of money clips may vary between countries. In the United States, all banknotes of different denominations are the same size, but in many countries, the size of banknotes is so variable as to make clipping more difficult. In some countries, particularly the United Kingdom, the use of coins is prevalent, which can result in people carrying fewer notes.

Mobile Phone Charms

Mobile Phone Charms (also cell phone charms, phone danglers) are charms that are connected to a mobile phone using a small strap. Most phones now have a loop hole through which the strap can be attached.

Types of Phone Charms

There are a variety of charms available, such little figurine characters, rhinestone crystal charms, and small teddy bears. Some charms flash or light up when your phone rings. Many charms also have a small bell attached.

Lapel Pin

A Lapel Pin (also called "button" or "badge") is a small pin often worn on the lapel of a dress jacket. Lapel pins can be purely ornamental or can indicate the wearer's affiliation with an organization or cause; for example, American Flag lapel pins became very popular in the United States, especially among politicians, following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Popular Usage of Lapel Pin

Lapel pins are frequently used as symbols of achievement and belonging in different organizations. Fraternities and sororities use lapel pins as the primary symbol for their organizations. Members wear the pins to meetings and special events to show their belonging to the organization. Lapel pins from the organization are often collected by members and non-members alike.

Businesses also use lapel pins to designate achievement and membership. Lapel pins are a common element of employee recognition programs, and they are presented to individuals as a symbol of an accomplishment. Like fraternity and sorority pins, these lapel pins instill a sense of belonging to an elite group of performers at the organization. Businesses also award lapel pins to employees more frequently to boost employee morale, productivity and employee engagement.

Jimi (Wallet)

A Jimi is a small plastic box intended to be used in lieu of a wallet. It holds five credit cards and three folded bank notes.

Brought on the market in 2005, it was marketed as "The Wallet for People Who Hate Wallets" by its inventor, marketing professional Mike O'Neill. Despite its anti-consumerism message, it was featured in the MoMA Design Store and now appears to be mildly popular as an accessory for outdoors activities.

Jewelery

Jewelery or jewelry is an item of personal adornment, such as a necklace, ring, brooch or bracelet, that is worn by a person. It may be made from gemstones or precious metals, but may be from any other material, and may be appreciated because of geometric or other patterns, or meaningful symbols. Earrings and other body rings are also considered to be jewelery, while body art is not. Also, items affixed to a garment, such as buttons, are not considered to be jewelery, even if they are unusual and highly decorative. Also, items such as belts and handbags etc. are not considered to be jewelery, and are considered to be accessories.

Jewelery is one of the oldest forms of body adornment; recently found 100,000 year-old beads made from Nassarius shells are thought to be the oldest known jewelery.

Jewelery is sometimes seen as wealth storage or functionally as holding a garment or hair together. It has from very early times also been regarded as a form of personal adornment. The first pieces of jewelery were made from natural materials, such as bone, animal teeth, shell, wood and carved stone. More exotic jewelery was probably made for wealthy people or as indications of social status. In some cases people were buried with their jewelery.

Jewelery has been made to adorn nearly every body part, from hairpins to toe rings and many more types of jewelery. While high-quality jewelery is made with gemstones and precious metals, such as silver or gold, there is also a growing demand for art jewelery where design and creativity is prized above material value. In addition, there is the less costly costume jewelery, made from lower value materials and mass-produced. Other variations include wire sculpture (wrap) jewelery, using anything from base metal wire with rock tumbled stone to precious metals and precious gemstones.

Iron-on

Iron-on transfers are images that can be imprinted on fabric. They are frequently used to print onto T-shirts.

On one side is paper, and on the other is the image that will be transferred in reverse. After placing it on the fabric and either running over the fabric side with an iron or pressing with a heat press, the image is transferred to the fabric. Iron-on transfer paper is available for use with computer printers.

Commercial quality heat transfer paper used in a heat press will yield much better results in terms of 'hand' (how the print feels on the fabric) and durability than store bought papers or transfers applied with a home iron.

A number of ink jet, copier and laser printer toners have been developed to utilize this process. This is the process developed at Black Lightning by Walter Jeffries in the 1980's for negatively charged laser printer toners for use in black and white laser printers like those from Apple, HP, Xerox, Canon and other vendors.

