A woman's useful casual wardrobe

A woman's useful casual wardrobe

Looking for a basic casual wardrobe? Here are the essential pieces that are versatile enough to provide a number of combination outfits.
Most of us have collected our wardrobes over several years' time. With some pieces handed down from family members or friends, others bought at garage sales, and still more purchased at department store sales, we have an eclectic mix of clothing items in closets and drawers.
If you want to be sure that you have the basic pieces for a contemporary trendy wardrobe, here are some of the items that you probably should not be without.

1. Start with quality jeans. Since we typically wear jeans just about everywhere outside of our jobs, from grocery store shopping to kids' soccer games and everywhere in between, jeans should fit well and reflect a flattering image. Few of us look good in baggy or skin-tight jeans. Those that drag on the ground or hang down over our hips, perhaps showing more of our backside than other people want to see, should be avoided. The classy woman chooses a pair that fit her figure. They should not pucker or be too short. Nor should they balloon over her shoes. A neat, trim look makes most women look attractive. If you can afford it, get a couple of pairs in different colors or shades, and perhaps in slightly different styles.
2. Add a casual long-sleeved shirt. Made of cotton or twill, or perhaps a synthetic fabric, a brand-name or brand-look-alike shirt goes very well with basic jeans. Wear a neat (not gaudy or lacy) camisole underneath without showing much cleavage, and you can unbutton your shirt for a casual image at the basketball game or neighbors' cookout. Or button it up, tuck it in (unless the shirt tail is meant to be left out) and you have a more traditional look for a doctor's visit or hair stylist appointment.

3. Consider an ankle-length cotton dress. Denim is a nice choice for this item, but florals or solids also look well. A lightweight cotton fabric works well for summer, perhaps with a light-weight, short-sleeved sweater or jacket. With a side slit to the knee, or a tie-behind belt, you'll have a great, comfortable look that can be semi-dressy for day wear but also suitable for evening lounging.
4. Don't forget a jacket. Denim, twill, cotton, corduroy, or another versatile fabric can be found in multiple jackets styles for all seasons. If you have a heavy winter coat and a light summer sweater, opt for a medium-weight long-sleeved jacket that buttons down the front for more choices in enhancing your look as well as keeping out the cold. Over a turtleneck, your jacket can assume a blazer look, adding a bit of dressiness to your style. Or wear it simply as a jacket, half-buttoned, with jeans and boots to finish a country image.
5. Shop for fun accessories. Coordinate matching necklaces and earrings with bracelets if you wear them. Belts go well with jeans or long dresses, if they fit the particular style of that item. Footwear adds an important dimension, such as the above-mentioned boots for winter (ankle-height works well), sandals for summer, and loafers or slip-ons for in-between times. A casual purse, or bag, can complete your ensemble to help you resemble a magazine model wearing the latest fashions.

Naturally, you will want to add more items of clothes to your wardrobe. But these make a useful starting place that, when combined in various ways, will keep you looking great for many different occasions. So head out the door and go shopping now to start collecting your new great look!

Lightings : All about Fluorescent Lighting

Lightings : All about Fluorescent Lighting

CFLs are More Energy Efficient than Incandescent Bulbs and Halogen
Fluorescent lighting is much more energy efficient that incandescent bulbs (6X more light) or line voltage halogens. The energy bill sets a phase in for this lighting.

All about Fluorescent Lighting
It's time to learn all about fluorescent lighting! Why should fluorescent lighting be used instead of incandescent light bulbs? There are at least two reasons that come immediately to mind.

In President Bush's recent energy bill, he set a timetable to phase out incandescent light bulbs in the next 4 to 12 years in favor of compact fluorescents bulbs, low voltage halogens (line voltage as well), and LED light bulbs.

They're higher in energy efficiency! Imagine, fluorescent lights emit six times more light than their incandescent cousins and last 5 times longer!

The Components on Fluorescent Light Fixtures
The components that all fluorescent light fixtures share are:

Tubes ? These are generally either long, straight tubes or tubes curled into different shapes (for circline fixtures, for instance).

Sockets ? These come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They serve double duty; fluorescent sockets hold the tube in place and transmit power to it.

Ballasts ? The ballast is crucial. When the electric light switch is flipped, the ballast bolsters the electrical current which starts the tube, and then reduces the voltage to the minimum voltage required to keep the light burning properly. This voltage drop is the main reason fluorescents are so power-stingy.
Note: Some fixtures also have trigger switches or starters.

Fluorescent Temperature and Color

Different applications demand different fluorescent temperatures and colors. The temperature (rated in degrees Kelvin) ranges from warm down to cool. Cool tubes are 4000 K and higher and their harsh light is sometimes described as ?factory light?. It's a good choice for task lighting, such as over a wood shop's work bench.

Warm tubes are classified as 3000 K and less. They approximate the light that an incandescent bulb gives off. Medium temperature bulbs are also available. The fluorescent tube's temperature and wattage is generally found on the tube, near the end.

What is color rendering? Simply the tube's ability to illuminate objects. A CRI (Color Rendering Index) of 100 is considered standard, which is logical since it approximates true sunlight. So, tubes with a CRI in the 90's are used for plant grow lights and the typical standard warm tube is around 50.

Identify a Burned-Out Tube

It's easy to identify a burned-out tube. Fluorescent tubes use cathode filaments. In time they wear away leaving sooty-looking deposits on the tube ends and don't do their job properly anymore. This is the normal ?burning out? process, unlike incandescent bulbs that work fine until the filament fails abruptly and quits working.

With a new tube, the black deposits are very faint. The darkness progresses until it's very black and reaches the end of the tube. Time for a new one! A common misconception is that a blinking or flickering bulb indicates a burn-out. Not so; that could be several other things, such as a bad ballast, a faulty starter, or simply a dirty bulb.