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Hard Vs. Soft Water And Impacts On Your Laundry

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Hard water is simply water that has positively charged minerals in it, such as magnesium, calcium and others. These minerals tend to create deposits on other things that they have regular contact with, like clothing, metals, ceramic and porcelain. They also interact with the different components in cleaning products to often lessen their effectiveness.

Soft water is usually water that has been treated to remove the mineral deposits, so that the only positively charged component remaining is sodium. Soft water also occurs naturally in some regions. This makes for water that works well for laundry and cleaning and is easy on the plumbing in your home.

Hard water creates a variety of problems with your laundry.
•    Mineral buildup means that colored clothes fade more quickly than they should.
•    White clothing tends to get yellow with repeated washing in hard water.
•    It requires more detergent to effectively be able to create enough suds to clean your clothes.
•    Buildup of deposits and extra work being demanded from the washing machine’s parts often shorten the life of the machine.
•    More water is used and wasted with the need to repeat washing and rinsing clothes more often.
•    In order to get hard water to clean effectively, it is necessary to use hotter water than if using soft water. This leads to higher energy costs and unnecessary energy use.
•    The extra washing and the buildup that results takes a toll on the fabric in your clothing, meaning that it doesn’t last as long.

Using soft water creates whiter, brighter clothing. There will be less soapy residue and build up on clothes from deposits than what is created by the interaction of hard water and detergent. Clothing can be washed in cold, soft water with less detergent, creating more savings for the consumer. Soft water is also easier on washing machines, meaning that they last longer, as do the clothes washed in it. Clothing looks better for much longer when cared for with soft water.

Soft water is naturally occurring in some places, although in reality hard water is much more common. Luckily it is relatively easy to soften hard water, although many of the machines to do so are relatively pricey. The savings you will make through the use of soft water will however, over the life of the unit, compensate for its cost.

Celebrities 2

Celebrities Wearing T-Shirts – Issue 4 (February 23-28 2009)

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Miley Cyrus was seen shopping at Rite Aid wearing a black t-shirt over an undershirt with a white designt hat said I love you.  Visit Socialite Life to view the pictures of Miley wearing her I love you t-shirt.

Kate Winslet was spotted at L.A.X wearing  an army green t-shirt with a recycling symbol and the text “Change your Mind”. Visit Celebitchy to view the pictures of Kate wearing here change your mind t-shirt.

Dev Patel was wearing a dark grey t-shirt with some type of rodent with wings. Visit Just Jared to view pictures of Dev Patel wearing the t-shirt.

Orlando Bloom wore a black and white thin striped t-shirt with his friend Eric Bana who was wearing a white t-shirt the the word Globe in blue across the chest. Visit Socialite life to view Orlando and Eric wearing t-shirts.

Brekin Meyer wore a green Empire Strikes Back t-shirt while at the Coldwater Canyon in Beverly Hills. Visit Spash News to view Brekin in his Empire Strikes Back t-shirt.

Paris Hilton was spotted in the Narita International Airport wearing jeans and a t-shirt with black text that says something like Honey Bunch and giant red lips below. Visit Bricks and Stones Gossip to check out Paris’ Honey Bunches t-shirt.

Matthew McConaughey was seen wearing his brown J.K. livin brand t-shirt once again while on vacation at Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janerio. Visit Celebslam to check out the J.K. livin t-shirt.

Melanie Brown, the formed Spice Girl was seen in West Hollywood wearing a white tank top with a tatoo style heart and roses design. VIsit Just Jared to check out the tattoo style t-shirt.

Jack Black was wearing a white t-shirt with an artistic drawing of wolves while on Hollywood.tv.  Visit The Insider to view Jack in his old school wolves t-shirt.

How To Dress Like A Redneck

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To dress like a redneck one must think like a redneck. How does a redneck think you ask? It’s rather simple and you need only consider three things, comfort, flannel and old. Redneck fashion is all bout functionality between work and home. Here are some tips so you can get your redneck look from top to bottom:

1)    Baseball caps – You need a solid color cap, red or black are the norm and it has to have either a logo on it that relates to sports, beer, tools, women, hunting or fishing. A new cap is a no go; it needs to be old or worn looking.
2)    T-shirts – T-shirts need to be worn and have to have something on them that supports a farming company, truck parts or something about being a redneck. When looking for a motif you should think along the same lines as the logos for the baseball cap.
3)    Flannel – It’s all about the flannel. Specifically red and black flannel because anything else is just not manly enough for a redneck. The shirt should look old and worn out and the thinner looking it is the better. If it’s summer time, cut those sleeves off and make sure it’s not a neat and tidy cut either.
4)    Belt Buckle – Your belt should sport a rather larger buckle; normally silver in color and the buckle should be related to something along the lines of the logos for the baseball cap. They don’t have to match; in fact, it’s better if they don’t.
5)    Pants – The pants are easy; jeans for every occasion! The jeans should look worn out and old and should not fit properly. As for a specific brand, you want to look for Wrangler, Levi’s or whatever the cheapest thing is on the thrift store rack. Don’t forget plumber’s crack, it’s an important fashion accessory.
6)    Shoes – Your shoes should reflect your rugged life and the fact that you do manual labor for a living. Thusly you need some work boots, or some really cheap sneakers. If you want to be a fashionista redneck, black leather boots that look as if you’ve been wearing them to a good few years is a must.
7)    Hairstyle – Brush and style your hair without the use of a mirror, this is important, or, if you just don’t want to do that, wear a baseball cap all day long and only take it off when you sleep. This will give you baseball cap hair and this is the mark of a true redneck.