The advantages of commercial heat transfer over screen printing are that it is relatively cheap and easy to create one-off, full color designs. Also, when compared with dye sublimation techniques, heat transfers can be used on 100% cotton garments, whereas dye sublimation requires at least a 50/50 poly cotton garment.

Iron-on fabric has a glue backing that melts into another fabric it is applied to with heat. It is used in patching torn clothes or to apply extra fabric in places subject to extreme wear.

Iron-on appliques are decorative embroidery items with a melt-glue backing.

Handkerchief

A Handkerchief (also called Handkercher or Hanky) is a form of a Kerchief, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric that can be carried in the pocket or purse, and which is intended for personal hygiene purposes such as wiping one's hands or face, or blowing one's nose. A handkerchief is also sometimes used as a purely decorative accessory in a suit pocket.

The material of a handkerchief can be symbolic of the social-economic class of the user, not only because some materials are more expensive, but because some materials are more absorbent and practical for those who use a handkerchief for more than style. Handkerchiefs can be made of cotton, cotton-synthetic blend, synthetic fabric, silk, or linen.

Handkerchiefs were also used, especially by children, as an impromptu way to carry around small items when a bag or basket was unavailable. They could also serve as an substitute for a bandage over a small injury. In the United Kingdom, the habit of wearing a handkerchief with tied corners on one's head at the beach has become a seaside postcard stereotype, referenced by the Gumby characters in Monty Python's Flying Circus. Historically, white handkerchiefs have been used in place of a white flag to indicate surrender or a flag of truce; in addition to waving away sailors from port.

Hairnet

A Hairnet, or sometimes simply a net or caul, is a small, often elasticized, fine net worn over long hair to hold it in place. It is often worn by food service workers to prevent hair from contaminating the food. A snood is similar but a looser fit and with a much coarser mesh.

Evidence has been found of hairnets as far back as ancient Greece. Hairnets were worn from the 13th century onwards in Germany and England and are shown in illustrations from this period often worn with a wimple. They were made from extremely fine silk and edged with bands of either finger-weaving or tablet-weaving.

Hair Stick

A Hair Stick (also hair stick) is a straight, pointed device, usually between five and nine inches in length, used to hold a person's hair in place in a hair bun or similar hairstyle.

Unlike many hair pins, which are usually small and quite simple, hair sticks are often more elaborate and decorative, and feature jeweled or carved designs that make them stand out as pieces of luxury jewelry. The price of hair sticks varies greatly depending on the style, materials and craftsmanship - the cheapest pairs of plastic hair sticks can cost less than a dollar, while a single, hand-crafted hair stick by an artist can cost over two hundred dollars.

Modern Use of Hair Sticks

Hand-crafted, purpose-made jeweled hair sticks that add color and flair to hairstyles have overtaken the use of simpler chopsticks, and have become a more popular hairstyle embellishment.

Because of the wide availability of components for the crafting of hair sticks, making home-made hair sticks has also become a popular trend. Many people enjoy making their own pieces using the blank sticks that can be online, and buying pins, crystals and beads from various online suppliers. A large number of these kinds of pieces are also put up for auction online.

Garter

Garters are articles of clothing: narrow bands of fabric fastened about the leg, used to keep stockings up. Normally just a few inches in width, they are usually made of leather or heavy cloth, and adorned with small bells and/or ribbons. In the eighteenth to twentieth centuries, they were tied just below the knee, where the leg was slenderest, to keep the stocking from slipping. The advent of elastic has made them unnecessary from this functional standpoint, although they are still often worn for fashion. Garters are worn by men and women.

Functionality of Garters

A garter belt normally features two or three garters attached on each side of a reinforced material strip worn around the waist. This 'belt' is usually at least 2-3 inches wide

Garters in Fashion

A garter is often worn by newlywed brides. It is the groom's privilege to remove the garter and toss it to the male guests. The symbolism to deflowering is unambiguous. Historically, this tradition also relates to the belief that taking an article of the bride's clothing would bring good luck. As this often resulted in the destruction of the bride's dress, the tradition arose for the bride to toss articles of clothing to the guests, including the garter. Another superstition that has circulated is the male equivalent of the bride throwing her bouquet to the unmarried ladies, i.e., the unmarried male wedding guest who successfully caught the garter was believed to be the next man to be headed to the altar from the group of single men at that wedding. Traditionally, the man who caught the garter and the lady who caught the bouquet will share the next dance.

