#handmade swing dance shoes

[brittwallacerealestate]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Aris Allen Men's 1946 Black and White Spectator Wingtip Dance Shoes US 11.

[mothbii]

Where I’m From Poem

I’m from the blackberries on the side of the trail:

Tart and sweet exploding on my tongue,

And hot in my small, sticky hands from the sun.

I’m from the little barbarian chucking his shoes into the forest, with dirt smeared all over his face-

The camping trips where the trees seem to get shorter and shorter every year,

And rivers that are always just as cold as I expect.

I’m from games in the backyard;

The seesaw flying over America,

The quicksand under the swings,

And the dinosaur in my grandpa’s abandoned, rotting shed.

What used to be the swamp behind our house (with deers, and skunk cabbage, and pools of murky water),

Has turned into a sprawling apartment complex

With car alarms,

Shouting,

And the body stashed in the car.

My family is from Denmark.

My brothers, parents, and I fumble our way through Danish Christmas carols,

And my Mormor and Morfar don’t have a clue who Frosty the Snowman is,

While my Farmor watches it all play out

(All around the glowing tree, decorated with handmade and worn julehjerter).

My Morfar was laid to rest in their garden.

His ashes spread among the tulips he grew,

His death continuing to bring life to his work.

His grave is now a parking lot,

And it was his escape from Nazi occupation that got him there.

Where I’m from, life is filled with music.

Making up songs about nonsense for my parents,

Trying to sing the loudest at the Christmas concert so my Gran and Mormor could pick me out,

And performing with my elementary school choir at the library, always rewarded with that glorious watered-down hot chocolate.

(I can hear my grandpa’s guitar whispering through the vents,

And the music my aunt danced with me to when I was younger.)

I’m from waking up at the crack of dawn nearly every day to participate in ensembles:

The awakening experience of singing in harmony with others,

The sticky, crusty keys on the clarinet that has grown with me,

And the rush of improvisation and clashing chords.

My life was filled with wonder.

Wondering about what laid beyond our solar system,

About who (or what) has stepped where I have,

About when the next solar flare would be, and if we too would be plunged into darkness,

And if that dandelion stem would really taste like celery (three attempts, each more bitter than the last).

It turned into salty tears on math assignments,

Paper crumpled and compressed until it was almost nothing,

Small hands hacking and tearing apart old tests,

And recesses spent reading in a glass box alone.

I am from expectations and disappointment.

I am from laughter,

From “you’re too easily amused,” and, “you’re too childish to be an adult,”

And from stupid mistakes and bruises for my brothers to make fun of me for. 

I am from overloaded cars cloaked in street lamps,

Running until my lungs feel harsh and cold, and three sizes too small,

The ache in my face from smiling-

The drunkening feeling of belonging.

I am the echo of all the years I’ve lived before.

I am from heartbreak, isolation, and tear-stained cheeks,

And from the jokes, community and conversations I have grown to have.

I am from the love of my family,

The want for more,

And the piece of 5 year old me I hold (filled with wonder and life)-

I am both not the same, and unchanged.

I am from the people who brought me here (my dad, my grade five teacher from who taught me to laugh, the friends I’ve made and had to leave),

And the lands I’ve grown up on (searching through bushes, being too scared to climb that tree, family gatherings at the lake).

I am made of experience and life.

My schools going to delete my google account in 3 days, so I'm putting my work that I want here because the internet's forever. Feel free to read it if you want, but this is literally highschool homework assignments, don't be expecting masterpieces.

[kisswingshoe]

Sember is a traditional British style with nice carving and color matching,which is made by superior cowhide material.So suitable for jazz and swing dance. We provide multi-colors to choose from.Please check color card and leave the color number if you do not like picture color. Heel here is 2.5cm.Here we show is hard.https://www.kisswingshoes.com/collections/men-casual/products/sember

[kisswingshoes]

We offering #handmadeswingdanceshoes for women, with ceafted range of dance shoes at the best prices. All our shoes are custom hand made, soft and comfortable enough.

[wendypozolondress]

Swing🎶 . Se trata de un tipo de zapato que surgió en los años 20-30. Este zapato tiene distintas versiones o variantes, la más conocida es el zapato masculino, de tipo oxford brogue, de piel blanca con la puntera y el talón negros. Esta versión es conocida con el nombre de Spectator Shoe (Inglaterra): Louboutin - Botines que imitan las polainas que se llevaban en los años 20. Estas polainas eran blancas y se colocaban sobre zapatos negros (consiguiendo de esta manera ese efecto bicolor). Estaban asociadas a la elegancia y al frac y también al estilo de la mafia.  Desde 1950 las mujeres tambien usan esta tendencia 2 imagen Fred Astaire . 👞 SANTA LUCIA 234 BELLAS ARTES 👞 . #shoes #oxford #swing #menswear #handmade #blackandwhite #streetstyle #gentlemanride #lovemyjob #fredastaire #dance https://www.instagram.com/p/Bni8S31lNtU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bh2vfap95t1d

[penmansparadise]

Steve Harrington Imagine Request - I Love You so Much Most

* I DON’T OWN ANY GIFS POSTED* *CREDIT TO GIF OWNERS*

I’m sorry that it took so long, but here is the Steve Harrington angst imagine requested by @saturnssub​ .  I hope that this lives up to what you were hoping for!  Let me know what you all think and enjoy!! Xx.

Warnings: Angst and Mild Language

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Reader

_______________________________________________________________________

You and Steve met in middle school. Years ago, when you first moved to Hawkins, he was your only friend. He was the cool guy that every girl fawned over, but he had a secret soft side no one knew about. You used to eat lunch at a corner table by yourself. One day, Steve trotted over and plopped down in front of you. Everyone watched in shock as he sat and ate lunch with the loser new girl. You were confused and didn’t know if he was playing some sick joke. But, when he gave you a friendly smile, you knew he was genuine. From that day forward, you two were inseparable.

Your friendship grew stronger and stronger throughout the years. In high school, when Nancy broke Steve’s heart, you were the only person there for him. He went to your house that night in complete anguish. You held him and told him everything would get better. He stayed over that night and slept soundly next to you. Steve comforted you when Robert Miller, the best wrestler within a 200-mile radius, broke up with you at the Christmas formal. After the dance, he took you to get ice cream and scream into the night. Wrapped tightly in a blanket, the two of you watched the sun rise over the quarry. You and Steve were each other’s rock.

Before you knew it, Steve asked you to be his girlfriend. He dressed in his nicest button-down shirt and took you for a picnic. He hung lights on the tree you sat under and had candles on the blanket. Rose petals littered the ground around you. He was so nervous, but, with sweaty hands, he finally asked. You, not skipping a beat, said, “Yes.” After making things official, your relationship only grew stronger. You were the couple everyone wished they could be. The two of you were goofy but cute. You had inside jokes that would make you laugh until your sides hurt, and Steve kept the romance alive by constantly surprising you with flowers and handmade gifts. The two of you were head-over-heels in love with each other.

You had been dating for a little over a year when Steve began to get distant. It started when things at the Hawkins Lab began to happen, and the Byer’s kid got sick. He stopped calling your house on weekends and started to cut your dates short. He would run off immediately after dropping you off and even stopped sneaking into your room late at night. When you were with him, he seemed like he wasn’t present. He was always hidden away in his own little world, and the door was locked. You tried to enter, but he never let you. You tried not to worry or think irrationally, but you couldn’t help it. Your anxiety reached an all-time high when you saw him sneaking out of the Wheeler’s house one night.

Your house was exactly three houses to the left and across the street from the Wheeler’s. It was after midnight, and you couldn’t bring yourself to sleep. Instead, you opted to sit in your window and waiting for the sun to rise or Steve to show. Propped up in your window, you saw him. At first, you thought your eyes had deceived you. It was late, it could’ve just been a friend of Mike’s. It wasn’t until he walked under the street lamp that you realized it was Steve. His fluffy hair bounced as he jogged toward his car. Your chest tightened as your mind thought the worst.

“It’s been a whole year and four months since Steve and Nancy broke up. And Nancy is with Jonathan now! Steve wouldn’t do something like that to hurt me, would he?”

Weeks passed by, and you noticed Steve spending more and more time at the Wheeler’s residence. You began to lose sleep, forcing yourself to stay up and watch for him. Every night for two weeks, Steve was consistent. 12:30 AM would come, and so would Steve. He spent three hours inside before jogging back to his car and driving home. At the start of the third week, you had enough. You knew you shouldn’t have done what you did, but you did it anyway. It was Saturday morning, and, to your surprise, Steve’s car came to a stop in the Wheeler’s driveway. You weren’t used to him being there on the weekends. From your window, you saw him and some kid with curly hair walk out of the house. They held large silver buckets and wore yellow dishwashing gloves.

“What the hell is he doing now?” You asked your empty room.

Steve and the kid started walking away. Your eyes moved to your sneakers sitting in the corner of your room. The boys were a good distance away, and, without any more thinking, you laced your shoes up and ran after them.

You stayed a few paces behind them as to not be seen. When they turned onto a dirt path that led to the old railroad tracks, you slowed. Standing stationary, you watched as they started dropping cubes of raw meat along the path. Your face scrunched up in bewilderment.

“What are you doing, Steve?” You whispered before trailing after them again.

When you walked into the old junkyard, you quickly found a rusty car to hide behind. Through the dirty window, you watched another two kids show up. Steve corralled the children before they started boarding up an abandoned bus. You leaned forward in an attempt to hear what they were saying.

“If this doesn’t work, we’re in deep shit, Dustin. I hope you know that.”

“It’s going to work, Lucas! I mean, we practically dropped two whole cows along the way. What could go wrong?”

“A lot could go wrong, but whatever.”

“Hey,” Steve’s voice echoed, “less talking and more boarding. We lose daylight in 45 minutes.”

The sound of wood hitting metal resonated around you. You peeped through the window again to see the group of kids standing next to Steve. He clapped his hands before turning to face them.

“Okay, we’ll hide in here and wait for Dart. Remember, I’ll do all the work. I’m not having any of you shit heads dying on my watch.”

You placed your hand over your mouth to muffle the string of giggles that escaped you. One of the kids waved him off.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Harrington. Just get in the bus and wait.”

You watched the group of kids and Steve disappear into the bus before sitting on the cool grass. The sun went down, and the fog began to hover just above the ground. Every now and then, you would prop up to check the bus, but there was still no motion. It had been hours, and you were still sitting behind a rusty old car.

“What the fuck am I doing?” You asked yourself. “Steve is my boyfriend. I shouldn’t have to sneak around and follow him.”

You aimlessly picked at the wet grass next to you.

“I’m just going to walk right up to that bus and speak my mind. I’m going to ask what the hell he’s doing here and why he’s been at Nancy’s.”

You gave yourself a nod of encouragement. Right as you were going to stand up, a loud monstrous roar filled the air. You had never heard anything like it before. It sounded like something out a horror film. Your eyes scanned the junkyard, but you couldn’t see anything. The heavy fog blanketed the ground, and the moonlight gave little to no light. You sat still trying to see if you could find where the noise came from. The sound of crunching leaves made your heart race in your chest. When you turned to face where the sound came from, you froze. A few feet from where you sat, stood a fleshy looking beast. It had the body of a large dog, but its head was like nothing you had ever seen before. It had no eyes and was shaped like a flower about to bloom. It didn’t have a mouth. Instead, its whole head opened to reveal a billion tiny teeth. Your breath caught in your throat, nearly suffocating you with fear. You silently placed your hands on the rusty car for support. Every part of your body was shaking with terror. You let out an unsteady breath and tried your best not to whimper.

