Shopping & Fashion Blog

ashion has certainly come a long way from the top hats and petticoats era of the past. Clothes today have become a great combination of aesthetics and function. One might think that because of the progress that we have maid in the area of clothing, we would not look back at our past. Reality, as always, has a way of denying what we all think. Today, we all see a resurgence of popular fashion styles from the past. It seems that old school fashion is coming back. First of all, what is old school fashion? Well, it constitutes of fashion coming from 1970s-1980s. Old school fashion is being brought back by fashion conscious young adults and teenagers today. Old school fashion is not only determined by the clothes. Old school fashion is evident in accessories, hairstyles and even in the attitude of the youth today. The question, however, is why? Why is old school fashion coming back?

There are a variety of reasons why people are bringing back old school fashion. First of all, this fascination with the past has started with television. Do you realize that the people who are bringing back old school fashion are the ones who grew up watching reruns of such shows as Happy Days? We are also the same generation who enjoy watching TV shows based on the past such as That 70’s Show.
Come to think of it, we have been exposed so much to old school fashion in other media. Think of the movies: we are the ones who enjoyed watching movies of old shows like Starsky and Hutch, Charlie’s Angels and other movies which have been resurrected from the old death of camp TV to the new life of the cinema. Well, the media certainly brought about the old school fashion revival. It was the spark that created the fire. The question, however, is what fuels the flames? The truth is, people like old school fashion. It looks good and helps them reconnect with a past which was not as complicated as the world today. The reason why old school fashion is constantly gaining popularity is the fact that once it was reintroduced into society, people found that they actually liked it.
Old school fashion is also very popular because of the fact that there’s just something about it that is so sexy. Old school fashion was designed to show of the beauty of the human body. Fitted shirts and pants, cool patterns and designs, these are the trademarks of a past which young people have not experienced.
Another reason why people think that old school fashion is so cool is the fact that, combined with today’s technology of comfortable fabrics, old school designs can be pretty showy and yet casual at the same time.
So why is old school fashion coming back? Well, some people would see it as a metaphor for us trying to reclaim a past that never really belonged to us. It can also be a metaphor for trying to extract the best things out of the past. You see, when old school fashion was brought into this century, we never really brought all of the bad memories with it. Old school fashion could either be a great example of recapturing the beautiful past or it could be a bad metaphor for selective amnesia. You decide.

Christmas gift-buying season is upon us once again, and this year you don’t want to wait until the last minute and buy a lame tie or an uninspired toaster. No, this year you want to do something unique and thoughtful. You want your Christmas gift to show someone you really care about them. You want it to be special.

I’ve put together ten unique Christmas gift ideas to get you started in the right direction. I hope you find something on this list that inspires you to find that perfect gift!

Customize Your Christmas Gift
Customized gifts, by their very nature, show that you put special thought into your purchase. Furthermore, customized gifts are guaranteed to be unique–one of a kind. You can create customized gifts online if you have the Flash plugin installed–shirts, mugs, underwear, baseball caps, you name it.  You can upload your pictures and put them on these items–in fact, you can even order customized Christmas cards and legal US postage stamps featuring your pictures that you upload!
Get Tickets to a Sold-Out Show or Concert
WeHaveSeats.com has tickets to premium and sold-out sporting events, concerts, and Broadway and Las Vegas shows.  Treat that special woman in your life to an unforgettable evening on Broadway. Surprise your man with seats at a sold-out U2 concert. Wouldn’t that go over better than another boring tie?

A Gift That Keeps On Giving
Consider a Gift of the Month Club. Maybe your sister loves coffee, and chocolate is the way to your mother-in-law’s heart. Or maybe you’re a husband who would like to have flowers sent to your wife at work (women love that!). You can have any of these items–as well as pizza, fruit, and cigars–delivered each month to your gift recipient, and each month when the gift arrives, he or she will be reminded that you care.

Plan an Unforgettable Get-Away
A trip on a cruise ship is a sure way to wow someone (see my article on reasons to cruise). Prices are at an all-time low; you can request information from Carnival.com on cruise specials as low as $259 per person.  If you’re looking to splurge a little more, Go Ahead Tours offers distinctive tours to a variety of exotic locations at reasonable prices.  Rekindle your love with a trip to Italy; spend a week in Mexico’s Yucatan; or go truely exotic with an African safari. Let your creativity drive your choice.

Give Someone a Christmas Pet
This works best when you’re shopping for your own spouse or child, but could be considered for others providing you are completely sure they are able and willing to care for it. Puppies and kittens are classic Christmas pets. Save the bunnies for Easter. Birds are an interesting choice. I’m partial to parakeets (read my page on parakeets), because they are inexpensive and rather easy to care for. You may even be able to find a parakeet in someone’s favorite color! They are typically found in shades of blue, green, yellow, and white.

Buy Quality Gifts For Children
Whether you are Christmas shopping for your own kids, nieces or nephews, or even your boss’s kid, you’ll feel better about your gift if you avoid the heavily-promoted, low-value junk sold in most mainstream toy stores. Instead, consider online specialty toy retailers. I think the marble run at KazooToys.Com looks cool.  You might also want to look around at StuffKidsLike.com.  Shop for quality and feel good about your puchases.

Create Something With Your Bare Hands
For a truly unique Christmas gift, avoid commercialism altogether and build it yourself. Be creative. If you’re handy with wood, try a building block set for a child or a bird feeder for an acquaintance. If you knit, try a blanket or sweater in their favorite color. Whatever your talent, a hand-crafted gift will surely be warmly received this Christmas.

Give the Gift of Art
A beautiful painting is a different and classy gift idea. Find the perfect painting at Brushstrokes Fine Art, where they have a wide selection including works by contemporary artists as well as the masters.  Find something to fit your budget and really wow someone this Christmas.

A Magazine Subscription for Any Interest
Not yet inspired by any of the previous gift ideas? This is an easy one: Give a gift subscription to a magazine! It’s affordable, it’s straight-forward, and it shows you were thoughtful about their interests. Give a gardening magazine, for example, or one on sports.  And don’t forget, there are many great children’s magazines as well.  You can find something for everyone.

Name a Star for that Special Person
It may be a bit campy, but it’s definitely different. You can name a real star in the sky.  You even pick the constellation for the star. This may be an easy gift choice when you’re wondering what to get for that person who has everything.

I hope you have found these gift ideas helpful. The general idea is, do something different this Christmas. Let your loved ones know you put extra thought and creativity into your gifts. Let your gifts be remembered long after you’ve given them. That is the hallmark of a great Christmas gift. God bless you and may you have a great Christmas this year!