Now if you are a woman, many of the same tips hold true for you as well aside from the baseball caps and the hair. Your hairstyle should be at least 20 years old, think big 80’s hair, bright blue eyes shadow and too much black eyeliner will complete the look. With the flannel, rolling up the bottom into a knot is a good way to keep cool in the summer.

How to Dress Comfortably for an Airline Flight

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Want to actually enjoy your next flight, try dressing comfortably. You will not only enjoy your cross country flight a whole lot more but a nice side effect comes with the added comfort; a speedier visit through security.

So many business men these days feel like they have to be wearing a suit and tie 24-7. This simply is not the case anymore and is certainly not the way to enjoy an airline flight or even get to your airline flight in a timely manner for that matter.

If you are wearing a suit and jacket you will probably be wearing your best shoes as well. Some security check points now make you take your shoes off to be checked. Instead of wearing those laced up shoes that look great at a meeting, try wearing some slip on shoes. That way you will be able to comply much faster with security should you be asked to take off your shoes. It should also be noted that your feet tend to swell while flying so a pair of shoes that is more stretchable will ultimately save you in comfort. Remember to put on clean socks before your flight in case you need to slip off your shoes during the flight. That is not just for your comfort, but others as well.

Along with the shoes, your suit will consist of a number of items that may set off the metal detector. There is your belt or you may have a tie clip or may even have some type of cufflinks. Any and all of these can set of that dreaded “beep.” If security cannot pinpoint the beep rather quickly you are off to the side to have some strangers hands pat you down. And remember, your suit jacket will have to be scanned as well. What a hassle.

Instead try wearing a nice leisurely suit like a jogging suit that has an elastic waist band and requires no belt. If the whole jogging suit is too casual for you, just wear the pants and top it off with a nice polo style shirt. This will still give you the look of a business man, just one who wants to be comfortable. Now you will be comfy in your seat and not have to stress about anything wrinkling.

Another way to make sure you get through the security check point quicker is to have all your items like your phone, wallet and watch in a clear plastic bag ready to be scanned. Aside of those few items, everything else should be checked anyway.

If you’re concerned because you have a big meeting when you get off the flight, don’t be. Either you can change in the bathroom once you land or you could always try to schedule your meetings a little later. But if you are not having to fly in your suite you do not have to worry about the wrinkles that come with a long flight. If you are stressing, you are not relaxing and then how effective will you be in that meeting?

When you are flying you should be relaxed and calm, not anxious and stressed. By dressing in a casual way this can easily be accomplished. Just because you are a working stiff does not mean you have to be a stiff.

What Are Masculine And Feminine T-Shirt Colors?

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T-shirts come in every color you can possibly imagine. In fact, no matter what color you are looking to match up, it is easy to do so with a T-shirt because of the wide variety of colors that are available in. However, interestingly enough, many people associate certain color T-shirts as being either feminine or masculine. Those who perceive colors strongly as either masculine or feminine have a tendency to gravitate towards and wear only the colors that are supposed to be “for” their specific gender.

Amongst the colors that people tend to see as feminine are pink, purple, burgundy, lilac, yellow and all pastel tones. More vibrant colors seem to be the ones that are mostly associated with women. You will find that most T-shirts in these colors are targeted to girls and women and will have feminine prints and lines of text on them.

Colors that are seen as masculine include green, blue, gray, brown, olive, tan and all darker shades. While women also wear these colors, typically you will see much more of them in a man’s wardrobe than in a woman’s. Often T-shirts in these colors will have a more masculine design and will be meant to appeal to boys and men.

There are some other colors however, that are seen as unisex and they are white, black, beige and red. These colors tend to be neither predominantly masculine nor feminine. They seem to appeal equally to both genders and finding T-shirts targeting females or males in these shades are easy to come by.

If you are in the market for a new T-shirt, regardless of the color you want and whether it is traditionally seen as a masculine or feminine color, you can get what you want with custom-made T-shirts. Not only will you choose the color you want, but also the style, fabric weight and quality of your tee. Then you’ll get to choose the design you want on it too.

There is no limit to how many ways you can customize a T-shirt of your choice. You can create your very own version of one of the popular design-based T-shirts like Peace, Love, Tennis or I heart Tennis Players. You may also opt to put a design, drawing or photo of your own on a T-shirt, alone in or in combination with text. Of course, you can also opt to create a T-shirt with one word or a simple line of text on it in order to show your passions, beliefs, pride, interests or sense of humor.

Some fun lines to have printed on a T-shirt include things that make fun of gender stereotypes like masculine and feminine colors. Some examples include:
–    Tough guys wear pink
–    Real baby boys wear pink
–    Does this shirt make me look gay?
–    Girls can’t what?

Forget about masculine and feminine T-shirt colors and choose the colors you like to wear. Order an array of custom-made T-shirts today so you have one for every mood and in every color.

When Is It Time To Recycle Your Old T-Shirt? How To Recycle Your Shirt

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T-shirts definitely have a life cycle. As they age, they start to look less than spectacular and get worn less and less. Then the time comes to recycle your old T-shirt. Luckily there are countless ways to recycle a tee, but you need to know when is the right time to do so.