“Oh, my God. What the hell is that thing?”

The guttural growls and clicks from the monster reverberated in your ears and into the quiet night. It had disappeared into the fog, making you spiral into a panic. Your breathing was quickening by the second, and you were doing all you could to calm yourself down. That’s when you heard a high-pitched whistle. You didn’t want to move, but when you heard Steve’s voice, you couldn’t help it.

“Come on, buddy,” he began, “human tastes better than cat, I promise.”

You forced your wobbly legs to stand. They were weak with fear, and you were unsure if they could even hold you up. Your eyes surveyed the area, hoping to spot the monster, but they landed on Steve instead. You could tell he was scared, but he planted his feet in the dirt anyway. He was wielding a baseball bat covered in nails. His bravery made your heart swell a little. The sound of another loud monstrous screech pulled you back to reality. The fleshy beast came into view. It stood a few steps in front of Steve. Your heart thumped in your chest as you watched Steve and the monster square up. Steve’s feet twisted in the dirt to get better traction as he prepped his bat to swing. The monster let out a series of low growls in response. You were frozen in place when one of the kids shouts filled the air.

“Steve, watch out,” he yelled, “3 o’clock!”

That’s when you heard the familiar growling, but that time it was much closer. Your blood pulsed in your ears as you slowly turned to face the sound. Creeping over the crushed-up cars and tires was one of the monsters. Its large claws tore into everything it touched.

“Oh my God,” you began fumbling to turn yourself back around, “Steve!”

A loud fright-filled scream came from you as you barreled over the car and toward Steve. Just as you were about to reach Steve, you could see the other monster lunge toward you. You shut your eyes and let out another scream when you felt Steve’s arms wrap around you. Steve pulled you into his chest just as the monster jumped past you. You could feel tears welling in your eyes as you began to hyperventilate. There were monsters all around you at that point. Their growls played like a symphony in the night. Steve grabbed you by your shoulders to gain your attention.

“What are you doing here, Y/N!? It’s not safe!”

You tried your best to compose yourself, but you couldn’t. Your breathing was shallow, and it was making you dizzy.

“I’m so sorry, Steve. I followed you here. You’ve just been so distant lately and I saw you at Nancy’s. I just…I thought you were cheating on me. I’m sorry.”

Steve let out a frustrated huff and squeezed your shoulders.

“You followed me here? Why didn’t you just talk to me!? I would never cheat on you, Y/N. I wasn’t even over there for Nancy. I was over there for Mike and his friends.”

Your cheeks were wet, but you didn’t know if it was from tears or sweat. You shook your head in disbelief.

“I tried to talk to you, Steve. You ignored me. I didn’t know what to think. And now, with this, I really don’t know what to think.”

You stared at Steve, but his gaze was fixed behind you. When you went to turn around and look, he stopped you.

“No,” he said, “We need to run.”

You shook your head in confusion.

“What?”

Steve’s hands released your shoulders and grabbed your wrist tightly.

“Run!”

You took in a sharp breath before being dragged behind Steve. An array of sounds filled your ears as you willed your legs to move faster. Growls, crunching leaves, your heavy breathing, and fast-beating heart all melted into one. The kids were screaming from the bus. They sounded like they were a million miles away.

“Steve, hurry! Run faster!”

You felt Steve’s grip tighten around your wrist. There was going to be a deep bruise left behind. Your feet trampled the ground as Steve pulled you behind him. You could see the bus and the kids waving you on. Fear was painted on each of their childish faces. When you looked behind you, a pack of monsters was chasing you. They were so close. You could smell their musk as the wind whipped around you. The beastly sounds coming from them sounded closer with each step you took. From up close, you could see their bony bodies with clarity. They looked deformed as they ran after you and Steve.

Your heart was beating as fast as you were running. You could feel the breath of the monsters on your back. The bus seemed miles away, and you could feel your legs growing heavy.

“Steve,” you shouted out of breath, “I’m not going to make it!”

Steve held onto your writs even tighter than before and pulled you along.

“Yes, you are, Y/N. Just run, I’ve got you.”

You could see the bus and the kids clearly. There was a little red-haired girl who looked almost as scared as you felt. The two boys next to her stared desperately at Steve. The stairs were black and were covered in dirt. They did a great job boarding up the old piece of metal. The voices of the kids rang out as Steve let go of your wrist and jumped into the bus. He reached out for you. Your hand was so close to his. Your fingertips glided over his, and you could feel the nervous sweat that coated them. But he wasn’t fast enough.

A loud screech sounded just before one of the monster’s mouths attached to your side. You let out a scream as your body slammed against the ground. Sharp teeth tore into your clothes and flesh ripping everything to shreds. You watched as the fleshy beast opened your body and feasted. Your blood painted its face and pooled around you. It was warm against the cold grass. You could hear Steve yelling, but it was muffled. He sounded lightyears away, and it felt like you were having an out of body experience. You tried to scream out for Steve, but your blood was choking you. Your body grew colder with each bite from the monster. You were sure it was never going to end when the beast screeched and ran off. He left your body lying on the ground, mangled and broken.

You didn’t know what made it stop, but, suddenly, the monster was gone. The pain was still present as you felt your blood pouring out of your torso. You let out a wet cough and felt some blood dribble down your chin. Tears and sweat leaked down your cheeks. Your vision was going fuzzy, but you could still make out Steve’s figure. He dropped to his knees beside you and looked on in horror. You could tell that he was terrified, but he kept his brave face on for the kids.

His hands moved frantically over your body, trying to stop the blood that was gushing out of your body. Tears flowed from his eyes, and sobs shook his entire body.

“Dustin, g-go get a t-towel or something. We have to s-stop the bleeding.”

Dustin’s voice rang out and echoed in your head.

“Steve, buddy, I don’t think that’s going to help.”

“Just g-go, man! We h-have to save her!”

Through clouded vision, you could see the kid named Dustin scramble off toward the bus. Steve took your hand in his and brought it to his mouth. You could feel his dry lips on the top of your hand. His tears dripped onto your clammy skin mixing with your blood and sweat. You could feel him shaking next to you and could hear his trembling breaths. He gave your hand another kiss and brushed your wet hair from your face.

“Don’t w-worry, baby. Everything is just f-fine. Dustin is getting s-something to stop your b-bleeding.” He let out a hiccup and a whimper. “Y-you’re going to be okay, honey. I promise.”

You coughed more blood up before forcing yourself to speak.

“I’m not going to make it, Steve.”

Steve let out a soft cry that made your heart clench in your chest. You so badly wanted to wrap your arms around him and hold him close. You desperately needed to feel his embrace one last time, but you knew it would never happen. He squeezed your hand tightly.

“Don’t s-say that, Y/N. You’re okay, we’re g-going to g-get you to a h-hospital. Just hold on, b-baby. Please, just hold on.”

You could feel yourself growing weak. Your breathing was becoming labored, and your eyes were trying to shut. You grasped onto Steve’s hand as hard as you could muster.

“It’s okay, Steve.”

You tried your best to focus on Steve’s distressed face. His eyes were red, and his face was puffy. His bottom lip was quivering as you began to speak again.

“I have to let go, baby.”

Steve cried out in anguish as he placed his forehead on yours. A stream of whimpers escaped his trembling body. You nuzzled him one last time, feeling his soft hair on your face. You drank in the scent of his cologne and closed your eyes.

“I love you so much, Steve.”

Steve’s body shook from his crying.

“I love you s-so much m-more.”

You smiled feebly and said, “I love you so much most,” before everything went black.

[miramodhvadia]

Neon

Neon colors percolated in 2018 in accessories and streetwear, and they are set to explode in 2019 as luxury players like Prabal Gurung, Brandon Maxwell and Off-White give the intense hues red carpet approval. The colors—mostly neon yellow and green—play up the nostalgic feeling of other ’90s items like mini backpacks, cropped jean jackets and bike shorts, while adding an instant cool factor to contemporary sportswear. The throwback color scheme also lends itself well to the growing category of Instagram-worthy travel wear. Expect to see fast fashion retailers go wild for neon this spring/summer.

Tie-dye

DIY’ers are in luck. Tie-dye, that youth-driven trend that remerges every 20 years or so, is spiraling back into fashion in 2019 but with a designer touch. A symbol of slacker style, disenchanted youth and activism, the trend sums up the independent spirit of Gen Z and millennial consumers. And with designers like Louis Vuitton and MSGM offering the psychedelic print, we expect tie-dye to further fuel the market’s obsession for highbrow versions of street, surf, skate (and every other recreational activity in between) style.

Mini backpacks

The mini backpack—the accessory made famous by Cher Horowitz and her squad in the ’90s teen film Clueless—proves good things come in small packages. Consider the mini backpack as the offspring of two major accessories trends from 2018: the backpack and the fanny pack. Both bags filled the gap in demand for more traditional fashion styles like totes and satchels. Plus, functional as it is fashionable, mini backpacks offer brands a petite canvas to play with other ’90s trends like neon colors, logos and leopard print.

Lingerie as daywear

Silky camisole tops, spaghetti strap slips and baby doll dresses were de rigueur of teen girl idols of the ’90s. The “Lolita” look was worn by everyone from Drew Barrymore and Courtney Love, to most of the Spice Girls. However, the lingerie-inspired trend is updated for 2019 through a more mature lens. The silhouettes remain the same, but designers are ditching cutesy frills and ditzy prints in favor of sophisticated transparent layering and silk for daytime.

Track suits

With athleisure being a bona fide fashion category, it’s not surprising that ’90s-style track suits are the next sport-inspired trend to infiltrate street style. The suits—be it the classic three stripes, color blocked windbreakers or logo emblazoned sets—were the de facto comfort uniform in the ’90s for teens, boybands, suburban moms and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. And the design hasn’t changed much over the years. Comfort remains a top priority, as well as oversized silhouettes, unisex design and statement color. Expect to see designers elevate the leisure look for night with satins and silks.

Goth

The styling of ’90s goth rocker Marilyn Manson is tame compared to today’s standards of shock fashion, but back then the verdict was still out on black latex, ripped hosiery and cross-dressing. In 2019, however, goth fashion returns in the form of dominatrix-like black leather jackets, black lace and combat boots with platform soles. The trend is already trickling into denim through superfluous hardware and chains. And expect to see vintage concert and band tees featuring the likes of Manson, Korn and Nine Inch Nails gain popularity (and value) in 2019.

Platform shoes

The platform shoe belongs to several decades and subcultures. However, the iteration from the ’90s, a black chunky sole black boot, oxford or Mary Jane (often with a curved heel) is the one to keep an eye on in 2019. The shoe is part of the goth uniform and a coquettish accoutrement for the lingerie as outerwear trend. And after several seasons of sensible block heels and comfortable flats, Junior’s and women’s fashion shoes are eager for a lift.

Leopard print

Leopard print still has bite. The animal print left its mark on ’90s fashion through trends like goth, furry coats and even zoot suits, which regrettably swung into style toward the end of the decade. And despite being a top-selling trend in 2018, leopard print secures its place in 2019 as both a neutral and fashion statement redone in untraditional colors like neon yellow and red.

