Silk - The State Secret You Can Wear

There is no more romantic fiber than silk. Prized for thousands of years for it's many luxurious properties, the creation of silk was a once a state secret which only reached Europe as a result of espionage by agents of the Byzantine empire. The fabric itself was worn only by emperors and kings, it's use often restricted by law to the higher echelons of society. This thin but strong fiber was once the major basis for international trade, prized across the world for it's color, for the way it felt against the skin and for it's soft, flattering gleam.

How did it all begin? A very long time ago (2700BC or so), in a land far away, Léi ZÇ", wife of the legendary Yellow Emperor of China, was sitting in her garden, when the cocoon of a silk moth fell into her cup of tea. Léi ZÇ" noticed that the cocoon began to unravel so she pulled on the thread and soon found she had enough to stretch all across her garden. The thread glinted in the light and was very strong, Léi ZÇ" was curious to see if it could be woven into cloth, and so, legend has it, the manufacture of silk, known as sericulture, began.

Archaeologists have found samples of silk in China which date back to 3500 BC, and silk fibers have been found in Egyptian Mummies over 3000 years old, indicating that silk may be one of the oldest commodities in international trade. The Chinese emperors tried to keep the method of silk manufacture secret in order to maintain a monopoly, though they often gave silk as a diplomatic gift. For thousands of years they were largely successful.

Like the Chinese the Romans tried to limit the use of silk; the Emperor Tiberius forbade the wearing of silk by anyone other than the Emperor, thought apparently no-one paid much attention. Still there was no way to actually manufacture silk, until, in the reign of Emperor Justinian, some silk worm eggs were smuggled into the great city of Constantinople. Even there the secret of production was kept close, within the palace walls, and the fabric was reserved for the Emperor and his family as well as for use in diplomatic gifts.

Hundreds of years later, Venetian merchants traded in silk, bringing it to the rest of Europe, but despite many attempts to create a silk manufacturing industry in Europe, the major centers of production are still China, Thailand and India.

Why is silk so prized? There are many reasons. Most silks are made from the cocoons of the mulberry silkworm. These fibers are extremely strong and have a triangular cross section. The flat sides reflect light in interesting ways, giving the fabric its unique gleam. Because it is very absorbent, silk is a very comfortable fiber to wear in hot climates, it is also very light, allowing the wearer to almost forget he or she is clothed at all. The smoothness of the fabric makes it pleasant to feel against the skin, but perhaps silks most outstanding feature is it's ability to absorb dye. Silk fabrics are distinguished by their especially beautiful colors, outstandingly bright or brilliantly subtle. No other fabric takes dye in quite the same way, making silk the first choice fabric for garments which need to be light but warm, beautifully colored and with the delicate sheen of moonlight.

Choosing Comfortable Hosiery

There are many different types of hosiery available and choosing the right one can be very confusing. As most people are interested in comfort, how can people choose the most comfortable type of hosiery for their needs? The most common type of hosiery is certainly tights. These are very common and are available in all sorts of different colors, sizes, thicknesses and varieties. These are suitable for lots of different purposes and uses. Tights are very warm because they cover the whole leg. The waistband and gusset are thicker than the rest of the tights. These can provide warmth however can also be slightly uncomfortable in some circumstances. Tights are a very practical form of hosiery and can be worn every day.

Stockings are very similar to tights however these are not connected together. They are actually like big socks and are held up by suspenders and a garter belt. Stockings can be quite uncomfortable and can cause discomfort. Suspenders can rub against your skin and cause irritation. These can also be too tight if the wrong size is purchased.

Holdups are very similar to stockings. These are also two separate parts however do not need garter belts and suspenders to hold them up. These holdups have elastic around the top of the socks which will hold them up. Holdups can be one of the most comfortable types of hosiery because they are cool during the summer months. If the weather is very hot however then the elastic strap can cause discomfort.

During the winter you might prefer to wear tights rather than stockings. Tights provide extra warmth because the whole thing is connected. Tights are also available in much thicker deniers which will provide more warmth. Stockings might be ideal for the summer however the tight garter strap could be very uncomfortable.

There are many different types of hosiery each with their own advantages and disadvantages. There's no right answer to choose which type of hosiery would be best for you. It's actually all up to your personal preferences and the occasion that you are wearing them for. The weather will also affect the type of hosiery you can wear.

Choose the right type of hosiery for your needs so that you are comfortable throughout the day. Make sure you wear the right size of hosiery so that they are as comfortable as possible.

Flaunt Your Curves in Sexy Plus Size Lingerie - Corsets, Thigh Highs, and Garter Belts

Whether you've got a new honey, want to knock the socks off of your spouse, or simply love to dress up for yourself, you have a need for sexy plus size lingerie! Unfortunately, many plus size women just simply cannot walk into their local Victoria's Secret store and leave with the perfect garment because of limited sizes and selections. Thankfully, there are specialty stores - both brick-and-mortar and online - that cater to the needs for lacy, silk, satiny, sexy lingerie in extended sizes. However, the first step in bringing home those sexy undergarments is to know exactly what to look for!

Corsets


Many women tend to conjure up images of an old-fashioned, uncomfortable garment when they think about corsets. Nowadays, this couldn't be further from the truth. Corsets are used both as "waist training" undergarments to allow for smooth fit underneath clothes - as well as a sexy fashion centerpiece for a romantic evening.

