Showing posts with label classy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label classy. Show all posts
Friday, 1 May 2015
Wednesday, 7 January 2015
The Importance of High Quality Clothing
Many factors go into shopping for clothes. Fit. Style. Brand. What many people ignore, or are at least ignorant of, is checking for high quality clothing. Quality underlies all other factors when shopping for clothing because without quality, the true value of the clothing is little. Despite the fact that high quality clothing generally means higher costs, quality is an extremely important factor when deciding what clothes to wear.
First and foremost, quality is important because it makes wearing clothes a more enjoyable experience. Clothes that are well made feel better, and simply knowing that one’s clothes are of a high quality can make someone more confident. The excitement that comes with wearing a nice shirt, for instance, can be carried over into the way an individual carries himself. And this, in turn, makes wearing the shirt more fun.
High quality clothing is important also because it looks better on an individual. A shirt made from thin, brittle cotton will look different than a shirt made from thick, lustrous material. There are other ways to ensure the quality of a shirt as well – like checking the seams. For e-commerce purchases, read reviews, research the information on the shirts being sold – such as fabric, fit and even thread count – and ensure a high level of customer service before committing. The higher quality creates a shirt that looks more attractive. From brighter colors to stronger fabric, quality clothing just looks better.
Finally, quality is important because it makes clothing more durable. Clothing that uses higher quality dyes and colors, for example, will stay brighter longer. Moreover, higher quality fabric will stay stronger longer. Even after being washed and dried multiple times, high quality fabric still remains strong and does not fade as much as poor quality fabric. Ultimately, quality lets clothing last longer.
Men have a lot to consider when shopping for clothes. Unfortunately, people often sacrifice quality to obtain a cheaper price. However, the benefits that high quality confers are many and are often worth the price tag. Our advice – Do not scrimp short term. Always go for quality that lasts.
Key Takeaway for the importance of high quality clothing
Wearing high quality clothes makes for a more enjoyable experience.High quality clothing looks better on an individual.
High quality clothing lasts a lot longer than cheaper quality.
Thursday, 1 January 2015
What The Middle Class Doesn't Understand About Rich People
After all, if they did, they would be among the top earners as well. We’ve all heard the remarks: Rich people are lucky, rich people had an unfair advantage, rich people are crooks, rich people are selfish, etc. These are mostly empty statements with little proof to back them up.
Yes, the rich think and act differently from everyone else, and the differences are as extreme as they are numerous.
Here are five things you probably didn’t know about the wealthy.
1. The wealthy are comfortable being uncomfortable.Flickr/Dell
Most people just want to be comfortable. Physical, psychological, and emotional comfort is the primary goal of the middle-class mindset.
The wealthy, on the other hand, learn early on that becoming a millionaire isn’t easy, and the need for comfort can be devastating. They learn to be comfortable while operating in a state of ongoing uncertainty. The great ones know there’s a price to pay for getting rich, but if they have the mental toughness to endure temporary pain, they can reap the harvest of abundant wealth.
It’s not comfortable for a millionaire in the making to forge ahead when everyone around her is negative, cynical, and unsupportive, yet those who can push forward are rewarded with riches for the rest of their lives. Make a list of the five things you must do today that are uncomfortable but will help you build your financial fortune.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Most of us grew up listening to stories of the good old days, when the world was a kinder, gentler place. The music was better, athletes were tougher, and business people were honest. This tradition of the masses is handed down from generation to generation while its purveyors have no idea how insidious and destructive it is. People who believe their best days are behind them rarely get rich, and they often struggle with happiness and depression.
The wealthy are future-oriented and optimistic about what lies ahead. They appreciate and learn from the past while living in the present and dreaming of the future. Self-made millionaires get rich because they’re willing to bet on themselves and project their dreams, goals, and ideas into an unknown future. Much of their planning time is spent clarifying goals that won’t be realized for years, yet they patiently and painstakingly plan and dream of what their future will look and feel like.
Flickr/witz-und-verstand
The negative projections and derogatory labels placed on the rich are endless. One of the most common is that the rich are cocky, arrogant people who think they’re better than everyone else.
The truth is successful people are confident because they repeatedly bet on themselves and are rarely disappointed. Even when they fail, they’re confident in their ability to learn from the loss and come back stronger and richer than ever. This is not arrogance, but self-assuredness in its finest form.