Polo shirts

The polo shirt is an antidote to this year’s flurry of brash trends. In 2019, the polo can swing one of two ways: as a fitted basic with a tongue-in-cheek nod to classic, preppy Ralph Lauren, or as an oversized, logo-adorned shirt that harkens back to urban fashion in the ’90s. And there’s a polo for everyone, from the classic pique, to trendier updates like a knit mesh and chiffon.

Flare jeans

Flare jeans, which were basically reincarnated bell bottoms from the ’70s, were a staple with young Hollywood in the ’90s. And it’s the same group that is bringing the trend back to life in 2019, but with fewer bells and whistles. Look for clean washes, minimal distressing and a higher rise to give the jeans a modern look.

Black and white

If you were a pre-teen or teenage girl in the ’90s, you’ll likely remember the black and white dress that both Brenda Walsh and gasp Kelly Taylor wore to the spring dance on 90210. The “who wore it better” moment is ingrained in ’90s fashion history and exemplifies one of the more refined ways ’90s kids wore black and white together. From Vans’ checkerboard prints to the wide leg striped pants sold by ’90s-era retailers like Delia’s and Contempo Casuals, the color combo served several unforgettable sartorial moments that are being recreated in 2019 by fast fashion retailers like Zara and Asos.

Versace style

The decadent world of Versace is a playground for fearless fashionistas in 2019. In recent seasons, the Italian fashion house has revisited archival pieces from its iconic ’90s collections, inspiring ladies and gents to embrace their inner Donatella or Gianni. It’s a simple formula to follow: vivid colors, opulent prints, gold and sex appeal. Expect to find this trend in women’s dress, men’s shirting and swimwear, where the flavor of South Beach is always in style.

Bike shorts

The bike short has come a long way. The second-skin short was an outrageous style in the ’90s, yet it has somehow found itself on the cusp of being acceptable fashion in 2019. Social media is likely to thank, or blame, for its comeback. With celebrities like Gigi and Bella Hadid adopting the trend in its early stages, consumers have become acclimated with swiping and liking the sporty garb. And with styles as colorful and shiny as ever, the bike short is may be the single ’90s trend that has come back less refined as its predecessor.

Embellished denim

Depending on which end of the decade you want to examine, embellished denim in the ’90s skewed either chintzy with homemade embroideries and fabric paint, or glitzy with rhinestones and crystals glued to seams, pockets, shoulders and collars. In 2019, denim brands borrow a little from both worlds, offering jeans with subtle splashes of sparkle and details that feel handmade and personal. The goal, however, remains the same: to stand out in a sea of blue.

Flannel

Marc Jacobs sealed grunge’s fate when he announced in November that he would reissue his iconic Spring ’93 collection for Perry Ellis. Grunge was back, bringing along with it a new spotlight on baby doll dresses, beanies, combat boots and the hallmark of all grunge looks—flannel. Expect to see oversized plaid flannel shirts serve as a protective layer during festival season and carry into the fall season for both men and women.

Bodycon

When Herve Leger designed the bandage dress in 1989, he created the template for form-fitting dresses that designers to this day still follow. Fortunately for Leger, the birth of the dress coincided with the rise of the supermodel, who would become natural muses for the figure-hugging silhouette during the decade. In 2019, the Kardashians and retailers like Fashion Nova are putting bodycon dresses back on the radar, updating the shapely silhouette with liquid-like fabrics, shimmering metallics and intense colors.

https://sourcingjournal.com/denim/19-fashion-trends-90s-cool-again-133798/

[your-modern-shakespeare]

Jessie’s Wardrobe Guide

As you will see from the latest chapter of A Little Too Real, there is quite a bit about the Wardrobe world that you have no idea about. In anticipation of this confusion I have compiled a guide of everything that I know about the world of Wardrobe. 

As someone who professionally dresses for a living I absolutely love what I do and I love telling people about what I do. I also love spreading my appreciation and creating an awareness for theatre and the fine arts. I am going on eight years of theatre work, 3 on the professional level, and I hope that you guys can love theatre just as much as I do, or at least come to understand and appreciate theatre. 

So let’s get the ball rolling:

*

Dresser- a dresser is a member of the Wardrobe crew. The crew is led by the Wardrobe Supervisor and usually a Wardrobe Assistant. It is the job of the Dresser to successfully perform fast costume changes, distribute and collect laundry at the beginning and end of every show, press or steam every costume piece prior to half hour (30 minutes to start of show), and do any presets of costumes or props.

Equity- Actor’s Equity is the name of the actor’s union. This union insures that actors are protected, insured, and paid fairly. This union, along with actors also represents Stage Managers and Directors. When a tour is an Equity tour it simply means that there are Equity members that are part of the cast, which means that there are more specific rules that have to apply to performance space, to travel amenities, 

IATSE- a union for stagehands. I am part of the 803 and 205 which means that I can work in Austin and Dallas. IATSE just makes sure that I get paid on time, am paid the correct amount for the work I do, gives me benefits, and protects me in case of injury. To work for the union you are put on the list and called according to the list and you move up on the list by accepting jobs. So in Austin I am pretty much at the the top because I get called for everything, but am at the bottom in Dallas because I get called for NOTHING. It sucks but apparently is how it works. 

10 of 12- This is in regards to the length of time that actors and crew would typically work during a tech week (the only time this could happen if an actor was part of Equity would be during Tech week). This means that there would be 10 hours of work with either two one hour breaks or one two hour break. 

Tech/Tech week- this is usually the week before opening night. This week is completely dedicated to technical aspects of a show. There will usually be a cue-to-cue of lights and sound and actors will be in costume. These days are usually the slowest because the director will usually pause to address each light and sound cue so that the transition from one cue to the next is perfect or whether or not he/she wants to add or subtract anything. Actors will be in costume only to aid the lighting designer and will change costume but it won’t be accurate to timing of actual quick changes. 

Call time- the time that an actor of crew member is called to work. For instance it is almost always that crew is called an hour to half hour, actors are called at half hour; show starts at 8:00pm which means crew is called at 6:30pm and actors at 7:30pm. 

Tracking (Actor/Dressing)- Tracking is technically two separate things. Tracking submitted to the Wardrobe Supervisor by Stage Management is comprised of where an actors exits and enters in every scene, whether they bring props with them, when they enter or exit (usually to the second), and sometimes whether or not they have a quick change and how long they have to change. It is then the Wardrobe Supervisor’s job to take that tracking and make it into something that a dresser can use. This tracking usually is a list of duties for a dresser to perform on the spot. Local dressers don’t usually get a lot of time to go over there tracking so it has to read very clearly so that they could perform the show with little or no knowledge prior. (Pictures: 1) First page of Waitress tracking, 2) first page of School of Rock tracking)

Piecelists- Piecelists are a pre-show aid for the Wardrobe Supervisor. A piece list simply is a long list of costume pieces written down by character. It helps with inventory and laundry, especially when traveling and making sure that everything is there for each show.  

Skins- any undergarments that touch an actors skin: underwear, bras, mic packs (belts that hold the microphone packs), socks, Spanx, etc. Any of these items are collected after every show and washed per Equity rules.   

Shopper - When a show is in pre-production (before shows) a shopper is the one who is sent out by the Costume Designer to purchase everything he/she needs for the show. The shopper purchases skins, fabric, shoes, costume pieces, and anything else requested. They also return anything that isn’t used and will even set up a back stock for the show to travel with the Wardrobe Supervisor. 

Gondola/Gondola Village - A Gondola is a big black box that travels with costume pieces and props in it. Sometimes a stagehands will use a gondola for personal set up and stage management likes to set up one with just coffee and tea and food for the actors. But for the run of the show the gondolas with costumes in them are usually set up as a wall, a line of four or five gondolas, set in front of a line of chairs, one for every actor, which is then closed in my curtains, creating a makeshift dressing room on stage. This is called a gondola village. (Pictures: 1) Gondola for A Bronx Tale, shows line of gondolas in gondola village, 2) Stage Managers Gondola, included mini fridge printer and personal storage)

Swings-  Where an understudy is usually an ensemble member who steps into a principal or lead role, swings are cast members who have learned multiple roles and perform when an ensemble member swings out of a performance or steps into a principal role. They perform only when needed but still tours with the cast to swing in whenever necessary or whenever scheduled. 

Run through - a run through is a complete run of the show without stopping. This will usually be during a crew watch, so the the crew can watch the show in it’s entirety and will happen the last couple of nights of Tech weeks. A run through doesn’t always have lights, sound, and costumes but will the last night or so before opening.  

Quick Change- a quick change is a costume change out of one thing and into another in a very short amount of time. It’s a quick change if an actor doesn’t have time to return to their dressing room or to the gondola village. It is usually set up in a laundry basket in the wings Stage right or left, sometime on stage as well, depending on the scene. 

Shop-  a shop is where something is built. For instance the costumes are built in a costume shop, which is run and monitored by the Shop Manager. Another example, the sets are built in a scene shop and is monitored by the shop foreman. 

LaDucas- this is a brand of dance shoe. LaDuca is a huge company that creates custom shoes for most big name broadway shows, most professional actors own a pair that they use for auditions and rehearsals and because of that, this shoe brand has been streamlined as the ultimate dance shoe (Picture: Dance shoes provided by LaDuca for Anastasia)

Tech table- a tech table sits in the middle of the house on the orchestra level. Usually the stage manager, board operators for sound and lights, and the director sit at this table. During the run of tech week and even rehearsals this gives a way for the director to give feedback to the board operators and stage manager without having to yell or talk through a walkie talkie. (Picture: Tech tables for Tech Week of Ragtime at Texas State University)

Cues/Cue-to-Cue/Cueing- a cue is a signal for a shift in lights, sound, or scene. A cue to cue is a run through of all the lights and sound, sometimes in time and sometimes not; usually to help with transitions. For instance, a cue is labelled Light Cue 4 and is the fourth light cue, where there could only be one sound cue so Sound Cue 1. When a DSM is cueing a show they will be on headset speaking to the light and sound board operators. When calling cues the DSM would say, “light cue 4, sound cue 1...GO.” Sometimes they happen simultaneously and other times not. There are usually hundreds of cues for each show and its the DSM’s job to call out every one on time and in the right place. 

Pit pads- pit pads are pads the are snapped into a costume to collect sweat. In Something Rotten, they use pit pads in the period dresses because those dresses can only be dry cleaned and according to Equity rules, they don't have to be cleaned but every two weeks. The pit pads are changed out every show so that the actors have a clean pad and so the dresses last the two weeks. Pit pads are usually put in handmade pieces to help keep the life of the costume longer than other costume pieces that could be bought and shipped to the Wardrobe Supervisor.  

Doubles- a costume term for having multiples of something. For example, for every show there are usually always doubles of skins so that there are clean undergarments for every performance, especially for the days that there are two performances in one day. That way one set will always be clean and so the other can be cleaned during the show. 

Tap Mics- There are two types. 1. 2 lavalier microphones that runs down the legs of the actors and usually attached to the heel of tap shoes. This is the only version that I have seen. In Something Rotten the microphone pack was placed in the waistband of the women’s pants (they doubled as men) and then one lavalier is run down the left and another down the right, which was then attached to the back of the shoe cover with velcro. 2. An attachment placed right underneath the heel of a tap shoe to help pick up the sounds of tap shoes. I know this exists but I’ve never seen it in person. To me it seems pretty impractical for a tap show like Something Rotten because they didn’t need to have their shoes mic but for one number.  