A perfect fit for a corset doesn't mean that you cannot breathe, but rather you should feel "comfortably held in" throughout the bust and torso. Pay close attention to how your corset fastens - usually by lacing or hook attachments - as you may need a bit of help getting into the garment. Women tend to love corsets because the extra shaping effectively takes off 2-3 inches from the waist. The ultimate payoff is a beautiful hourglass figure.

Thigh Highs and Garter Belts


Thigh highs and garter belts are the perfect accessory to match a pair of pretty lacy panties. Whether your preference is to wear thigh high pantyhose with backseams or fishnets (or maybe both!), they may need a little help staying up - and this is where garter belts come into play! Garter belts are typically fashioned with a hook attachment to fasten to the lacy band of thigh highs. Many women relish in the fact that wearing these garments adds a level of sexy surprise to an otherwise understated outfit. Imagine his surprise to see that underneath that conservative business suit that you're wearing lace-trimmed thigh high pantyhose and a garter belt!

It can be challenging to find a wide selection of corsets, thigh highs, garter belts, and other sexy plus size lingerie, but the search doesn't have to be a chore. There are several specialty stores where you can do virtual shopping to your heart's content, including Lingerie.com, Netpinky, and Hips and Curves!

Differences Between Fine and Opaque Tights

There are lots of different types of tights which are available to purchase. This can make it very confusing to choose the right ones for your needs. You should try to work out which type of leg covering is best for the occasion. Fine tights are transparent and you can see through them, whereas opaque tights are much thicker and you can't see through them. Both of them are good but are useful for different purposes. This will depend on the time of the year you are wearing them and also the type of outfit.

Most fine tights are made from nylon; these are available in different thicknesses or deniers. The denier is a numerical value given to the density of the weave in the tights. There are also a lot of different colors to suit skin tones. These are designed to even up your natural skin tone. Fine tights are normally worn if you are wearing a skirt if you don't want to show off your bare legs. They are also ideal for evening out skin tones. There are matte versions and there are also versions which have sheens if required. Fine tights are common to wear at work because they look professional.

Opaque tights are thicker and you can't see through them. These can be made from wool which makes them ideal for winter wear. These are available in lots of different colors and are perfect for non-natural colors such as dark and bright colors. As you can't see through these tights they are better for colors which are not natural. These are available in all types of different designs including animal print designs. Thicker tights are ideal for anyone who wants to wear a skirt without freezing.

Care

The care of these different types of tights will be subtly different. Thinner finer tights are much more delicate and need to be treated with care. Opaques are more forgiving but they can still ladder if you're not careful. Make sure that you take good care of your tights and they should last you for a long time to come. The lower the denier, the lower the thickness and the more likely they are to snag.

Opaque tights are thicker and so much less likely to ladder however this doesn't mean that laddering is completely avoided. They may be stronger however it's still possible for them to ladder. With thicker wool tights you will also have to watch out for bobbling, this can be caused if you machine wash these tights. Now you should be aware of the different types of tights and how you can care for each one. They are very similar to one another but it's a good idea to have both types on hand so that you can wear either when the need arises.

PVC Underwear

The creation of PVC in the 1920s, no doubt brought about the innovative and sexy design of what we now term PVC underwear. It is probably fair to comment that no one back then speculated that this invention would someday create such a huge market of followers.

The reality is though that PVC underwear is here, and its here to stay in all its glory.

PVC underwear has established itself as a great seller in the sexy lingerie market and women (and men) it seems can't get enough of the lingerie lines on offer.

Lingerie manufactures now offer a full line of PVC underwear on top of their regular line of sexy lingerie and you can now find them in the bricks-and-mortar lingerie stores as well as in many online lingerie stores.

It is the the flexibility of PVC that gives us the ability to wear it in the way that we do, lingerie styles include - basques and corsets along with underwear such as thongs and bra sets.

PVC has evolved with this variation in industrial uses leading to the production of PVC with more sensual uses in clothing manufacturing.

When you're wearing PVC underwear lingerie in warm or moist situations, it can be sticky inside. To alleviate the stickiness, PVC underwear should be treated with a thin layer of talcum powder.

In procuring PVC lingerie, the most valuable consideration is the fit. In case, you didn't know it yet, PVC clothing looks best on you when it is worn tightly, against your skin, so when you buy your PVC lingerie, you really must take good care of it and when we say take care of it, we mean really take care of it.

Follow the instructions that come with your PVC outfit and be careful not to scratch it as scratch marks will be permanent. PVC lingerie is on the cutting edge of lingerie fashion, but they do also require care when handling. Cleaning of your PVC underwear is simple - a damp sponge with a little soap and water and your done.

So when you buy PVC intimates like a pvc bra, it will look and feel like no other. It looks shiny, slippery and deliciously appealing. Producers of PVC clothings are not confined to underwear - there are also sexy PVC costumes. The reason most people buy them is because of the look and fantasy that it brings out in you. There are many kinky PVC costumes and sexy waitress outfits and dresses.

So open your eyes to any and all possibilities. PVC underwear has definitely come a long way from its applications in medicine, packaging, electronics, cars and what-have-you. It is plain to see that PVC lingerie can take you to new levels of experiences and sexy new heights.