The wealthy have an elevated and fearless consciousness that keeps them moving toward what they want, as opposed to moving away from what they don’t want. This often doubles or triples their net worth quickly because of the new efficiency in their thinking. Eventually they begin to believe they can accomplish anything, and this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. As they move from success to success, they create a psychological tidal wave of momentum that gets stronger every day, catapulting their confidence to a level so high it is often interpreted as arrogance.
REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
Among the many money issues misperceived by the general public is the notion that acquiring great wealth is more about showing off than creating choices. While money certainly brings status, it’s acquired mostly for the purpose of attaining personal liberty.
It’s impossible to be truly free without wealth. The middle class is controlled by employment, government, and other entities with superior resources that dictate what they can and can’t do. It’s tough to make a moral stand for freedom when you’re worried about making your next mortgage payment.
Rich people can afford to stand up and fight oppression. They can afford to buy their way out of unhealthy work environments, bad bosses, and other unpleasant situations. They have the means to enlist the best doctors when they get sick, and they are able to make themselves as comfortable as possible when they can’t get well. When they want to raise money for business, politics, or charity, a few phone calls to their rich friends is all it takes. If they need more money, they throw a party or host an auction and charge $1,000 a ticket. The examples of how much money buys freedom are endless.
Start thinking about the freedoms you’ll gain when you are wealthy!
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/middle-class-doesnt-understand-wealth-2014-10#ixzz3NaOcoQ95
People with high-level formal education like to associate with the academic elite. Physically fit people enjoy spending time with others who are fit. Religious people like to have fellowship with people of faith. And rich people like to associate with others who are rich.
Like attracts like, yet the wealthy are often criticized for having a closed inner circle that is almost impossible to break into unless you are rich. Successful people generally agree that consciousness is contagious, and that exposure to people who are more successful has the potential to expand your thinking and catapult your income. We become like the people we associate with, and that’s why winners are attracted to winners.
In other segments of society this is accepted, but the rich have always been lambasted for their predisposition to engage the company of people with similar financial success. Millionaires think differently from the middle class about money, and there’s much to be gained by being in their presence.
Set a goal to double the amount of time you spend with people who are richer than you. Who knows, it might just make you rich.
Monday, 18 August 2014
Meaning of the Fleur-de-lis
The Fleur-de-lis, or literally "flower of the lily", symbol can be found worldwide. Since it is used in so many ways and applications people often wonder what the true meaning is. As with many things in life there is no one "correct" interpretation of the Fleur-de-lis. There are however, several origins that are widely researched and accepted.
France & The French Monarchy
One of the earliest uses of the Fleur-de-lis was by the royal family of France, as is indicated by its French name. In his book France in the Middle Ages 987-1460: From Hugh Capet to Joan of Arc, historian Georges Duby says that the three leaves represent the three social classes of medieval society: those who worked, those who fought, and those who prayed. The Fleur-de-lis is still used today in France and areas that were settled by the French (Canada, Louisiana, Mississippi, etc.).
Mary holding Jesus in a Fleur-de-lis covered gown.
Source: St. Thomas Aquinas Church
Religious Symbolism
In relation to Christianity, the Fleur-de-lis represents purity and can be associated with the Virgin Mary. It is sometimes used in relation to Gabriel and the Annunciation, where he declares that Mary will conceive and give birth to Jesus. It is also said that the three petals and three sepals (the leaves below the petals) are a tribute to the trinity; that is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Candency Marks
Source: Enchanted Castles
Heraldry
The Fleur-de-lis appears in many, many, family coat of arms; it may even be in yours. It was also used as a cadency mark to differentiate between the birth order of male heirs. Common cadence marks were: label (eldest son), crescent (second son), molet (third son), martlet (fourth son), annulet (fifth son), Fleur-de-lis (sixth son), rose (seventh son), cross moline (eighth son), and octofoil (ninth son). These marks would be added to the coat of arms to show the hierarchy of the family.
The ceiling of Sainte Chapelle in Paris, France.
Source: ontheluce.com
Architecture
The Fleur-de-lis is often used as a decorative element in architecture. It is commonly seen in Gothic and Gothic revival styles, as well as churches and places associated with royalty. The symbol often appears atop fences, in stained glass mosaics, or in friezes and cornices.
Sports
Most famously the Fleur-de-lis has been the logo for the New Orleans Saints football team since 1967. It is also used by the Pacific Coast League baseball team, the New Orleans Zephyrs, the Major League Soccer team, Montreal Impact, and the Italian football team, ACF Fiorentina. Georges St. Pierre, a Canadian Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter, has a Fleur-de-lis tattooed on his leg.