Crew watch- a performance dedicated to the crew, design staff, and any other members of production to see the show before Tech week begins without any interruption

Production meeting- a meeting that usually takes place after every tech performance or run through, this allows feedback to be given by the director. At this point the feedback is more about the run of the show over the design. In the creative stages of a show they have production meetings weekly to check in with other departments and get feedback on the design specifically, nothing is brought up about the run until they are doing full run throughs with elements such as sound, lighting, set and costumes. 

House- where the audience sits during the show 

Wings-  the wings are the free space between the legs (the black curtains that hang on the side of the stage) that mask the backstage area from the audience. 

Stage Managers- ASM (Assistant Stage Manager), DSM (Deputy Stage Manager), and CSM (Company Stage Manager). The DSM is strictly in charge of the show, they call cues and make sure that every light and sound cue is called. They also give feedback to actors and crew who mess up lines, costume changes, entrances,  exits, prop exchanges, set changes, etc. The ASM run the backstage for the DSM. They are in charge of making sure that everything runs smoothing according to what the DSM has called or set up. There are usually multiple ASM, one in charge of props and one in charge of set changes, but there could be more depending on the show. 

Local- the local is the union work that comes in for each new location visited by the touring company. For instance, I am part of the Dallas and Austin Locals, which means that when a tour comes through either one of these locations I am Brough on to work the show for the week or so that it’s in town. The crew works that one week and doesn’t tour with the show. The touring company will get a new crew for every venue they visit. 

Dead- if something is dead it means that it’s not being used anymore. For instance if a shirt is dead after the opening number that means it’s done for the rest of the show. 

Prop box- a gondola that holds just props. (Picture: Show - Book of Mormon, also known as the Satan Gondola) 

Deck- The deck is the stage. On a touring production the deck is a separate stage that travels with the production usually in pieces and assembled the very first day of Load-in (the day where they set up the stage). It’s painted to match the set pieces and is completely unique to the show. 

Preset/Preset basket- at hour before half hour, when the crew arrives, it is the dressers job to begin presets for the show. This includes steaming and pressing everything in the show and then taking laundry baskets and placing presets in them. The presets are usually listed in the tracking made by the Wardrobe Supervisor and are set aside until listed to grab and to bring to the appropriate quick change area. 

****

Let Me Know if You have Questions or Want to Talk 

[lousylark]

the winter peacock

(Part 2/10ish. Read part 1 here. Part 3 here. Adrienette and Marichat heavy with some DJwifi thrown in, too.)

Marinette is miserable.

She’s a firm believer in the idea that a person is only as sick as they believe themselves to be, and she believes that she is ill.

Alya puts a cold wash cloth against her head. She’s been taking care of Marinette since school got out two hours ago.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea for you to watch Manon tonight?” she asks, obvious disapproval in her tone.

“Totally,” Marinette says, squishing the cloth against her forehead to revel in its coolness. She lets out a blissful sigh. “See? I already feel better. And I can take more tylenol in an hour. I’ll be fine.” She sits up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed but keeping the cloth pressed against her face. “Besides, Adrien is coming! To my house!”

But even as she says it, her face falls. Normally, the prospect of Adrien coming over to hang out would be earth-shatteringly wonderful, but her sickness is putting a cloud over the sun and making her mostly indifferent to the idea — a true miracle, Tikki would say. For once, she finally has her priorities in order.

“Speaking of which,” she says, looking around her room. She looks at Alya with her best puppy eyes. “Will you help me take down these posters before he comes over?”

Alya grins. “Nah, you should leave ‘em up. Middle school boys are really into stalker girlfriends.”

Marinette pouts. “Harsh.”

But Alya stands and starts helping her take down the various posters nonetheless, even rubbing some of the tack off the wall where it sticks.

As Marinette places one of her favorite shots of Adrien in a black sweatshirt in a pile on her desk, she muses, “You know, maybe I won’t put them back up after this. It is a little creepy. Or I’ll just put up one or two instead of…” she trails off, quickly counting the posters, “…twenty-five.”

Alya whirls on her. “Okay, you’re way sicker than you’re letting on if you’re really talking about taking down your Adrien collection. I think we should call Mrs. Chamack and —“

Before she can continue, there’s a knock at the bakery door downstairs, shortly followed by Manon’s distinct voice crying for Marinette.

Marinette smiles. “Come on, Alya. Can’t keep Manon waiting.”

Adrien loves the Dupain-Cheng residence. The smells, the colors, the warmth — all of it combined makes him feel calm. He can’t help but envy Marinette for her being able to come home to this every day after school.

“Thank you for having me, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng,” he says, taking off his shoes and leaving them by the welcome mat.

“Of course, Adrien!” she says, smiling. “We’re always happy to have Marinette’s friends over, and it’s so nice of you all to help her babysit.”

Mr. Dupain-Cheng swings enters the foyer from the bakery door, holding a plate of fresh chocolate chip cookies. “To tell the truth, Adrien, our girl’s a bit sicker than she’s letting on. You look after her, alright?” He hands him the plate of cookies. “And take this up with you. Manon loves ‘em.”

Adrien nods. “Will do, Mr. Dupain-Cheng.”

He smiles. “Just call me Tom, Adrien. We’re not big on formalities around here.”

“And call me Sabine,” his wife adds.

Adrien smiles. “Will do, Mr. Tom and Miss Sabine.”

Tom laughs heartily. “We’ll get there. Alright, head on up. They’re all in Marinette’s room. Sabine and I will be down here if you kids need anything.”

“Thanks!” he says, and just before he puts his foot on the first step, he gestures with the plate of cookies and tries for a pun: “That’s really sweet of you.”

Tom and Sabine both look at him strangely for a moment, and then they dissolve into a fit of laughter.

Adrien can barely contain his smile as he treks up the stairs. Just before he opens the hatch to Marinette’s room, he hears Tom say from the foyer, “He’s a good kid. Funny, too.”

His heart blooms like a flower as he raps once on the little trap door.

Barely a second passes by before the door swings open to reveal Alya’s face.

“Shh.” She holds up one finger to her lips. “Marinette’s asleep.”

She moves aside so Adrien can climb up into the bedroom.

“That didn’t take long,” he says, careful to keep his voice down.

Alya shook her head. “Right. One minute we’re telling Manon about the winter formal on Friday, and then she’s snoring mid-sentence.”

He looks over to Marinette’s bed. Sure enough, she’s fast asleep: she’s sitting upright but her head is propped up on a cat-shaped pillow, and her chest rises to a slow, steady rhythm.

“We’re playing the quiet game,” Alya says, taking the plate of cookies from him.

“I’m winning!” Manon pipes up from the other side of the room.

Alya winks at her. “Not anymore.”

Manon clamps her mouth shut, and motions with her hand like she’s zipping her lips and eating the key. Adrien smiles.

“Nino and I are gonna go make some popcorn, and then we’re gonna start the movie,” Alya says. She looks over at Manon. “You wanna come help us? We can take a break from the quiet game if we’re in the kitchen.”

Manon grins. “Yes. But I want a cookie!”

She bounds over to Alya, who lowers the plate so Manon can reach. “Just one for now. You can have more when the movie starts.”

“Not unless I eat ‘em all first,” Nino jokes, moving from his spot on Marinette’s desktop chair to join them.

Manon makes a face at him, and Alya shakes with quiet laughter.

“We’ll go get the popcorn and some drinks,” she whispers to Adrien. “Can you look after Marinette? She should stay asleep, but, you know, just in case she wakes up.”

He nods. “Leave it to me.”

Without another word — not even from Manon, which is impressive — they’re climbing down the stairs. Their tiptoeing is strangely reminiscent of a movement from The Nutcracker ballet. He smiles at the thought.

After quietly closing the hatch behind them, he straightens back up and looks around Marinette’s room. He hasn’t been here for some time — not since he and Marinette competed together in the Paris video game tournament — but it doesn’t look much different.

If anything, it’s even more colorful than the last time he saw it. His gaze sweeps over all the knick-knacks and designs that she’s made — he lingers on the album cover she designed for Jagged Stone, which sits on a little shelf of honor next to her computer. But there are lots of other impressive things to look at, too. Some of them he recognizes, like the banner from Alix and Kim’s race almost a year ago, and others he doesn’t, like a little handmade Chat Noir plush on her nightstand. He smirks — he hadn’t realized Marinette was one of his closet fans.

Then, he notices a sketchbook next to her sewing machine. The book sits on top of a bolt of shimmering blue fabric.

His curiosity gets the better of him, and he tiptoes over to the book. He’s surprised to find the pages covered in dress designs — beautiful dress designs, at that. Each one is a little different from the others, and then —

— and then he turns the page to find a final, fully fleshed-out color pencil rendering of a dress. It’s midnight blue and beautiful. It takes his breath away.

That’s when it hits him: this must be her dress for the Winter Formal. He smiles, feeling a strange warmth rise to his cheeks. Of course Marinette Dupain-Cheng would design her own dress for a school dance. How very like her, and how very…amazing.

“Adrien?”

He jumps.

Marinette blinks sleepily at him. He doesn’t know quite what to say.

After a slightly awkward silence, she asks, “Am I dreaming?”

He can’t help but smile at that. “No, you just fell asleep.”

Her eyes widen to the size of teacup saucers. She tries to jump out of bed, but the minute her feet touch the floor, she wavers. He reaches out a hand to steady her as she rubs her head.

“Where’s Manon?” she asks, and he feels so sad when he hears the groggy sickness in her voice.

“She’s with Alya and Nino downstairs,” he says quickly so as not to worry her. “Don’t worry, I don’t think you were asleep for very long. They’re making popcorn. They wanted me to stay up here in case you woke up.”

“Oh.”

He realizes that his hand is still on the small of her back. He slowly takes it away so she doesn’t fall.

She looks up at him with wide, glossy eyes. “I’m not dreaming?”

He chuckles. “No, Marinette. At least, I don’t think so, because then I’d have to be dreaming too.”

“You are a dream,” she muses, and he wonders if maybe he should get her parents. “I mean, I think you’re a — no, that’s not right. Now I wish this were a dream.” She smacks a hand against her forehead and groans. “I think I should sit down.”

“Great idea,” he says, smiling at her obvious lack of lucidity, and holds her hand until she sits back down on the bed.

She reaches for the tissue box on her nightstand, and Adrien can’t help but cave in to his curiosity. “Marinette?”

“Mhmm?”

He looks at the sketchbook near her sewing machine. “Did you design this?”

“The dress?” She blows her nose, then says, “Yeah. It didn’t turn out the way I wanted to, though.”

He looks at her disbelievingly. “You’re kidding, right? It’s beautiful.” Running a finger along the edge of the page, he continues, “This belongs in one of my father’s magazines.”

She blinks at him. Her cheeks flush pink — probably because of the sickness. “That’s…thank you, Adrien.”

She gets up from the bed, wobbling less than the first time and bringing a blanket with her, wrapping it around her shoulders like a cape. Adrien watches her carefully. This is the first time in a while that they’ve talked without her stumbling over her words, and he can’t help but wish it were always like this. He wishes she didn’t treat him differently — but even more than that, he wishes he knew why she did.

“I couldn’t decide whether I wanted the dress in midnight blue or lilac,” she explains, flipping back a page and pointing at some of her original sketches for reference.

“I like the midnight blue,” he says. “It goes better with your eyes and your skin tone.”

She nods. “That’s what I decided, too. But the final draft still feels like it’s missing something. Like, a theme, or a purpose.”