Periodically go through your T-shirt wardrobe and evaluate the shirts you own. If you have any that you have not worn in a year or more for whatever reason, they should go into the recycle pile. Weed through the remaining shirts to decide whether or not it is time to recycle them or if you can continue wearing them. Some of the top indicators of when it is time to recycle your old T-shirts include the following.

•    It does not fit you anymore.
•    It has been worn so much you can see through it.
•    It is permanently stained.
•    The tee is stretched so badly that it has no shape anymore.
•    It has become too unevenly faded or discolored to be worn outside.
•    It is full of holes and rips that were not strategically done.

When you are looking for the ideal way to recycle your shirt, you will find that the options are endless. Here are some of the most popular ways to do so.

•    If the T-shirt still has life left in it, you may want to donate it to a charitable organization like a homeless shelter, Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
•    If you can’t bear to part with it yet, you can salvage a favorite T-shirt by using it as an undershirt, dying it, putting patches on it or simply repairing it.
•    If it is a favorite, a nice color or one with sentimental value, you can cut the front and back into large squares to be made into a quilt. The Internet is flooded with how-to information on making a T-shirt quilt. This is great for kids’ tees too.
•    You can cut up or rip up T-shirts into rags to be used for cleaning or in the garage.
•    You can cut the T-shirt into very thin strips diagonally and roll the strips to create a yarn that can be used for knitting or crocheting to truly recycle it into useful new clothing.
•    You can turn old T-shirts into underwear, for those who are good at sewing.
•    For those who have just the basics of sewing, an old T-shirt might be a great pillow or tote bag with a few simple stitches.
•    Old tees can be sewn into various shapes and stuffed for use as pet toys.
•    They can also be cut up and used as cleansing cloths or as liners in cloth diapers.

When you are ready to recycle some of your T-shirts, it also means that you are ready to get some new tees. A great option to ensure you have a winning set of new favorite T-shirts is to order custom-made ones. You get to choose the perfect tee for you. You can even recreate some of your old favorite ones by having them printed just how you would like.

Does Chemicals Or Dye On Cotton Rub Off On Your Skin From Your Clothes?

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Cotton is the most popular natural fabric. It is used in a variety of different items because it is so versatile and yet so comfortable. However, people are becoming increasingly concerned with keeping themselves away from things that are not completely all natural. There is even a concern about chemicals or dye on cotton rubbing off onto your skin from your clothes. Yet, does it really occur?

Typically you do not have to worry about dye transferring from your clothes to your skin. The only time is tends to is if the dye process was poorly done, as in the case of a very cheap item. Some very bright or dark colors may transfer a small amount of dye if they are not washed before they are first worn. Therefore it is very important to wash new clothes before wearing them.

Chemicals can and do transfer from cotton to your skin. Skin irritations and allergies are proof that chemicals transfer from cotton to your skin. Those who have sensitivities to certain soaps and fabric softeners suffer from breakouts and irritations when their cotton clothes is washed using these products because the chemicals that bother them rub off on their skin. Some people also find their skin is irritated if they wear a new item of clothing before washing it. This is typically because of some residual chemical used during production and another good reason to wash new clothes before wearing them.

Luckily there are several options that you have, if you are concerned about chemicals or dye rubbing off on your skin from your clothes. First, be sure to wash all new items before wearing them. Second, wash them using a mild and pure soap that is low in chemicals and does not have any additives like dyes, perfumes or fabric softeners. Third, do not use bleach on your clothes, it is a very harsh chemical and can be very irritating. Fourth, stop using fabric softener, because the way it makes clothes soft and static free is by coating the fibers of the material in chemicals.

If you truly want to avoid chemicals and dye in your cotton clothes, you can always opt for organic cotton as an excellent alternative. This type of cotton is grown without pesticides and other chemicals. It even grows in different naturally occurring colors and therefore you can get a variety of colors without the use of dyes at all.

If chemicals and dyes on your cotton clothes concern you, replace your T-shirt wardrobe with a variety of custom-made organic cotton T-shirts. You don’t need to give up cute tees in great designs and styles just because you are choosing organic. You can choose the natural colors you want in the styles you want. Then you can choose to have anything you want printed on the custom tees. You can flaunt the fact that you have chosen an organic tee, support a cause, make a clever remark or a silly one. The choice of how to personalize a T-shirt is endless.

Get your custom-made organic cotton T-shirts today and never again worry about the chemicals and dyes from regular cotton.

How the Cotton Gin Works

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The cotton gin which was invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 was a revolutionary machine.
The term gin comes from the abbreviation for the word engine. The cotton gin changed the entire cotton growing industry. Prior to the cotton gin’s invention, workers had to pick out seed pods and seeds from the cotton by hand. This method was extremely tedious and unproductive. Each worker was only able to produce one pound of clean cotton a day this way.

Once the cotton gin came into service, production increased dramatically. A cotton gin could produce 55 pounds of clean cotton a day or 55 times that of a human worker. Such a dramatic increase in production had a huge impact on the industry, making cotton much more profitable to grow.

The cotton gin is actually a pretty simple machine. Cotton grows in what are known as bolls. First the cotton bolls are fed into the top of the machine. Inside the cotton gin there is a rotating wooden roller that has small spiky wire teeth hammered into it. The wooden cylinder is rotated by cranking it. When the cylinder rotates, the teeth snare the cotton fibers of the boll and pull the fiber strands through a grate. The slots in this grate are set too close together for cotton seeds to pass through. The fibers are stripped away from the seeds. Basically, the seeds are combed out of the cotton.