Scouts Emblem
Source: Wikipedia
Scouting
Today the Fleur-de-lis is widely recognized as a symbol relating to the Boy Scouts, although it is really used by many scouting organizations. It was first adopted from the compass rose. The flower points upward (the right direction), neither left or right, which lead backwards. The petals are meant to represent the Scout Promise; Duty to God and Country, Duty to Self, Duty to Others.
A Continuing Piece of History
The origins of the Fleur-de-lis may not be completely clear but it is still being used and honored to this day.
Source
Source
Friday, 21 February 2014
Real Style is Always in the Details
In this column, I decided to forego the traditional “best gift” or “best men’s stores” schtick. Besides, you’ll be seeing that “best whatever” type of thing all over the place and while these lists can be entertaining, for the most part they just encourage you to buy more stuff you don’t need. Rather, we’re going to talk about the little icons of personal style, watches, pens, and cufflinks – those personal accessories that most truly reflect who we are.
When I think of details making a difference, I always remember a particular college professor I had. He was a young guy with tons of style in that moody, intellectual way. Every day, he came in wearing some great outfit and he had this perfect bag that looked like one of those beat-up dispatch cases you always see in the movies but can’t actually find anywhere. Inside he carried antique pens in a double pen case, these great European notebooks, journals and all sorts of other interesting stuff. That guy had style because he paid attention to the details. And, of course, the girls loved him. He knew that his carefully chosen accessories spoke volumes about who he was before he even opened his mouth.
Luxury watchmaker Patek Philippe’s classic ad campaign, “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation,” is a favorite of mine for a couple of reasons. First, the message behind the ad is that certain things in your life, truly personal objects that have meaning beyond their mere function, should never be disposable. Second, because of their very nature, these types of personal tools and accessories are often expensive. For those of you familiar with Patek Philippe, you know that’s a major understatement.
These small, seemingly innocuous things are far more defining than we give them credit for. Literally speaking, they are valuable because they cost us something. In an emotional sense they are valuable because they’re cherished.
Now, I happen to like nice pens. When using a fountain pen, I feel like I am composing a letter, rather than just writing out some words. Pens from makers like Mont Blanc,Omas, Parker or Pelikan aren’t just writing tools, they are an expression of style and personality. Fountain pens in particular are favorites of collectors, executives and those who simply don’t want to forget the purest form of communication – ink on paper. Yes, using a fountain pen takes more effort than typing on a keyboard, but therein lies its charm. There are several excellent pen shops in the DC area, includingFahrney’s, which has served the nation’s capital since 1929.
While to some a shirt is just a shirt, many American men are finally coming to appreciate the distinctive swagger of a French cuffed, spread collar creation fromThomas Pink or Charles Tyrwhitt. If you’re making the switch, you’ll need cuff links. For men, this is an opportunity to show some real personality. From simple silk knots to literal works of art in precious metals, you’ll always want to add more to your collection. A great pair of cufflinks can be found in almost all price ranges, from presidential seal inspired eagles at the White House Gift shop ($30) to beautiful gold and enamel handmade creations at Tiffany & Co. ($2,000). Looking for something imaginative? Take New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s route and go for recycled subway tokens.
The piece of jewelry most every man does wear is a watch. And right now, watches are big. Literally. If you look at almost any magazine or celebrity’s wrist, chunky, glitzy watches are de rigeur. Some, like Franck Muller’s fantastic timepieces, can cost the same as a pair of Mercedes. The aforementioned Patek Philippe watches are so sought after by collectors, they have their own secondary auction market. For the rest of us, there are plenty of excellent options. A good watch should be viewed as an investment, so save up and get something that will stand the test of style and time. A truly timeless Cartier Tank watch can run you around $6,000 but will still be classy well into the next generation. On the other hand, Raymond Weil’s Parsifal watch is a substantial and elegant alternative and at $1,100, will cost you a bit less.
Let me pause here for a moment to comment on something that seems to confuse some guys. As a general rule, sports watches don’t belong with suits. Yes, politicians on the campaign trail often sport a Timex Ironman to remind us that they’re just regular folks too. But unless you’re kissing babies for votes, or actually running a triathlon, leave it in the drawer for the weekend. Remember, just like anything else your watch should fit what you’re wearing.
When you are pickier about the personal items in your life, they take on more meaning. Something else happens too. You wind up with less stuff floating around, but the stuff you do have means something more to you. That’s the important part.
When you are pickier about the personal items in your life, they take on more meaning. Something else happens too. You wind up with less stuff floating around, but the stuff you do have means something more to you. That’s the important part.
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