Garter Belts

A garter belt is a woman's undergarment consisting of an elastic piece of cloth worn around the waist to which garters are attached to hold up stockings. In British English they are known as suspender belts. Nevertheless garter belts and stockings continue to be sold in many modern department stores as well as more specialized outlets; a reflection of their enduring role in erotic fantasy.

Flower Bouquet

A Flower Bouquet is a collection of flowers in a creative arrangement. There are different kinds including nosegay, hand-tied, and cascading bouquets. Flower bouquets are often given for special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries. They are also used extensively in weddings. Traditionally the bride will hold the bouquet, and the Maid of Honor will hold it during the ceremony. After the wedding the bride will toss it over her shoulder, and it is believed that whoever catches the bouquet is the next in line to be married. This practice may be related to the Golden Apple of Discord myth.

A Wedding Bouquet of flowers or roses is an idea that was brought up years ago and then became a tradition. When an upper class bride walked down the aisle, she was required to hold a bouquet of roses or flowers to prevent body odor from spreading.

Feather Boa

A Feather Boa is a fashion accessory that is usually worn wrapped around the neck like a scarf.

Construction of Feather Boa

A Boa can be made of fur, but it is usually made instead from various types of feathers. Ostrich, marabou, chandelle, and turkey are the most common feathers used, although non-feather boas are also available. Feathers used go through bleaching or dyeing processes and are glued and stitched into lengths called "ply". Sometimes more natural boas are produced. A lightweight chandelle boa might only weigh 65grams (2.3oz), whereas a 24 ply ostrich boa can weigh as much as 200grams (7.1oz). The more ply, the fluffier and thicker the boa. Boas are generally measured by weight (grams), length (centimeters), and ply. Boas are available through novelty, costume, or lingerie shops, as well as online

Types of Feather Boa

Ostrich

Thousands of long thin feather strands woven into ply are used to construct these very fluffy boas. These form the larger, Las Vegas showgirl type boas, as when they are colored and woven into many ply, they can look very dramatic even at a distance.

Turkey

Many larger flat turkey feathers form these heavier boas which might weigh 120-180 grams (4.2-6.3oz) and reach 30centimetres (12in) in diameter.

Marabou

The fine down from marabou is used to form these very thin, and very fluffy boas.

Evening Glove

Ladies' evening gloves or opera gloves are a type of formal glove that reaches beyond the elbow.

Ladies' gloves for formal and semi-formal wear come in three lengths for women: wrist, elbow, and opera or full-length (over the elbow, usually reaching to the biceps but sometimes to the full length of the arm). The most expensive full-length gloves are custom-made of kid leather, also known as kidskin. Many other types of leather, most usually soft varieties of cowhide, are used in making full-length gloves; patent leather and suede are especially popular as alternatives to kidskin, and are often more affordable than kidskin. Satin and stretch satin materials are extremely popular, and there are mass-produced varieties as well.

Measurements of Evening Gloves

The length of ladies' evening gloves are referred to in terms of "buttons", whether they in fact have buttons or not. The word is derived from French, and the exact measure is actually a bit longer than one inch.

Wrist length gloves are usually eight-button, those at the elbow are 16, mid-biceps are 22 and full shoulder length are 30.

Opera gloves are between 16 and 22 inches long, though some gloves can be as long as 29 or 30 inches.

To fit oneself for gloves, measure all around the hand at the widest part of the palm where the knuckles are, but excluding the thumb. The measurement in inches is the glove size, but if one's arms are large, it may be practical to go up a size. Generally, an evening glove is considered to be a true "opera-length" glove if it reaches to mid-biceps or higher on the wearer's arm, notwithstanding its actual length in inches or buttons; therefore, a petite woman might find a glove with a measurement of 16 or 17 inches adequate for the purpose, while a tall woman might need a glove longer than 22 inches.

A glove shorter than elbow-length should not be referred to as an "opera-length glove" or "opera glove" under any circumstances.

Daenggi

Daenggi is a Korean traditional ribbon made of cloth to tie and to decorate braided hair. According to History of Northern Dynasties's record, maidens of Baekje bound their hair at the back and braided, while married women's hair were briaded into two pieces and then put them on the crown of the head.

There are several types of Daenggi according to purpose, age, and social status.