Adrien shakes his head. “I think it’s perfect. You’re gonna wear it to the Winter Formal, right?”

“That was the plan.” She sighs, pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders. “But to be honest, I don’t even know if I’m going to the Winter Formal anymore.”

“Not going?” he asks. “Why wouldn’t you?”

She sits on the edge of her bed. “I don’t know. I mean, I don’t feel well enough to sew, so I won’t be able to finish the dress in time. And I don’t even like the dress I designed, and I don’t have a date, and I have lots of homework I could catch up on this weekend —“

“Hold on, Marinette,” he interjects. He sits next to her on the bed, but she swiftly avoids eye contact. “The dress you designed is amazing. And I’ll bet that if you took a sick day tomorrow you could stay home and finish it.”

She smiles sadly, and says almost to herself, “I don’t get the luxury of sick days.”

He isn’t entirely sure what she means by that, but the statement resonates with him like a gong ringing inside his ribcage. He shakes his head, ridding his mind of the ironies that try to bubble up in his subconscious.

“Regardless, you shouldn’t not go to Winter Formal just because you don’t have a date,” he adds.

Her expression turns suddenly dour. She folds her arms over her chest, and the blanket falls from her shoulders into a heap at the base of her back. “W-Well, that’s easy for you to say.” Her voice softens. “After all, you can have your pick of any of the girls at school to take on Friday night, Mr. Model Agreste.”

He picks the blanket up and replaces it on her shoulders, looking at her with what he hopes is sincerity. “I can’t even go on Friday. I have a photo shoot.” He doesn’t know why he feels like there are six billion butterflies flapping around in his stomach. Probably because he’s hungry. “And even if I could go, even if I had my pick of anyone in the school to go with — which I don’t,” he says, tucking an errant lock of hair behind her ear, “there’s only one girl I’d ask.”

She finally makes eye contact with him. Her eyes are wide with some feeling he doesn’t recognize, and —

— and he’s never noticed before, but those sky-blue irises are uncannily familiar.

At that moment, the door to Marinette’s room opens. Both of them jump; Marinette levitates so far off the bed that the blanket falls from her shoulders again.

Sabine pops her head up into the room.

“Oh good, you’re awake,” she says, looking toward her daughter. “Adrien, could you give us a second? I need to take Marinette’s temperature.”

“Mom, I told you I don’t have a fever,” Marinette says, and the hint of a whine in her voice makes Adrien chuckle.

Sabine narrows her eyes. “Yes, and Manon doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies. Come on sweetheart, let me be a mother.”

Marinette sighs, but wordlessly stands up and starts trudging toward the stairs nonetheless. Sabine guides her through the trap door with a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Watching them go, Adrien feels just a hint of sadness pull at his heart strings. Sabine reminds him of —

“What was that?”

Adrien sighs. Plagg whizzes out of his inside jacket pocket, smirking suggestively.

“What was what?”

“Please,” he says, crossing his little arms over his chest. “That whole mush fest with Marinette!”

Adrien’s cheeks feel warm all of a sudden. “Come on, Plagg, that was nothing. She’s sick, and I’m just trying to be a good friend.”

“Always the ‘good friend’ stuff with her,” Plagg says, whizzing over toward her sewing machine. “Ooh, that is pretty, and I don’t even like foofty stuff like that.” He whizzes back over to Adrien. “So what about ‘there’s only one girl I’d ask?’ ‘Cause you were definitely talking about her, right? What happened to your massive crush on Ladybug?”

Adrien looks at the floor. “C’mon, Plagg, it’s not like I can ask Ladybug to a school dance.”

Plagg flies right up to his face. “Hmm. Something tells me you’d rather ask pig-tail girl, anyway!”

He smirks. “Well, after all, it’d be hard to find a boutonniere that matches Ladybug’s costume.”

“So you were gonna ask her!”

“No. Yes? Maybe,” he sighs, flopping onto Marinette’s bed. “Drop it, Plagg. It’s not like I can go to the dance, anyway.”  

Plagg bounces on the bed next to Adrien. “I don’t know, kid. I think if you showed your dad that design of Marinette’s, even he would have a hard time saying no to you taking her.”

Adrien blinks.

He sits up straight on the bed, then snaps his gaze over to Marinette’s sketchbook.

“You know, Plagg,” he muses, taking out his phone and opening the camera app. “That might not be such a bad idea.”

[gethealthy18-blog]

30 Best Gifts For A Teenage Girl

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/getting-healthy/getting-healthy-women/30-best-gifts-for-a-teenage-girl/

30 Best Gifts For A Teenage Girl

Gift shopping for teenage girls can be tricky. But luckily, we have done the hard work for you. In this article, we have listed the absolute best gifts for teenage girls.  From cosmetic bags, makeup sets, and jewelry boxes to survival kits, shoes, and desk lamps, there are plenty of options for you to choose from. No matter what her style or interests are, we have the perfect list of gift ideas for the teen girl in your life – whether it’s your daughter, niece, friend, or sister. Take a look!

30 Best Gifts For A Teenage Girl

1. LifeAround2Angels Bath Bombs Gift Set

A bath bomb is one of the best gifts for any girl. A bath bomb is a dry mixture that adds essential oils, bubbles, color, and aroma to bathwater. This set consists of 12 bath bombs. The 12 scents include  Angel, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Fun in the Shower, Fun on the Beach, Kiwi & Strawberry, Lavender,  Lemongrass Green Tea, Love, Mango Papaya, Melon Ball, Shea & Coconut, and Victorian Rose. These are therapeutic and moisturizing bath bombs that contain natural and non-toxic ingredients.

Key Features

12 uniquely handcrafted bath bombs

Made of natural ingredients

Cruelty-free

Aromatherapy and healing properties

Moisturize the skin

Buy Now From Amazon

2. Lavley – If You Can Read This Bring Me Novelty Socks

Whether it is winters or summers, socks can be worn all-year-round. This cute pair of socks with a laughing quote will make any teenage girl squeal with delight. These socks are made of a premium cotton blend that does not fray or fade. They gently hug the legs and feet and do not slouch, bind, or bunch. The letters will stay intact even after multiple washes.

Key Features

Smart and cute color combinations

Funny quotes

Comfortable fabric with a grip

Does not fray or fade

Buy Now From Amazon

3. John Frieda Hot Air Brush

This compact hot airbrush gives salon-like results in a jiffy. You can dry and style damp hair in a single step. It uses Advanced Ionic Technology that not only makes your hair shine but also controls frizz. The titanium ceramic barrel ensures even distribution of heat and offers luscious volume without damaging your hair. The ball-tipped nylon bristles detangle your hair gently while creating volume. It has two heat settings and a cool setting.

Key Features

Advanced technology offers twice the shine and thrice the frizz control

Even heating while causing less damage

Soft bristles help to gently untangle the hair

Buy Now From Amazon

4. YFN Initial Pendant Necklace

This personalized initial pendant is perfect for teenage girls. It is a wonderful way to show someone how much they mean to you. It is made of 18k white gold plated sterling silver. The pendant is encrusted with cubic zirconia stones and will always remind her of your love and support.

Key Features

Made of 925 sterling silver

Nickel-, lead-, and cadmium-free

Lightweight

Long-lasting

Buy Now From Amazon

5. BESTOPE Makeup Vanity Mirror

This makeup vanity mirror is artistically designed, occupies very little space, and is easy to carry. The LED light helps in applying makeup in dark or low light rooms. A vanity mirror with touch screen and light along with dual power supply system features is a must-have for your pretty little teen.

Key Features

Flexible with 180° rotation for comfortable viewing

3 magnifying panels aid clear visibility of even the tiniest details on the face

Has 21 LED lights that are managed with a touch sensor switch

Buy Now From Amazon

6. Ac Union Handmade Leather Bracelet

The Ac Union Handmade Bracelets is available in a variety of patterns and colors. Choose one that resonates with the personality of the girl you are gifting it to.

Key Features

Hand-made

Available in a variety of colors and patterns

Goes with any outfit

Buy Now From Amazon

7. XUANLAN Emergency Survival Kit

This survival kit is the perfect gift for the teenage girl who loves trekking and camping. It includes a compass, an emergency thermal blanket, a flashlight, a fire starter, an LED right with a keyring, a military knife, a Swiss card, a tactical pen, a whistle, and a multi-function bracelet. The kit is lightweight and compact and fits into a backpack easily.

Key Features

Waterproof

Compact and lightweight

Multi-function bracelet includes a parachute cord with an embedded compass, fire starter, emergency knife, and whistle.

The thermal blankets can retain 90% of body heat.

120 dB loud whistle that can be heard from far.

Buy Now From Amazon

8. Kendal Huge Leather Jewelry Box

Hunting for that perfect match in a pile of accessories can drive you nuts, especially if you are a teenager. Make sure your loved one finds what she’s looking for easily in the Kendal Huge Leather Jewelry Box. This multipurpose storage box is divided into several compartments and levels, with wings on both sides. It also has removable drawers that offer maximum storage.

Key Features

The top lid has a mirror inside.

5 Drawers with compartments in each.

The swing-out cabinets on both sides have hooks for necklace storage.

Sturdy and sleek design.

Buy Now From Amazon

9. Aesthetica Matte Lip Contour Kit

Teenage is when girls start experimenting with makeup. Surprise her with Aesthetica Matte Lip Contour Kit that includes six matter cream lip colors, four lip liners, and a lip brush for flawless application.  The kit comes with easy to follow instructions and tutorials that can help her master the art of lip contouring. The best part is that she can mix and match the lip liners and crèmes to create amazing looks.

Key Features

Vegan and cruelty-free

Paraben-free

Suitable for all skin types

Compact size

Comes with easy to follow instructions for beginners

Buy Now From Amazon

10. LINTEC Waterproof Microblading Eyebrow Tattoo Pencil

Help her get that perfect eyebrow with the LINTEC Waterproof Microblading Eyebrow Tattoo Pencil. The pencil has a micro fork tip applicator that helps create natural-looking and defined eyebrows within minutes. The four-tip design makes it easy to draw and fill. This long-lasting formula is waterproof and lasts throughout the day without smudging or fading. It is also easy to wipe off.

Key Features

Micro fork tip for a natural look

Waterproof

Smudge-proof

Sweat-proof

Long-lasting

Refillable

Buy Now From Amazon

11. Girls Bowknot Cute Leather Backpack

This chic and fashionable backpack is a cute gift for a teenage girl. It is made of high-quality PU leather and has a polyester lining. The bag has a zipper closure and adjustable straps. It has multiple pockets that can hold your wallet, mobile, keys, makeup, and other accessories.

Key Features

Made of high-quality PU leather

Lightweight

Has a front button pocket, two side pockets, a zipper back pocket, one phone pocket, and 1 interior zipper pocket

Buy Now From Amazon

12. WHITE Mermaid Tail Blanket

This is a super cute sleeping bag blanket is made of warm, breathable, and soft wool material. It can be used as a sofa blanket or for camping or sleepovers. The back and bottom of this crochet mermaid blanket are open so that you can snuggle in and come out easily.

Key Features

Hand crocheted

Easy in and out design

Made of warm and soft wool

Comes with a mermaid pendant

Buy Now From Amazon

13. Luv Betsey Harly Kitch Mini Barrel Crossbody Bag

This mini barrel crossbody bag is perfect for running errands or hanging out with friends. It has a kitsch unicorn face exterior, a fully lined interior, black and white striped sides, and black handles. The fully lined interior is spacious enough to accommodate your wallet, keys, mobile, and a couple of makeup items. The  crossbody strap is detachable and is 25” long.