Cotton production rose significantly thanks to the cotton gin. In 1792 180,000 pounds of cotton were produced. Just two years later 6 million pounds were produced, thanks to the cotton gin. Eventually there came to be water and horse powered versions of the cotton gin which increased cotton yield even further.

Cotton cloth had been very expensive before the invention of the cotton gin. Afterwards, cotton cloth became the top selling textile in the world. Cotton was affordable and became the number one cash crop in the United States. The cotton gin really helped to change our nation, and the world, as it encouraged more cotton growth down South and factory growth in the Northeast and England.

Unfortunately Eli Whitney was not able to patent his design for several years after his initial invention. Many copied his design, resulting in Whitney not profiting from the cotton gin nearly as much as he could have. Planters bought gins to process cotton grown on the plantation. Factories were created to house gins and process the cotton.

Modern day cotton gins still operate with the same basic concept that Eli Whitney devised. However, additional services have been added to the original cotton gin design. Now gins can dry the cotton, moisturize it, sort it, clean it and bale it into bundles, getting the cotton completely ready for sale.

These steps have expedited the cotton trade for the modern grower. Nowadays the cotton gin is a one stop shop for cotton processing. Thanks to electric power and high velocity air blasting, fully automated modern cotton gins are able to produce 15 tons of cleaned cotton per hour.

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Celebrities Wearing T-Shirts – Issue 3 (February 16-22 2009)

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Celebrities 3

Criss Angel was spotted in Vegas wearing a black t-shirt with a dark artistic design on it. Visit Brick & Stones to view the pictures of Criss wearing black fashion t-shirt.

Benji Madded was spotted the Las Vegas night club Wasted Space wearing a DCMA Collective tank top shirt.  Visit Brick & Stones to view the pictures of Benji in his t-shirt line.

Gavin Rossdale was spotted with Gwen Stefani wearing a bright white t-shirt with the number twenty-three on it.  Visit Just Jared to view the pictures of Gavin wearing his 23 t-shirt.

Josh Duhamel was seen returning from his honeymoon with Fergie wearing a light blue Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band t-shirt with a large pink Cadillac. Visit Pacific Coast News to view the pictures of Josh wearing his Bruce Springsteen t-shirt.

Paris Hilton was spotted at the airport in Los Angeles wearing  a bright pink t-shirt featuring a skull with a hat and some other designs. Visit Pacific Coast News to view the pictures of Paris wearing her pink t-shirt.

Justin Timberlake was featured in GQ magazine as one of the 10 Most Stylish Men in America. In one of the pictures Justin is wearing a heathered gray t-shirt with black stripes that look like the US flag but is missing the stars component.  Visit Pop Crunch to view the pictures of Justin wearing a grey t-shirt.

Katie Price was seen running between Santa Monica and Venice wearing a designer black t-shirt with possibly a Kitson style design on the front. Visit The Skinny Website to view the pictures of Kaite wearing her blackfashion t-shirt.

Brody Jenner was wearing a vintage dark gray t-shirt with a skull and pirate sword while filming The Hills in Oahu.  Visit Pacific Coast News to view the pictures of Brody wearing her pirate t-shirt.

How Much Hotter is a Black Shirt that a White One?

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You may have heard that wearing a black shirt will make you hotter than wearing a white shirt or a lighter colored shirt. This is true because the darker the color of a shirt is, the more light and heat it will absorb into the fabric. It will also heat up far faster than a shirt that is a lighter color. This will change the way you feel in a black shirt in many different conditions, depending on how much sunlight you actually get.

If you are indoors and you are not in the sunlight, you will not notice a difference in your temperature. Indoor lighting will not be enough to make you feel hotter in a black T-shirt. If you are indoors and are sitting in a window, you may feel a difference, however. The direct sunlight shining on your black T-shirt will rapidly heat it up and make you feel hotter far faster than you would have felt otherwise. The difference between wearing a black T-shirt and a lighter colored T-shirt will often depend on how hot the sun is and how long you’re sitting in it. If you sit in that window for a few minutes and the sky is overcast, you likely will not notice much of a difference at all. However, if on a hot and sunny day you spend a lot of time in front of this window; you may not be able to tolerate it after just a couple of minutes.

When you are outdoors, the same principle applies. How much hotter you are in a black T-shirt will depend on where you are located, how much sunlight is on you and how long you spend in the sunlight. If you are in the shade, even on a hot day, you will generally not notice much of a difference based on what color shirt is. A black shirt will feel the same as any other colored shirt in this case. Just being in hot weather without being in sunlight will not take a black T-shirt any hotter than any other T-shirt. However, if you venture out of the sunlight, the sunlight will quickly be absorbed by your T-shirt and you will very rapidly fill your shirts start to heat up. If the sky is overcast, this will happen more slowly if at all.

There are a few times when this does not apply, however. If you are on the beach or out on the water, the sunlight may be reflected up from the sand or water and it may heat up your T-shirt just as quickly as if you were out under the direct sunlight. You may have noticed that sitting under an umbrella on the beach does not protect you from sunburn. The same is true if you are out in a boat. The sunlight will reflect off the sand or water just like it would off the surface of a mirror and can result in sunburn and a very hot black T-shirt if you’re wearing one.