Tteoguji daenggi, maegae daenggi, doturak daenggi, and deurim daenggi are used for ceremonial purpose.

While jebiburi daenggi, doturank daenggi, jjok daenggi, and malttuk daenggi. The Daenggi used for "gungnyeo" or count ladies during the Joseon Dynasty were negadak daenggi, and patip daenggi.

Cummerbund

A cummerbund is a broad waist sash, usually pleated, which is often worn with single-breasted dinner jackets . The cummerbund was first adopted by British military officers in colonial India as a cool alternative to a waistcoat, and later spread to civilian use. The modern use of the cummerbund is as a component of the semi-formal black tie dress code.

The form of the cummerbund is a wide band around the waist, and its origin as part of black tie determined the acceptable colors. Once it was adopted as civilian dress, beginning as a largely summer option with informal dinner jackets, such as Burmese fawn and white, it was restricted to the narrow range of colors which accompany black tie. These were predominantly black, sometimes midnight blue to match the trousers, and occasionally maroon (the normal hue for colored accessories). Note that the bow tie itself always matched the trousers and was never maroon or otherwise colored. The pleats face up because they were originally used to hold ticket stubs and similar items, explaining the slang name 'crumb-catcher'. The contemporary use of the cummerbund is purely aesthetic, providing a transition between the shirt and the waistband. The fastening is a ribbon around the back, tied or held shut by a buckle or velcro.

In contemporary use, it is now common to see coloured bow ties and cummerbands, often matching, but this is still condemned by dress authorities. They have also expanded in less formal situations into use with components of white tie, particularly by musicians, who sometimes wear a white cummerbund instead of the traditional marcella waistcoat.

Military Cummerbands

Similar to the cummerbund, a cummerband is an accessory to the dress uniform used extensively in both the modern Indian Army and Pakistan Army. This sash like item traces its origin to the uniforms of the Indian regiments raised during the period of British rule. It is generally worn during ceremonial parades and dinners. Like the cummerbund it is a long strip of cloth which is tightly worn around a soldier's waist. The color or combination of colors varies widely according to regiment or corps. Unlike the civilian cummerbund, a leather belt is worn above this cloth piece and one end hangs free displaying an ornamental fringe.

Silk Knot

An alternative fastener to a cufflink is the cheaper silk knot, which are also known as monkey's fists. The Paris shirtmaker Charvet is credited with their introduction in the beginning of the 20th century. French cuff shirts are often accompanied with a set of color-coordinated silk knots instead of double-button cufflinks. They are now rarely made from silk; often they are made from elastic.

Cufflink

A Cuff link (also cuff link or cuff-link) is a decorative fastener worn by men or women to fasten the two sides of the cuff on a dress shirt or blouse.

Cuff links are designed only for use with shirts which have buttonholes on both sides but no buttons. These may be either single or double-length ("French") cuffs, and may be worn either "kissing," with the ends pinched together, or "barrel-style," with one end overlapping the other. Kissing cuffs are usually preferred.

Cuff link designs vary widely. The simplest design consists of a short post or chain connecting two disc-shaped parts. The part positioned on the most visible side is usually larger; a variety of designs can connect the smaller piece: It may be small enough to fit through the button hole like a button would; it may be separated and attached from the other side; or it may have a portion that swivels on the central post, aligning with the post while the link is threaded through the button-hole and swiveling into a position at right angles to the post when worn.

The visible part of a cuff link is often monogrammed or decorated in some way. There are numerous styles including novelty cuff links, traditional cuff links, contemporary cuff links, utility cuff links, and humorous cuff links

Double-sided, Double-panel or Double-faced Cuff Links

Forerunner of today's shirt first appeared in the early-1500s, its ruffled wristband finished with small openings on either side that tied together with "cuff strings." Although cuff strings would remain popular well into the nineteenth century, it was during the lavishly gilded rule of Louis XIV - famed for the ostentatiously baroque Palace of Versailles - that French aristocrats realized their wristbands offered yet another opportunity to boastfully flaunt their wealth and status.

By the late-1600s, royalty and monied patricians throughout Europe were fastening their shirt sleeves with boutons de manchette, or "sleeve buttons," typically identical pairs of colored glass buttons joined together by a short, linked chain. Cuff strings, their low-brow predecessor, would remain a fashion staple of the poor until the mid-1850s.