Key Features

Removable crossbody strap

Gold-tone hardware

3D unicorn face design

Spacious interior

Buy Now From Amazon

14. Jessica Simpson Comfy Faux Fur Women’s House Slippers

These plush clog style slippers are lined with faux fur and will keep your feet warm and cozy all day. The thick memory foam cushion provides comfort and support, and the anti-slip textured bottom ensures that the slippers grip to the floor, preventing slipping or sliding. They are available in a range of colors like Black, Pink, Purple, Tan, Gray, etc.

Key Features

Warm and fluffy clog style slippers

Anti-slip sole

Thick memory foam cushion

Buy Now From Amazon

15. Slow Man Women’s Walking Shoes

These lightweight slip-on platform loafers are easy to put on and off. They are so comfortable that they feel just like socks. The wide round toe and mesh upper make these shoes extremely comfortable to wear.  The shoes have perforated arches that facilitate ventilation and breathability. The air cushion offers perfect support and protects the feet from injury. The outsole is made of high-quality rubber that offers the perfect grip and does not wear or tear. These shoes are ideal for daily use and can be worn for long walks, dancing, workout, shopping, etc.

Key Features

Breathable and flexible mesh fabric

Air cushion soles protect feet from impact and injury.

Perforated arch allows for ventilation.

Buy Now From Amazon

16. E Tronic Edge Waist Pack

The E Tronic Edge Waist Pack is designed to accommodate most smartphones. In addition to the main zipper pocket, it also has a quick access velcro pocket on one side, a slot for earphones in the front, and a holster for a small water bottle on the other side. The pack is made of soft neoprene that is flexible, water-resistant, and sweat-proof. This one-size-fits-all waist belt is perfect for running, walking, hiking, or traveling.

Key Features

Universal fit

Lightweight

Water-resistant and sweat-proof

Can hold any phone from 4.7” – 7” size

Buy Now From Amazon

17. Qianse Glass Slipper Bracelet For Women With Swarovski Crystals

Looking for something exquisite for your pretty princess? How about this fairytale-inspired bracelet? This glass slipper bracelet is made of white gold plated zinc alloy and is set with blue Swarovski crystals. The glass slipper signifies courage, beauty, and happiness, which makes it the perfect gift for a teenage girl. Gift this charming bracelet and make every day seem magical.

Key Features

Clear and shimmering blue Swarovski crystals

Lightweight

Comes in an elegant gift box packaging

Buy Now From Amazon

18. Wollony iPhone Xs Max Case

The Wollony iPhone Xs Max Case is a thoughtful gift for a teenager’s lifeline – her mobile. This liquid sparkle quicksand case has precise cutouts to provide access to all functions easily. It has raised bezels to protect the screen and camera from scratches and bumps. It is compatible with wireless charging and is made of eco-friendly material.

Key Features

Liquid sparkle quicksand case

3-layer hardcover

Heavy-duty protection

Shockproof hard bumper

Eco-friendly materials used

Buy Now From Amazon

19. Plambag Canvas Messenger Bag

The Plambag Canvas Messenger Bag is a must-have for your teen queen. It is a crossbody bag with adjustable shoulder straps. It has two main zipper compartments, one of which has a mesh pocket and a zipper pocket that can accommodate items of daily use, and the other can fit in any tablet, iPad, or Kindle. It also has two front zipper pockets and one back zipper pocket.

Key Features

Made of durable canvas material

Adjustable shoulder straps

Comes in three color variants – Coffee, Dark Gray, and Gray

Buy Now From Amazon

20. Gucci GG0004O Plastic Square Eyeglasses

These eyeglasses have a plastic frame and have square, composite, and non-polarized lenses. The pack includes a Gucci case and a cloth. These eyeglasses look sleek and contemporary and have been designed with a lot of attention to detail.

Key Features

Plastic frame

Composite, non-polarized lens

Square style

Buy Now From Amazon

21. Scruffy Dog Trading Co. Vintage Messenger Bag

This vintage style messenger bag is made of stonewashed canvas and has leather tabs and antique metal fittings. This multi-functional bag has a fully adjustable strap and ample pockets for storage. It also has a fully lined interior, three pockets on the interior, and four pockets on the exterior. It can fit in a laptop, notebooks, and other essentials.

Key Features

Vintage style

Multiple pockets

Adjustable strap

Buy Now From Amazon

22. PIXNOR Facial Cleansing Brush

This waterproof facial cleansing brush is the perfect gift for a teenage girl. It comes with seven brushing heads – an exfoliating head, a pumice pad, a makeup removal head, a rolling massage head, and three brushes (ultra-fine, soft, and coarse) – that make your skin visibly brighter and even-toned.  It can be used in the shower or bath without any worries. It has two-speed settings to suit different skin types. This brush can help tackle blemishes and clogged pores and remove blackheads and whiteheads. It offers a spa-quality facial in the comfort of your home.

Key Features

Waterproof

Seven different brush heads for different cleansing needs

2-speed settings for different skin types

Portable

Buy Now From Amazon

23. Mavo Craft Folding Lap Desk

Looking for a perfect multipurpose gift item for your loved one? This Folding Lap Desk is exactly what you need. It is a collapsible table that has a large writing surface that doubles as a lid for the storage compartment under the desktop. It can be turned into a bed table to enjoy meals, a gaming table, a study table, or a bookstand.

Key Features

Space-saving and portable

Storage under the desktop

Holds up to 7 pounds

Durable

Buy Now From Amazon

24. Butterfly Craze Girl’s Floor Lounger Seats Cover

This floor lounger cover is perfect for a sleepover, watching TV, or reading a book. It is an excellent alternative to bean bags. It fits up to five pillows and is made of soft, plush fabric. It is machine-washable on delicate cycle. It comes in four colors with white polka dots – green, hot pink, light pink, and purple.

Key Features

Fits 5 pillows

Machine-washable

Comes in four colors

Buy Now From Amazon

25. Exploding Kittens Card Game

This is the perfect family game that is a kitty-powered version of Russian roulette. This game can be played by 2-5 players. The players keep on drawing cards until one of them draws an exploding kitten. At this point, they explode and die and are out of the game. But if the player has a Defuse card, they can use it to defuse the exploding kitten using belly rubs, catnip sandwiches, and laser pointers. The other cards in the deck help to avoid, move, or mitigate the exploding kittens.

Key Features

Strategy card game

Game of the Year award winner

For 2-5 players at a time

Buy Now From Amazon

26. Y YUEGANG Scented Candles Gift Set

Teenage can be stressful. These scented candles can help keep stress at bay. They are made of 100% soy wax and use lead-free cotton wicks. This is a set of four candles – Spring, Lemon, Fig, and Lavender. These candles offer long-lasting aroma, refresh your senses, and de-stress you.

Key Features

Set of four eco-friendly and biodegradable candles.

Each candle provides 25-30 hours of burning time.

Natural fiber wick ensures even burning and no smoke.

Buy Now From Amazon

27. Ysense Women’s Long Plaid Wrap Shawl

A nice, warm, and smart shawl that matches all her outfits is an ideal gift for the young lady. This wrap shawl is made of the best-quality, ultra-soft cashmere-like acrylic.  It can be paired with jackets, tops, and more. You can wrap this around your shoulders as a shawl or use it as an oversized scarf.

Key Features

Size – 79” x 23”

Made of ultra-soft cashmere-like acrylic

Enhances any outfit

Buy Now From Amazon

28. MISSLO Hanging Jewelry Organizer

This dual-sided hanging jewelry organizer 32 clear vinyl pockets in the front and 18 loops closure on the back. Now, your teenage girl will not run out of space to keep those earrings and chains organized. It makes searching for a particular piece of jewelry very easy for the girl on the go.

Key Features

18 loops and 32 pockets

Made of

environment-friendly non-woven fabric

Facilitates easy access

Buy Now From Amazon

29. BLACKOO Casual Crewneck Tee

This loose-fitting, casual T-shirt goes very well with jeans. The short-sleeved T-shirt has a round neck and is made of soft, breathable fabric that makes it perfect for summer. It is available in four colors – Black, Grey, White, and Wine Red – and sizes ranging from Small to XXL.

Key Features

Made of 95% cotton and 5% spandex

Lightweight

Soft and breathable fabric

Buy Now From Amazon

30. TW Lighting IVY-40BK The IVY LED Desk Lamp

This LED desk lamp offers three-level touch-dimmable lighting. It has an extending and adjustable neck. It comes with a built-in USB charger for cell phones and devices. It is great for homes and college dorms and is perfect for studying or doing assignments. It can be placed on the computer table, writing desk, or bedside table.

Features

Built-in USB port

Uses high-efficiency LEDs

Energy-saving

Comes in three finishes – Pink, Black, and White

Buy Now From Amazon

These are some of the hottest bags, backpacks, tech gadgets, and games that teenage girls would surely love. So, what are you waiting for? Pick any from the above list and score brownie points from the teenage girl in your life.

Was this article helpful?

Related

The following two tabs change content below.

Harini has over 12 years of experience in content writing and editing for online media. She specializes in the areas of business, health and wellness, and lifestyle and is proficient in Medical Sciences (Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Biochemistry). As the Chief Editor, Harini ensures that her team delivers interesting, engaging, and authentic content. Her background in Biomedical Engineering helps her decode and interpret the finer nuances of scientific research for her team. Harini is a certified bibliophile and a closet poet. She also loves dancing and traveling to offbeat destinations.

LATEST ARTICLES

Source: https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/best-gifts-teenage-girls/

[biofunmy]

Woodstock Was the Birthplace of Festival Fashion

It’s hard to remember, now that every e-tailer from the luxury Net-a-Porter to the accessible ASOS has a section on its website devoted to “festival fashion;” now that brands like Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein and Amazon host special “activations” at Coachella; and now that influencers descend on Governors Ball to snap totally manufactured pictures of themselves swaying in product-placed ecstasy to whatever band of the moment is playing. But when it all began, “festival” and “fashion” were actually opposing concepts.

In fact, what you wore to the first was selected specifically as a protest against the second: chosen to make a statement of individuality and rebellion against the dictates not just of the establishment, but the designers who dressed them. Or so it was at Woodstock, where an aesthetic was encoded that has formed the DNA of all festival style that followed, but which was originally based on rejection.

The fashion of Woodstock was the fashion of no fashion at all.

It was the anti-little shift dress, anti-Peter-Pan collar and windowpane check. The anti-sport coat, anti-mock turtle terry cloth striped V-neck. The anti-pinafore, anti-cardigan — anti-all those garments that had become synonymous with the working uniforms of avenues from Madison to Massachusetts. It was anti-bras and anti-shoes: Before we freed the nipple they freed the breasts and feet. An anti-commercial, anticapitalist assertion of identity, made through clothes (at least when clothes were involved at all) and documented in photographs: of denim-clad, flower-crowned boys and girls (and babies) dancing in the mud, slung across car hoods and grassy knolls, streaming down the dust-and-trash-strewn road.