Top 10 Dorky Clothes Items

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Looking your best is important. That’s why fashion is a popular topic. There are books, TV shows, magazines, radio programs, blogs and much more devoted to just that. With your clothes you make a definite impression on others and therefore you need to know exactly what type of impression each item actually makes. If you are a dork and revel in the fact, you will want to know what clothing is dorky, so you can wear it. If you strive to avoid looking like a dork, you will want to avoid dorky clothes. Below is a listing of the top 10 dorky clothes items that everyone should be aware of.

1.    Socks with individual toes. There is no good reason to wear these things, other than to look dorky.
2.    Pants that are just too short to be pants and not short enough to be capris are dorky.
3.    Anything in adult size clothes that has layers of ruffles is dorky.
4.    Socks and sandals or flip flops always spell dork.
5.    Any clothes that have seasonal decorations all over them are dorky.
6.    White tube socks that are worn with colored pants, or using white tube socks as a fashion staple. They definitely are not fashionable.
7.    Suspenders are always dorky, no questions asked. Leave them for Santa Claus.
8.    Shiny clothes and overly bright clothing is out.
9.    Poorly fitting T-shirts are dorky. T-shirts that are too long, too short, too small or much too large are never a good wardrobe choice.
10.    T-shirts that tell that you are a dork are rather dorky. We can usually see that for ourselves.

Whether or not you are trying to break free of a dorky image or you want to embrace it, you can do so in custom-made T-shirts. With a custom-made tee you get to choose the color (think not too flashy if you don’t want to be a dork), the weight of the fabric, the style of the shirt and the quality of it. As with most things, the higher quality ones will be pricier.  When you have chosen the shirt you want you then can get anything you choose printed on it to make an individual statement.

Some undorky things to print on a T-shirt include:
–    your heritage
–    your beliefs
–    a message to support a cause
–    the fact that you are proud of someone
–    things you love, as long as they are not dorky activities.

Some totally dorky things to have printed on a custom tee include:
–    anything about dorks, including the fact that you are one
–    information about dorky hobbies like stamp collecting, gaming or playing the bagpipes
–    anything about how hot you are.

Luckily for many dorks, it has become pretty popular to focus on being a dork. Many people are actually starting to come clean with the fact that they love dorks. So relax and enjoy it. This is your moment.

Get a dorky custom-made T-shirt and flaunt your dorkiness or that you love a dork.

What To Do If Your Shirt Neck Is Too Big?

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Finding the perfect sized T-shirt is often a problem. Many people find that they are given customized T-shirts that they are expected to wear for a variety of reasons and those T-shirts rarely fit well. Yet, what do you do with a free T-shirt or a shirt that is for a special event and everyone else is wearing it? One of the most common problems with one-size-fits-all T-shirts and ones that are bulk-ordered without specific sizes in mind is that the shirt neck is often too big.

One of the best solutions is to wear an undershirt under your T-shirt. You can match up the color of the oversized T-shirt with an undershirt of the same color for a seamless look. You can also opt for a contrasting color so the layering stands out more and gives you a stand out from the crowd look. By putting another shirt under the one you need or want to wear, women can cover up sufficiently to avoid a risqué look or in the case of men, too much chest hair showing.

If you are in a situation where time is a premium and you don’t have an undershirt to wear or can’t wear it for some reason, double-sided tape will also solve your problem. Simply position the T-shirt as it looks best, tuck it in to keep it taut and gently place double sided tape inside the shirt so it adheres in strategic places to your skin and the shirt. This way the neckline doesn’t shift and overexpose you.

Since the biggest problem with a shirt neck that is too big is the risk of it moving and showing you off too much, anything you can do to help tighten it overall so that is doesn’t move is helpful. Tie a knot in the end of the shirt to get it under control. You can also put a clamp-style paper clip on the back.

How to Dress Like Indiana Jones

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Indiana Jones has been a style icon for decades. Who else can accessorize with a bullwhip and still look like a cultured adventurer? His style is well known throughout the world for its iconic look. Anyone can get this look for a day of adventuring or even just a day spent doing nothing special.

The Hat

The man with the hat, as he is sometimes known, is very rarely seen without his fedora. It’s almost a character all its own in his movies, and no Indiana Jones outfit would be complete without one. His fedora is a brown leather hat with a thick brown band through the middle. It should be well weathered if you want to get the true Indy look down.

The Boots

Indiana Jones’ boots are made by a company called Alden, and they are the epitome of old-fashioned charm and quality. These are the boots that he wore in the films, and they are perfect for tromping through the jungle as well as sitting at a sidewalk café. No matter what Indiana Jones is doing, he is always at home in these thick leather boots. The color of the Indy boot that is now manufactured by Alden is slightly lighter in color than the ones on the movies, but the style is the same and the color is similar.

The Jacket

Indiana Jones’ looks would be incomplete without a thick leather jacket. He always wore a brown jacket that went with the rest of his brown and khaki clothing to create a complete look. This jacket is a consumer version of the original Indiana Jones leather jacket and is a perfect replica of the one worn in the movies. The original jacket that was worn has changed slightly throughout the movies and was in a noticeably different style in the last movie. The original jacket, however, does remain an iconic look that is necessary for any realistic Indiana Jones outfit.

Shirts and Pants

Indiana Jones stuck to a strict uniform of light khaki and browns. He usually wore a light khaki shirt that was a good fit for his brown pants and brown jacket. A similar shirt can be found from many designers as a part of a safari collection. The color khaki is popular enough in current clothing lines to make these plentiful. Stores like The Gap and Banana Republic often have plenty of khaki shirts and brown pants that would be suitable for an Indiana Jones outfit. Just look for the lighter khakis or tans rather than the more olive-toned shirts.