By the end of Louis's post-Renaissance reign in 1715, simple, paste-glass buttons had given way to pairs of two, decoratively painted or jeweled studs, typically diamonds, connected by ornate gold links.

Hence was born the cuff "link" eponym. Whether simple glass buttons or the gilded and bejeweled studs favored by aristocrats, thank the short, chain-like link for their now universal sobriquet. With their generic name was also born the predecessor of today's "double-sided" cuff links, also known by their equally popular "double-panel" or "double-face" names. Over the next 300-years, the three pseudonyms would be swapped around synonymously and double-sided cuff links would win a vaunted status as one of fashion's iconic classics.

To this day, double-sided cuff links are the de rigueur fashion choice of the world's best dressed men and remain the emblematic standard bearer of sartorial elegance throughout the world, save for America which stands the lone exception.

"Dumbbell" or shank-style cuff links rocketed to fashion's forefront during the early-1900s. Then, as now, they enjoyed their greatest popularity in America. Thanks to their gently curved but rigid shank, dumbbell style cuff links deliver unrivaled ease of attachment and removal, a pragmatic asset in the context of Yankee ingenuity and America's no-nonsense man.

Like snaps and chain linked double-panel cuff links, dumbbell styles are coveted by a small niche of classic-minded, fashion connoisseurs.

"Double-sided cuff links communicate an unspoken but mutually recognized savior faire that Instantly identifies one connoisseur to another and their concern for attention paid to the smallest details. Among fashion's insiders, they signal a grasp of history and a mutually shared awareness of fashion protocol and sartorial decorum. Collectively, they distinguish the fashion savvy savant from the mediocrity of ‘masses-fashion,'" adds Stinson.

Despite remaining Europe's dominant cuff link design since the early-1700s and their continued embrace by the world's best dressed men, double-sided cuff links have virtually disappeared from America. Retail price is a major reason: Single-sided cuff links are about half the cost of double-sided cuff links. Added ease of insertion and fastening, then removal, are the other advantages single-sided cuff links offer.

Still, that only partly explains the American demise of double-sided cuff links, despite their flourishing throughout Europe.

Compact

A Compact is cosmetic product. It is usually contained in a small, round case, with two or all of the following:

* A mirror, pressed powder, and a powder puff. The term is an abbreviation for "compact powder".

* Eventually the more elaborate compact, the 'vanity case' became popular as it had more compartments for more makeup items.

Compacts prior to the 1960s are vintage and are very desirable as a collector's item. Made of many different materials and often depicting the era of when it was made. ie: Art Deco

Collar Pin

A Collar pin (also called Collar bar and Collar clip) is a piece of men's jewelry that holds the two ends of a dress shirt collar together and passes underneath the knot of a necktie. Functioning in a similar way as a tabbed collar, it keeps the collar in place and lifts the knot to provide a more aesthetically pleasing arc to the necktie.

A Collar pin is between three and five centimeters in length and is one of three kinds:

* A barbell whose ends screw off and is designed to pass through specially made eyelets in the ends of the collar

* A pin, similar to a safety pin, that pierces the ends of the collar

* A bar with clips on both ends that grasp the ends of the collar

The latter two styles do not require specially made collars, but collar bars are generally not worn with buttoned-down collars and would be redundant with tabbed collars. Collar stays are not needed when using a collar bar.

Collar pins of the safety pin variety were fashionable in the early / middle 20th Century. Soft shirt collars often curled up of their own accord and before the advent of button down collars, such 'tie' pins were usually part of men's and boy's 'Sunday-best' attire.

Chemisette

A Chemisette is an article of women's clothing worn to fill in the front and neckline of any garment. Chemisettes give the appearance of a blouse or shirt worn under the outer garment without adding bulk at the waist or upper arm.

Chemisettes of linen or cotton were often worn with day dresses in the mid-19th century, and could be decorated with tucks, embroidery (especially white work), or lace.

The modern day chemisette was introduced in 2007 by "Chemisettes by Anne".These garments are meant to conceal cleavage, or chest scars. The chemisette includes a piece of fabric configured to extend between the two straps of the bra.

Chantelaine

Chatelaine is a decorative belt hook or clasp worn at the waist with a series of chains suspended from it. Each chain is mounted with a useful household appendage such as scissors, thimble, watch, key, vinaigrette, household seal, etc.