Instead the dress code — unofficial, of course, product of a mass mind-meld that made a mash-up of peace, love and material — celebrated the handmade: the crocheted and macrame’d vest and detail, upsized from potholders and furniture doilies, the kind they teach you to make in arts and crafts classes but that was reinvented as a new kind of homewear (so much cooler than homewares) at Yasgur’s Farm. It favored tie-dye long before the fashion world got hold of it and changed its name to “dégradé” — back when anyone could take an old T-shirt, twist it, secure with rubber bands, and dip into vats of dye for a sunburst, multicolored look that called to mind a wearable kaleidoscope, or a Crayola-saturated trip.

It embraced denim, the hallmark of the revolution and the youth movement. As William S. Burroughs once said of Jack Kerouac, his book “sold a trillion Levis and a million espresso coffee machines, and also sent countless kids on the road.” And that, apparently, led many of them straight to Woodstock, the better to show off jeans faded and ripped; worn on the tip of the hip bone purposely to expose the midriff and belly button; held on with rope or big, leather belts.

It championed the hippie trail: the fabrics that could be found while backpacking from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Rajasthan to Kerala, tapestries transformed into sarongs with a knot and a needs must; napkins tied into halter necks tops; colors and patterns that mapped out the search for enlightenment through cultures and communes and the back of one’s hand.

[See all of our coverage of Woodstock at 50.]

This was long before anyone began thinking about issues of cultural appropriation, of course, since easily half the attendees at Woodstock would have been guilty as charged. Not only in their assimilation of ethnic styles, but in their apparent obsession with the fringing and beadwork of Native American dress: swinging from halter tops and suede vests over not much else at all, blowin’ in the wind, all of it meant to connect their pledge of harmony, personal and musical, to the mythic stereotypes of indigenous people and living in alliance with nature. To set this ideal in contrast to the false promises of the besuited patriarchy, just as the protest politics implicit in taking Old Glory off its pedestal (or to be literal, pole) and making it into shorts (the kind you sit on) and backpack coverings (the kind you sleep on) were their own form of sartorial heresy. It wasn’t flag-burning, but it was close.

And though this cornucopia of denim and Indian print and fringe and tie-dye and crochet was united — from the vantage point of history — in its somewhat hackneyed celebration of D.I.Y. self-expression, in its embrace of both ultra-mini-dresses and mud-sweeping maxi-skirts, bell-bottoms and crop tops, it was also tribal. As a result, it formed the uniform of the counterculture. Though those involved would probably have considered “uniform” to be a dirty word.

There’s an irony in that, though at the time no one saw it (Woodstock was nothing if not sincere in its self-myopia), and even though it doesn’t come close to the irony of what has happened to the trends enshrined at the feet of Jerry Garcia and Janis Joplin. Because like it or not, that’s what they have become: trends. And upon those trends, once meant to symbolize an alternative to the corporate ooze, an entire commercial sector has been built.

That it never occurred to the group who created festival fashion that it might one day turn into a style sector of its own; that it would birth an era of mass-produced ersatz “individuality” — the kind that can be donned with a boho deluxe slip — is reflective of the naïveté in which such fashion was born, and the calculated way nostalgia for that time has been exploited.

So now, instead of a mantra, we have a marketing line: Tune in, turn on, dress (and pay) up.

Sahred From Source link Fashion and Style

from WordPress http://bit.ly/2ZJ48Iz via IFTTT

[jonathannunezg-blog]

Exotic Shopping Markets In Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires has some of the best shopping in the world. They have some outstanding leather products collection and jewelry among the items that are loved most by the visitors. The streets here are always fun filled with events and the people making it lively all the time. Here are many incredible things to do for free. For the rest of the world, Buenos Aires is all about meaty steaks, glasses overflowing with Malbec, and swinging to tango. But only a true-blue shopper would know that the Argentinian capital is a shopping paradise. There are plenty of independent boutiques, designer dens, and malls but ask any porteno where she shops and she’ll take you to a market! Buenos Aires boasts of some amazing outdoor, covered, and street markets. Don’t expect to find ‘Che Guevara’ t-shirts or designer knock-offs in these ferias. There are strict rules against that! So, when in Buenos Aires, hit a local market and let it surprise you with its produce and infectious fun vibe.

Here is list of top 4 markets of the Buenos Aires :-

Feria de Recoleta (Feria de Artesanos)

This market operates from 11am to 8pm on every weekend. This market is best known for luxury shopping. The scene is completely different on weekends when a funky market complete with live performances is set up adjacent to the cemetery. At first glance Feria de Recoleta seems more like a fancy art fair than a weekend market. Here, you’ll find the city’s finest artisan wares. Come prepared to splurge on colorful fire enameled crockery, handmade shoes, clothes, jewelry, leather goods, carved mate cups, and more. Where there’s a market, there are food vendors. Make sure to grab some choripans (chorizo sandwiches) that are famous here.

Feria de Mataderosa

This market operates from 11am to 8pm on Sundays (April to December), and 6pm to midnight on Saturdays (January to March).Feria de Matederos is the most chaotic, loud, energetic, and Argentinian to the core. Here you can experience the local culture at its best. This market is more like a fair and less like market with a glimpse of the country’s history and traditions. There are traditional folk music and dancing, game stalls and even a gaucho horse riding competition. As for shopping, you can get your hands on authentic South American souvenirs including flutes, colorful rugs, clothes, jewelry, ceramics, ashtrays made from horse hooves, leather goods and much more.

Feria de San Telmo

This market operates from 10am to 4pm on every Sunday. This is a pure latin American market with loud, colorful, rambunctious and vibrant. This 300-stall market is so huge, you better be wearing your walking shoes. At the market’s heart are food stalls and surrounding them is a world of jewelry, antiques, colored glass seltzer bottles, funky lights, vintage posters, gramophones and other cool retro bric-a-brac. And in the midst of all this, there are tango dancers and musicians giving impromptu performances! Mind you, it gets pretty crowded with 10,000 people flocking here each Sunday!

Feria de Plaza Serrano

This market operates from 2pm to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays. This market is very small as compared to the other markets located in coolest bohemian areas, Palermo Soho. It’s hippie vendors and artisans and their handmade quirkiness. Take your credit card for a spin and get your hands on some funky clothes by up-and-coming designers, paintings, jewelry, handbags, and all things boho. Coming back empty handed is just not an option. When the shopping tires you, head to one of the many cafes in this area.

Book flights to El Palomar Airport in Buenos Aires on EMI without credit card on Mihuru. Book Now, Pay Later!

Resource- https://medium.com/mihuru-direct/4-exotic-shopping-markets-in-buenos-aires-505e08a29918

[alamante]

EPWORTH, Zimbabwe — As he buttonholed voters less than two days before Zimbabwe’s general election, the opposition candidate worked the crowd alone and on foot. He bounced from voter to voter, a wide smile across his face, ready with a handshake and a joke.

In past elections, before Robert G. Mugabe was ousted in November after 37 years in power, opposition candidates were harassed by ZANU-PF, the governing party, and by the police. Their rallies were quashed, posters yanked down and candidates intimidated, often with violence.

“I’ve been doing my rallies, meeting the people, and there were no disturbances. Everything is going peacefully,” said the candidate, Batandai Masunda, who was running for ward councilor with the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance. “It’s a very big improvement,” he added.

How big an improvement was the critical question as Zimbabweans prepared to vote on Monday, the first time without Mr. Mugabe atop the ZANU-PF ticket since independence in 1980.

Many Zimbabweans say they expect cheating if the race for president is very close, or if no presidential candidate wins a simple majority and there is a runoff. ZANU-PF’s candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is widely believed to have orchestrated vote-rigging in the past and to have led campaigns of repression. After serving as Mr. Mugabe’s right-hand man for decades, Mr. Mnangagwa ousted him with the army’s help in November.

At a last-minute news conference at his home on Sunday, Mr. Mugabe, 94, said he “can’t vote for those who have tormented me.” He said he would cast his ballot for a presidential candidate other than Mr. Mnangagwa, indicating that he favored Nelson Chamisa, the presidential candidate of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance.

It was not clear how the comments from Mr. Mugabe, who has not been politically active since his ouster and who is deeply unpopular, might affect the election’s outcome.

Opposition politicians, voters, rights groups and international election observers — allowed for the first time in decades to observe the polls — say that campaigning has been much freer than in the past.

At the same time, the ruling party has continued to exploit its grip on the security forces, the state news media and other state resources to favor its candidates in the months leading up to the election.

Opposition parties and election observers have raised questions about the integrity of the voter rolls. And it is far from clear how voting will take place on Election Day, especially in the governing party’s rural strongholds, where widespread election fraud has ensured victory for Mr. Mugabe’s party in past votes.

Since Mr. Mugabe’s ouster, Mr. Mnangagwa has tried to remake Zimbabwe’s image by portraying the government as business-friendly. He has appeared often at investors’ conferences, wearing warm, colorful scarves to offset his fearsome reputation as Mr. Mugabe’s former henchman.

But to revive the economy, it would help if Mr. Mnangagwa can carry out a fair election — one that will satisfy international observers and Western governments enough for Zimbabwe to qualify for loans from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international creditors.

“The government needs this transparency because of economic reasons,” said Elmar Brok, the chief observer from the European Union. “Is it a way that they want to give the impression of a transparent election, or is it a transparent election? That, I think, has to be found out.”

Some progress has been made. For the first time, opposition parties have been allowed to campaign in previous “no go” areas. The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance — whose candidate, Mr. Chamisa, succeeded Morgan Tsvangirai, the longtime opposition leader who died in February — has held large rallies in the countryside without major problems, according to election observers.

Epworth — a poor township on the eastern outskirts of Harare, the capital — had been one of the areas to avoid for the opposition. Residents in neighborhoods that supported the opposition suffered the consequences from the police and from youths supporting the governing party.

“In the previous elections, we had to abandon our homes and go to the countryside after we were beaten up,” said Loveness Shagunda, a supporter of the main opposition party. “After we voted, our homes were burned down.”

Ms. Shagunda said she was “happy” about the current peaceful campaign season. She and other residents in a commercial area of Epworth said that since Mr. Mugabe’s fall, they felt free to express themselves. Now, posters of opposition candidates were displayed on walls and street corners, next to those of ZANU-PF.

But Ms. Shagunda was nervous that in a possible runoff between Mr. Mnangagwa and Mr. Chamisa, the governing party would revert to its old habits.

On Saturday morning, Ms. Shagunda sat on a bench outside a bar playing museve, Zimbabwean dance music. Young men went in and out with bottles of beer.

On the main road snaking through the township, people sold clothes, vegetables, sugar-cane stalks, lumber, handmade furniture and other goods of the informal economy that has taken over Zimbabwe in the past decade.

Even evidence of the tiny formal sector spoke of the nation’s economic collapse. Inside a booth, Simbarashe Matsungo exchanged electronic money, called EcoCash, for American dollars or a parallel currency, the Zimbabwean bond note. Though all the currencies are officially worth the same amount, the manipulation of supply has fueled wild swings in the exchange rates that benefited the politically connected.

But Mr. Matsungo was in a good mood. The opposition had just held a rally in the area without any incident. “There was no noise,” he said.

Mark Bondera, who was wearing a Green Bay Packers T-shirt, stopped by to chat with a shoe repairman plying his trade in front of the bar.

Mr. Bondera, too, was enjoying the newfound political freedom. But at 64 he had been around long enough not to let his guard down. In the 2008 election, he noted, the opposition leader won more votes than Mr. Mugabe in the first round, but was forced to withdraw from the runoff because of violence from the governing party.