The brown pants that you choose should fit well without being too tight. Tight pants can make it hard to run across collapsing bridges and swing from ropes. The pants should have a slight break when you are sitting. They should not be so high that any ankle will be exposed when you are performing athletic maneuvers. They were made out of wool twill for the movies but a thick pair of cotton pants should serve as a suitable facsimile.

How to dress like you are from the 1950s

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By the 1950s, the world finally started to catch a break. Things were starting to go well. The conflicts of the early 20th century were over. Well, they were sort of over. But officially, World War II had ended and soldiers finally got to come home and resume their lives. You could say that the 1950s were happier days.

However, the 1950s have become the topic of more than one joke. We all like to poke fun about the way things were back in the 1950s. Wives enjoyed household appliances, readymade foods, and vacuuming in heels. Every household had two children, one boy and one girl, a white picket fence, and a great life. For once, people actually had a chance to sink their teeth into that American dream.

Indeed, things were finally simple again in the 1950s. However, the fashions were anything but simple. The 1950s were one of the greatest eras for American fashion and everyone loves a chance to dress up as a 1950s teenager.

At some point in their life, almost every girl has made a poodle skirt out of hot glue and felt. Guys have jumped at the chance to put on a pair of tight jeans, a cool leather jacket, and grease their hair. If only they could still hang around the soda shop and drive around in cool 1950s style cars.

That’s one of the greatest things about 1950s fashion. It’s so easy to recreate. All a girl needs is a cute pair of saddle oxford shoes, some felt, a t-shirt and red lipstick. All a guy needs is a t-shirt, a leather jacket with a popped collar, and some hair grease. Voila! After a few minutes in the craft room, you’ll be ready for your first 1950s high school dance.
You might think that the basis of 1950s fashion is the poodle skirt, the apron, or the leather jacket. But in reality, the building block for 1950s fashion is the t-shirt. People in the 1950s wanted the free and easy life and the t-shirt became a staple in American fashion. Guys wore them; girls wore them tucked in to their flouncy skirts. The 1950s were a great era for t-shirts.

Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to get your hands on a great t-shirt. T-shirts are as popular now as they’ve ever been. The nightly family dinners and the twin beds might not have stayed with us, but the 1950s t-shirt has remained. You can’t dress like you’re from the 1950s without a great t-shirt.

Truly great t-shirts aren’t easy to find these days. The best way to get a great t-shirt is to make one yourself. You can get a whole collection of awesome t-shirts when you have them custom printed. Specially designing your own 1950s style t-shirts is a unique and creative way to get that 1950s look. You’ll love them so much, you’ll want to wear them whether you’re in a 1950s mood or not.

How Color Changing T-Shirts Work in the Sunlight

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T-shirts that change color in the sunlight are extremely popular, especially in certain geographic areas. They make great souvenirs and are a fun novelty item for both children and adults alike. Many people however are simply mind boggled by the idea of a T-shirt that changes color in sunlight. A brief explanation can help you to understand it a little better.

The dye used in dying the T-shirts that change color with heat is called a thermochromic dye. Simply put, thermochromic means that a chemical change in the item causes it to change color with temperature differences. The same principle is used in mood rings, flat thermometers and other heat indicators. Such dyes when used in the fabrication of clothes results in a product which changes color if touched by a warm hand or worn outside in the sun.

In the process of dying such T-shirts there are actually two different dyes which are used. One is the color that you see when the T-shirt is hot, the permanent color. It is a regular dye, but it is covered by the temperature-sensitive dye. The change comes from a chemical reaction, caused by warmth that temporarily blocks the appearance of the thermochromic dye. The thermochromic dye is in microcapsules, which become a part of the T-shirt fabric. These microcapsules change greatly with heat to become transparent. The combination of the thermochromic dye and the permanent dye is the color you see when the tee is cool in temperature.

Such T-shirts have actually been around since the late 1980’s. Some companies that used to produce them have gone out of business because their technology simply wasn’t good enough and the shirts would get damaged easily. However, there are still companies around today, which have invested in a great amount of research and have come up with better technology and a better product.

A similar product also exists, which is a thermochromic print for regular T-shirts. Such prints are typically black and white when cold but they turn multi-colored when exposed to sunlight.  They also rely on thermochromic reactions. Such T-shirts are also very popular in certain regions and as souvenir tees.

These types of T-shirts are lots of fun, but typically do not have a long life expectancy. Therefore, investing in quality T-shirts with fun prints on them is a much better bargain for your buck. In fact, if you choose custom-made T-shirts you can have them made for every mood, every event, every day and in every color. You can opt to print something fun on them, something serious, a statement of fact, a belief, something you are proud of, something you love or a great image that you enjoy.

How To Dress Like A Tomboy

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Are you a girl? Do you want to look like you’re just one of the guys so you can hang out and keep it simple? If this is true, then you want to dress like a tomboy. Here are some tips on how to achieve that look easily.

You’ll need to ditch all the girly clothes and leave them alone. Get yourself some sneakers, Nike, Vans, or Chucks are good and boots are also a good choice just not girly boots, we are talking Doc Marten or work boots here.

You will want some jeans that are comfortable, not low riders, or if it’s summertime, basketball shorts, cargo shorts or just regular old shorts that come down to your knees. Boys don’t wear short shorts, remember that and always avoid skirts of any kind.