Chatelaines were worn by many housekeepers in the 19th century. They were also worn by Anglo Saxon women, as seen from the burial record. The name chatelaine derives from the same term used to mean the female owner, or husband of the owner, of a large house. The chatelaine was designed to have all the tools necessary for the woman of the household to sort out any problem she may encounter in her day, like a fraying curtain.

Caul

A Caul is a historical headress worn by women that covers tied-up hair.

A Fancy Caul could be made of satin, velvet, fine silk or brocade, although a simple caul would commonly be made of white linen or cotton. The caul could be covered by a crespine or a mesh net to secure it from falling off. It is also the name of an Elizabethan hair net.

Card Enclosure

A card enclosure is a container for smart cards, credit cards, debit cards, telephone cards, visiting cards, business cards and other cards of similar size. Most cards have dimensions that follow the ID-1 format of the ISO/IEC 7810 standard which specify the physical dimensions for cards to be 85.60 × 53.98 mm. The enclosures can be made of metal, leather, or plastic and come in various colors and designs. Sometimes having a laser engraved design for aesthetic purposes.

There are shaped CDs that are business card sized that also fit. If made of aluminium, it may provide RFID shielding for proximity cards.

Capalana

* A capalana is a length of material about 2 meters by 1 meter.

* It can either be used as a wrap-around skirt or can become a baby carrier on the back.

* It is worn in Mozambique and elsewhere in southern Africa.

Boutonniere

A Boutonnière is a floral decoration worn by men, typically a single flower or bud. The word comes from the French boutonnière, or buttonhole, which is the British term. The flower itself is often a carnation, which is most formal white, while red remains a classic alternative. Other colors may also be chosen to better coordinate with whatever else is being worn, such as a blue cornflower.

Traditionally, a boutonnière was worn pushed through the lapel buttonhole (on the left, the same side as a pocket handkerchief). However, on many recently made coats and jackets, the lapel is made without the stem loop required, which would normally sit on the reverse of the lapel, beneath the buttonhole. Sometimes, the lapel buttonhole is in the 'keyhole' shape, as opposed to the traditional straight cut, or is not even pierced through, in which case the boutonnière may be pinned onto the jacket lapel, although this is considered unsightly by many.

While worn frequently in the past, boutonnières are now usually reserved for special occasions for which formal wear is standard, such as at proms, homecomings, funerals, and weddings. (Women who wear jackets on these occasions also often may wear 'buttonholes', but more typically a woman would wear a corsage.)

Baby Sling

A "baby sling" is a piece of cloth that supports an infant or other small child from a carer's body. The use of a baby sling is called baby wearing.

Types of Baby Slings

Ring Slings

These are baby carriers that use dynamic tension, a length of cloth and metal (such as aluminum) or nylon rings. One end of the cloth is sewn to two rings. The cloth wraps around the wearer's body from shoulder to opposite hip and back up to the shoulder, and the end is threaded through the rings to create a buckle effect. The baby sits or lies in the resulting pocket. Once a sling is threaded, it can be taken off and put back on without re-threading. A threaded sling forms a loop of cloth. The wearer can put one arm and the head through the loop of cloth to put the sling back on.

When the baby is in the carrier, the baby's weight puts tension on the fabric, and the combination of fabric tension, friction of fabric surfaces against each other and the rings combine to "lock" the sling in position. This type of sling can adjust to different wearers' sizes and accommodate different wearing positions easily: the wearer supports the baby's weight with one hand and uses the other hand to pull more fabric through the rings to tighten or loosen the sling.

Ring slings may be padded or unpadded at the shoulder, have padded or unpadded edges or "rails", and the "tail" of the sling may be open or closed. Some "hybrid" ring slings have curved seats sewn into the body, similar to the seam in a pouch. Ring slings are most closely related in use to the Mexican rebozo, the rings take the place of the knot.

Variation is also found in how the rings attach to the cloth, commonly referred to as "shoulder style". Basic shoulder styles include gathered, pleated, "hot dog" or "center fold", pouch-style (folded in half) and many variations.

Pouch Slings

Sometimes called "tube", "pocket" or "ringless" slings, these are generally formed by a wide piece of fabric sewn into a tubular shape. Simple, or fitted pouches do not have rings or other hardware. Adjustable pouches may adjust with zippers, snaps, buckles, clips, rings, drawstrings, velcro, and other methods. Most pouches have a curve sewn in to shape the cloth to the parent's body and hold the baby more securely than a simple straight tube. The wearer slips the pouch over the head and one shoulder, sash-style, creating a pocket or seat to hold the baby in.