“They can rig, I tell you,” he said.

Across a dirt road, at Cozycare Pharmacy, Brian Chikandiwa, 23, was excited about voting for the first time.

“If it’s free and fair, there will be change,” said Mr. Chikandiwa, who had just completed his pharmaceutical studies.

Because of Zimbabwe’s history of election fraud, Mr. Chikandiwa and many other voters said that only an opposition victory would be proof of a legitimate ballot.

That is why, observers say, Mr. Mnangagwa’s government should have redoubled efforts to persuade Zimbabweans of the fairness of the vote. Instead, there is a widespread assumption of cheating, which raises the risk of violence once results are announced.

Election officials have failed to fully satisfy observers and the opposition of the integrity of the voters roll — a problem in a country with a history of “extremely deficient voters rolls,” said Patrick Merloe, an observer with the National Democratic Institute, which is operating in Zimbabwe in a joint mission with another nongovernmental organization, the International Republican Institute.

Election officials argued that they were not constitutionally required to show evidence of how the voter rolls were compiled.

“Things have been done that are maybe in compliance with the law but certainly aren’t providing that great deal of confidence,” said John Tomaszewski, an observer with the International Republican Institute.

Follow Norimitsu Onishi on Twitter: @onishinyt.

Jeffrey Moyo contributed reporting from Harare.

http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Source link

   The post As Zimbabwe Prepares to Vote, Robert Mugabe Resurfaces With a Message appeared first on MySourceSpot.

[julieboehm]

The magic red shoes of our film are now going to an art collector from Berlin - Unikat: Original handmade swingshoes - colored for our film. They enable our protagonist to do the first dance steps in the magical world of art. - Heute gingen die roten Schuhe aus unserem Film an einen Kunstsammler in Berlin Wir wünschen viel Freude mit dem Unikat- handgefertigte Swing- Tanzschuhe von Swinglindy aus Spanien, für unseren Film in rote Farbe getaucht Sie befähigen unsere Protagonistin die erste Tanzschritte in die magische Welt zu tun #magicshows #kunstsammlung #parisyougotme #redshoes #swingshoes #redshoes👠

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/experience-bridge-street-bradenton-beach-florida/

EXPERIENCE BRIDGE STREET — BRADENTON BEACH, FLORIDA

While you are enjoying your vacation with Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals – 601 Gulf Dr. N. Anna Maria Island, Florida 34217  enjoy a few hours, the day or an evening on Bridge Street. Any day is a great day to visit Bridge Street and being only a five minute walk from your vacation rental you will probably visit more than once! From our condo you can walk south along Gulf Drive to the roundabout or, enjoy a beautiful stroll on the white sand beach of the Gulf of Mexico; when you reach the bright blue building “The Moose Lodge” you will know you have come to Bridge Street. Anna Maria Island is known for its laid back Florida charm and as you walk along Bridge Street you will experience that feeling first hand.

A little bit about Bridge Street …. Bridge Street is a walkable community with spectacular water views from the both the pier and the gulf beach. To the East at the end of Bridge Street, is the Pier which at one time was a wooden bridge and the only way on or off Anna Maria Island from the mainland. Now there is a beautiful fishing pier in place of the bridge with wonderful views of Sarasota Bay and Cortez. Historic Bridge Street is an active, beautifully landscaped street spanning from beach to bay where you will find minutes turn into hours, Shopping – Dining- or Playing. With no high-rise condos or shopping malls on Bradenton Beach, here on Bridge Street you will find quaint buildings with a mix of boutique style shops, restaurants and bars.

The Pier is always a place we make a point to go. This pier is free and is nice to walk, to fish or watch others fish. You can rent fishing equipment and there is a fish cleaning stations with places for multiple rods. For those not wanting to fish there are places to sit in the shade with some old fashioned wooden swings at the end inviting you to sit and stay awhile. You will see lots of fish, we have often seen dolphin and there are pelicans and cormorants and many other types of birds as well. Just watching the boats pass by while the Cortez bridge goes up is so relaxing.

Fish Hole Adventure Golf is home to our annual family golf outing. This unique miniature golf course is an old Florida fishing village themed course on Bridge Street. They have a ‘fish fact’ plaque at each hole and it is neat to read about the different type of fish. It has misters, which are really nice on a hot day. It is fairly priced and at the end you have a chance to win a free game which we have been lucky enough to do.

Bridge Street Interiors – I absolutely love this store. This shop is deceiving, looks small from the outside, but once inside you will be surprised how much stuff is packed in. The store has lots of beautiful handcrafted jewelry, the best mermaid jewelry, home accessories, original prints, incredible wall art, scents, candles and tropical apparel.

They offer interior design services and are happy to help you with your decorating needs. Find a piece that won’t fit it in your luggage? That’s okay, they ship!I have been visiting this store for more than 25 years and purchased many treasures here. It is actually one of my favourite stores not just on Bridge Street, but in the whole Bradenton/Sarasota area.

Bridge Street Jewellers – a hidden treasure on Bridge this shop is definitely worth going into. The selection of jewelry is wonderful. It has some exquisite one-of-a-kind pieces, as well as sea life and other fine jewelry. You will see some amazing custom make pieces here. Every time we visit we find the staff to be very helpful, always taking their time with us and eager to answer any questions we have.

Bridge Street Bazaar is such a cute shop with lots of beachy things, summer shoes, hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, purses and those delish coconut patties you can only get in Florida!

Back Alley Treasures is funky little spot. It’s like walking into a treasure chest full of original little treasures you won’t find at home. The Back Alley is home to several local artists’ work, unique jewelry, handmade gifts, great coffee and tasty treats. They don’t just sell home brewed coffee, they also serve espresso creations either hot or cold, island smoothies, frozen lemonade, as well as craft beer & fabulous wine.Live music on popular Bridge Street happens nightly and often in the afternoon as well. On any given day you might hear rock, blues, country, steel drum, and even Irish music. With a lot of great local talent on Anna Maria Island there is always a spot on Bridge Street to sit back and relax or get up and dance. The great thing about Bridge Street is if you don’t care from one s few minute walk will take you to another that’s more suited to your taste.

Restaurants are plentiful on Bridge Street. A few of our favourites are: Bridge Tender Inn – Indoor or outdoor dining with live entertainment. Great food and entertainment too! Right on the water overlooking Sarasota Bay with awesome views, great tropical drinks and good service.

​-​Island Creperie – We love this restaurant. Great food and service. Serve breakfast and early lunch and only open for dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

​-​Island Time – Right across from the beach this is a fun place to grab some food, drinks and listen to music. Nice indoor or outside seating. Always good live entertainment.

​-​Bridge Street Bistro – We have always had excellent meals here. The food is awesome with good drinks and a nice wine menu. Nice dining room with white table clothes. Located on the second floor offers a great view, a perfect place to watch the sunset.

Parking is limited on Bridge Street, so we recommend leaving your car at the condo and walking or using the FREE island trolley (there is a stop right in front of our condo).

For the latest up to date news, things to do, special offers, travel tips and more continue to follow our blog @ Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals/Blog

*Please note — Anna Maria Island Condo Rentals offer the above company names and affiliated links as suggestions only. We are not receiving commissions from any and are listing them only as an aid for our guests. We recommend services that we or close friends and family have experienced so we know you will be taken care of.*The content of this blog is not to be copied, adapted or shared without the written consent of Anna Maria Condo Rentals.

[kaygale8252480-blog]

15 Ugly Truth Concerning party.

event Has The Answer To Whatever.

If you desire solutions from the most certified personnel, these could be the best alternative. Hit your local buck shop to terrific economical materials, celebration prefers and decorations. As an example, throughout your browse through to our website you might link to, or deem part of a structure on a page, particular content that is really produced or held by a third party. With a little imagination as well as creative thinking, you could develop an enjoyable birthday celebration for your kid without spending a ton of money. Easter themed party invites can be handmade, with few arts as well as crafts products, or can be pre-made invitations. While looking for the location, look for the ones that not just use the hall however other facilities also, like event catering, décor and also DJ. There are lots of exclusive celebration places Houston TX from which, you can pick the ideal one. And also, she kindly gives info on free party invites, activities, menus, dishes, celebration favors, decorations as well as celebration materials Creative pointers and ideas including party discussion starters, motif songs and also motion picture track lists to match any type of motif celebration. If you are planning on offering alcoholic beverages, take into consideration that most guests will drink 2 each hour for the first few hours and afterwards one each hr then. Merely look for your celebration motif to find pictures of thousands of children birthday celebrations, cakes, decorations, crafts, food as well as more. When you try to find design, motif, meal, drink, games for celebration, it is best to go with event suggestions. There are science themed invite concepts, costumes, embellishing suggestions, celebration products, food as well as drink concepts, experiments to attempt, party games, songs, as well as suggestions for favors. Host Of A Multi Vendor Event You are in charge of holding the party as well as organizing. Planning an Over The Moon theme event or other, guarantee to intend all facets of the event so absolutely nothing is left by the wayside. While these are the accepted norm for birthday celebration party invites you can personalize your birthday invitations by sending e-birthday invitations. The following are some tips to get the kid birthday celebration celebration preparation began. You need to try to find ideal location worldwide making your event something memorable as well as eye-catching. The professors are great at their tasks, as well as are always available for workplace hrs and also are welcoming of in-class conversation of topics. If you are having just a causal family get together party and if you have not selected the celebration style, you can utilize period themes for party table decoration. In the long run I would state that let your youngsters enjoy the party in full swing and the moms and dads need to treat them this time without either of the twin worries of sweat and tension.

7 Big Influences Of event.

15 Questions About celebration You Ought to Address Honestly.

These types of invitations are quite like the conventional celebration invitations with the only distinction being that you are sending out the card by means of the web. Know what offering pieces you are going to use for every meal being offered to ensure that there isn't really any type of frenzied thinking during the celebration. This is one of one of the most crucial elements of party planning and also it is exactly what will certainly make your buying your party much, a lot easier. If the bride is a wild party supplies delivered (visit my web page) goer but feels confusion concerning welcoming the bridegroom's young women about such a celebration - not a problem, make the two-part bachelorette celebration! A couple of weeks notification will be adequate, and also a tip to verify your attendance a few days prior to the party. Just all that you actually have to do, is mow your yard down weeds and also all the day before the event. The DUP is likewise packed with creationists with several celebration members additionally participants of the Caleb Foundation, which is one of the leading creationist stress teams in Northern Ireland. Yet prior to that, bear in mind the age of the children welcomed to the party, you do not desire your child's party being the evening that marked the children for life! So if you are looking for some imaginative concepts for your ocean party, right here are a number of event suggestions that we made use of for my son's fourth birthday celebration party. Laboratory trays work as plates and serving trays and also lab supplies for utensils (tongs or tweezers for forks, scalpels for knife, etc.). Stick thermostats in the food. Beyond the basic products and favors, you must additionally work out decorations that select the Dora style. These components consist of the invites, decors, tasks, food, party favors and also the cake. The wise party host must be sure to have great deals of tasks planned for the kids at the event. Hours after Donald Trump Jr unloaded on James Comey in a Fox News interview on Saturday, President Trump sent out a Sunday morning Twitter attack in Comey's direction. Now since it's simply a few days left for the new calendar to get here so put on your dance shoes to rock on the flooring since the party is still on! Particularly when I am at a celebration with some talking about just how this or that conservative icon is the very best thing considering that sliced bread.