When looking at shirts, you will need some t-shirts that are loose fitting and, generally plain looking. You can also throw a button down shirt over it that is also plain and be sure to roll up the sleeves. In the fall, flannel is a great choice for that. Last but not least, top it all off with a baseball cap of some kind.

When dressing like a Tomboy, you can’t just look like one you have to act like a boy. Do things like play video games, get into some sports, and be a bit more physical than a normal girl may be. Remember, Tomboy’s aren’t afraid to mix it up with the boys in football and things like that.

How you talk is also important. Things like “oh my gawd” and “oh no he didn’t” are not things that boys say, ever. Boys say things like “dude”, “man” and “awesome”; you can even combine these into, “dude, awesome!” Remember, girls and boys talk very differently and as for gossip, boys don’t really do it that much.

Yes, you can still have female friends just be sure not to dress like them or act like them otherwise your friends that are boys will start to avoid you. If for a reason you are in a situation where you have to wear dress, make sure it’s not overly girly at all and generally darker in color.

Boys are typically considered to be technology freaks, if you can plug it in, turn it on or have to update it from time to time they love it. This does not really apply to cell phones for some reason. Boys are not on their cell phone all the time texting their friends about everything that is happening.

Remember, boys are all about the immediate what’s going on now. They don’t put too much stock in what is happening tomorrow or the day before. They are generally about what they are currently doing so get into that mindset. They don’t gossip, they brag and they make fun of each other constantly and forget it two seconds later.

Last note, boy’s watch shows on TV like Family Guy, Robot Chicken and anime. They do not watch 90210, Gossip Girl or anything girlie like that. You shouldn’t either. Before you know it you will be just one of the guys.

A Very Brief History of Cotton

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The history of cotton is ancient. Cotton has been grown for thousands of years. There is documentation that cotton was growing on the Earth before Christ was born.  Historians have been able to determine that cotton was growing on the Earth at least seven thousand years ago. The oldest location cotton has been found was in Mexico. Inside an ancient cave there were tiny bits of cotton bolls and of cotton cloth.

The history of cotton dates back to around 3000 BC in Pakistan. Archaeologists unearthed tiny cotton fragments there on digs. Historical documents from India mention cotton in writings dating as far back as 1500 BC.  The consensus for some time seems to have been that the cultivation of cotton began in India. As mentioned earlier, cotton has been found in other parts of the world, dating further back, but those areas are believed to have been sightings of wild cotton. Cotton does grow wild in some parts of the world.

The history of cotton in the United States dates back to the American Indians. There is documentation as far back as the 1500’s and the Coronado expedition to America that speaks of cotton crops. In 1556 Spanish settlers raised a crop of cotton in Florida. In 1607 the first cotton seed was planted by colonists along the James River in Virginia.

In the early 1700’s, it was against the law, to either import or manufacture cloth from cotton in England. This was during the height of the British Empire.  This law was put into effect to help protect the English wool industry.

While American colonists knew how to grow cotton, they lacked what they needed mechanically to maximize production. In 1790 Samuel Slater came to America. Slater had been a cotton mill worker in England. Upon his arrival, Slater constructed the first American cotton mill strictly from his memory of the mill he worked at back in England.

The cotton mill was a move in the right direction, but cotton was still so slow to clean. Production was limited as a result. Eli Whitney recognized this fact and saw a desperate need for a better way beyond hand cleaning to remove the cotton fibers from the seed.  In 1793, he invented the cotton gin. This invention sped up the separation process of removing the cotton from the seed so dramatically that it revolutionized the industry.

Prior to the cotton gin being invented, only one pound could be cleaned per day per worker. A cotton gin could clean 55 pounds of cotton per day. This increase in cotton production completely revolutionized the cotton industry worldwide and is easily one of the most important contributions to the history of cotton.
In 1850 an automated picking machine was invented. Shortly afterwards a stripper machine that could remove bolls and other trash from the plant before picking was introduced. These advancements continued to improve cotton production in a huge way, changing the history of cotton, making it an even more important cash crop worldwide.

Why Do T-Shirts Fade In Color?

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We all love new, vibrant colored T-shirts. In fact, when we first buy them, we often choose T-shirts because they are the perfect color we are looking for. However, the rather unfortunate thing about cotton T-shirts, in particular, is that they will inevitably fade. Some fade very quickly while others keep their color longer. Purchasing certain types of T-shirts and specific care techniques will help to ensure your T-shirts stay looking good longer. So, why do T-shirts fade in color at all?

There are multiple factors that play a part in T-shirts fading with time. Below is a list of the most common ones.

•    Certain fabrics tend to hold dye better than others. Cotton, the most common fabric of T-shirts, is not one of these fabrics. In fact cotton is notorious for fading quickly in color.
•    The laundry is a primary culprit in making T-shirts fade in color. Color cotton tees have a tendency to fade with washes and especially when dried in the dryer, because the T-shirt fibers break down over time.
•    Hanging color T-shirts to dry outside is also not a good idea. The sun has a natural bleaching effect on clothing, so it is advised to let colors dry inside, away from the sun’s rays, to preserve the intensity of the color.
•    The dye process used in the fabrication of the T-shirt material will also impact how quickly or slowly a T-shirt fades. Cottons that have been dyed using hot, longer processes will have more resistant color than other processes, as the chemical process needed to bind the dye to the cotton will be better activated.
•    The quality of the T-shirts is important for fading. Often T-shirts that are cheaper and of less quality will fade much faster than others. This is often because the production methods were not good quality and attention was not paid to the colorfastness of the item.