Anklet

An anklet , ankle chain, or ankle bracelet is an ornament worn around the ankle. Barefoot anklets and toe rings historically have been worn for centuries by girls and women in Egypt and Arab world especially in Bedouin and countryside and married women in India, though in the United States both casual and more formal anklets became fashionable in the late twentieth century. While in western popular culture both younger men and women may wear casual leather anklets, they are popular among barefoot women. Formal anklets (silver, gold, beads) are common women's fashion jewelry Anklets are an important jewelery in Indian marriages worn along with saris.

Much more rarely, the ankle chains are joined by a stretch of chain to limit the step. This practice was once more prevalent in the Middle East, where the effect was to give a 'feminine' short tripping step. Today a few western women follow this practice, but rarely in public. A very few people even have 'permanent', e.g. soldered-on, ankle chains, and more rarely still, so is the connecting chain.
In India, anklets are worn on both ankles. However, outside India most anklets seem to be worn on the right ankle. Perhaps this is due to more people being right-handed. Although in eastern cultures, anklets are worn on both ankles. Either ankle may indicate a "hotwife" or cuckold's wife, though this is not universal by any means

Scuba divers sometimes wear lead anklets to stop a tendency for their legs to float up when diving in a drysuit

History of Anklets

Bronze anklets are visible as early as the Bronze Age in temperate Europe, in an area roughly along the Danube, in the Alpine foreland, up the Rhine to the Atlantic, and also down the Rhône (Sherratt, 2001). These were found among hoards in these areas, along with other bronze items characteristic of this time (c. 1800 BCE onwards), and are attributable to the Tumulus culture that spread across this region. A first-century CE epic of Tamil literature called Cilappatikaram ("The story of the anklet") dealt with a woman whose husband was killed while trying to sell one of her anklets to a dishonest goldsmith. The anklets are described in great detail in the poem.

Types of Anklets

Anklets can be made of silver, gold, and other less precious metals as well as leather, plastic, nylon and other such materials. In the western world anklets or ankle chains are mainly worn by younger females, but some older women also wear them.

Metal anklets are of two types - flexible and inflexible. The flexible ones, often called paayal, pajeb or jhanjhar in India, are made by tying links in a chain. Subsequently, sonorous bells can be attached to the chain, so that the wearer can make pleasing sounds while walking. Inflexible ones are usually created by giving shape to a flat metal sheet

Ghunghru

Ghunghru are small bells that Kathak and Bharatnatyam dancers tie around their ankles

Aiguillette

An aiguillette, aguillette or aiglet is a decorative tag or tip for a cord or ribbon, usually of gold and sometimes set with gemstones or enameled. Small cords and ribbon bows tipped with pairs of aiguilettes were fashionable ornaments in the 16th and early 17th centuries.

In contemporary military and civil uniforms, an aiguillette is an ornamental braided cord with a similar metal tip, derived from armor fastenings, and the plastic or metal aglet on a shoe lace is also a direct descendant.

Aiguillettes were made in sets, and might be of silver, silver-gilt, or gold.

Surviving portraits show that aiguillettes could be functional or purely decorative, though many were used to "close" seams and slashes that are not always apparent on dark garments in portraits. They were made in matched sets and were worn in masses.

Overview of Fashion Accessories

Fashion Accessories are decorative items that supplement one's garment, such as jewelry, gloves, handbags, hats, belts, scarves, watches, sunglasses, pins, stockings, bow tie, leg warmer, leggings, necktie, suspenders, and tights.

Accessories add color, style and class to an outfit, and create a certain look, but they may also have practical functions. Handbags are for carrying, hats protect the face from weather elements, and gloves keep the hands warm.


Many accessories are produced by clothing design companies. However, there has been an increase in individuals creating their own brand name by designing and making their own label of accessories.

Accessories may be used as external visual symbols of religious or cultural affiliation: Crucifixes, Jewish stars, Islamic headscarves, skullcaps and turbans are common examples. Designer labels on accessories are perceived as an indicator of social status.

Accessories are also available in the form of bracelets, necklaces and earring.