Tips to prevent T-shirt colors from fading:
•    Turn them inside out before washing them.
•    Use a mild detergent and warm or cool water, not hot.
•    Do not put them in the dryer but hang them inside to dry instead.
•    The first time you wash a new vividly colored T-shirt, add a cup of vinegar or some table salt to the water with the detergent. This will help the dye to set in better.
•    Use one of the new detergents that is specially formulated for dark colors.

If you happen to have some faded out T-shirts, the absolute best way to replace them is with custom-made tees. You can have a shirt completely replicated through custom printing so that it perfectly matches the one that no longer looks good enough to wear.  When you are making the choices required when ordering a custom-made T-shirt, be sure to order the highest quality one you can, especially if you are getting one in a dark or vivid color. They will hold the color best and stay looking good much longer.

How to Dress Like Jack Bauer

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The television show 24 is one of the most popular TV series on right now. The main character, Jack Bauer, is played by actor Kiefer Sutherland. When it comes to fashion Jack Bauer is a pretty cut and dry guy. But that’s what makes dressing like him so much fun; because it is easily achieved.

Because Jack Bauer dresses like a regular guy it is easy to achieve his look. But his look on the show changes with the situation he finds himself in. You can not only achieve one look for Jack Bauer, but you can base your look on what you are going to be doing.

If you are simply going to be casual most of the time you are in luck. Jack Bauer’s casual look rarely consists of anything more than a pair of regular fit jeans and a comfort-fit long or short sleeve t-shirt topped off with a dark colored lightweight jacket.

The shirts he wears are usually lighter brown and cream colors when worn with the jacket which is a dark brown color. If he is wearing just a shirt the colors tend to be on the darker side. Lots of dark gray and blacks will do the trick. Make sure that the shirts are fit snug to your body but not too tight. On the opposite side of the spectrum do not wear a shirt that is too big. Jack Bauer always wears a nice form fitting shirt but he never tucks them in. His jacket is never buttoned up and always opened –probably to allow easy access to his gun.–

Jack Bauer’s jeans are not tight but are also not to baggy. He seems to wear just a regular cut to a relaxed cut pair of jeans and his belts are either black or brown. He is always on the go and running after or away from bad guys, so it makes sense that his jeans need to be comfortable.

Finding yourself in a dressier situation is alright too as Jack Bauer often finds himself has to look snappy or professional at times on 24. Many times on the show Jack Bauer can be seen in a nice pair of dress pants with a long sleeve button down shirt and a sports blazer. His dress shirts are typically darker grays while his dress pants and sports blazer are usually charcoal or black in color.

Jack Bauer’s shoes will of course vary from situation to situation but they are always black in color. If you really want to complete the look you will need a black lightweight bullet proof vest worn over your shirt, but under your jacket. Add a gun and you have the real thing –though you may not want to carry a gun.–

Now complete the look by not shaving for a couple of days to achieve a nice scruff on your face. Keep your hair short if you want to totally look like Jack Bauer. Now you will have the look and feel of what it is like to be Jack Bauer –without all the bullets being shot at you.–

How To Make White T-Shirts Whiter

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It seems that white T-shirts are always the ones that get stained, dirty and discolored the quickest and easiest. Inevitably, our favorite ones are always amongst those that don’t look their best. However, you can relax by knowing that there are multiple things that you can do to make your white T-shirts even whiter.

•    Use bleach in your wash cycle with detergent if the T-shirts washing instructions do not warn against chlorine bleach. You may also soak the T-shirt in a mixture of bleach and water for a short period of time before washing it. Be sure to check instructions and do not leave the T-shirt soaking for too long in bleach or you will have a shirt with holes in it.
•    If your T-shirt’s instructions indicate no chlorine bleach, you can opt for color-safe bleach. Pre-treat stains by applying it undiluted to the spot and then soak the T-shirt overnight in a mixture of water and the same color-safe bleach. Wash as usual.
•    Adding bluing to the rinse cycles of your wash will also help to add some of the whiteness back to your favorite white T-shirt. Be careful to dilute it in water first to avoid blue stains on your tee.
•    Hang your favorite white T-shirt outside to dry it. The sun has a natural bleaching effect. Even in winter, white T-shirts will whiten up outside.
•    Vinegar also works as a bleaching agent for clothes. Add it to your wash cycle or soak your clothes in it. It is also very effective in getting rid of odors in T-shirts. Just be sure to not mix vinegar with bleach.
•    Baking soda added to your laundry will also help to whiten your T-shirts. A half-cup with your regular detergent will boost the detergent’s whitening power.
•    A half-cup of hydrogen peroxide added to your washing machine, along with your laundry detergent will also effectively whiten your tees.

Sometimes no matter what you do, your T-shirts will remain looking less than pristine. If you have neglected them for too long, they are too old or have been stained by certain things, there is no going back. If this is the case, you may want to simply replace the T-shirts in question and start off taking better care of the new ones. If you have a T-shirt that is unique, full of memories or a favorite for some other reason, you can get it recreated perfectly by opting for a custom-made T-shirt.

When investing in new white T-shirts, ordering custom-made ones ensures that they say exactly what you want them to. You get to choose the style, fit and quality of the T-shirts too , which means they will inevitably be amongst the more favored shirts in your wardrobe, earning them more attention and care. Keep your new white T-shirts clean and super white by using the above tips regularly and they will stay looking their best much longer.