The Info Club House » Dolling Up

Insurance for Glasses Online

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:20:03 +0000

You may think that once you have your eyes looked at by an optometrist, you are obligated to fill your new prescription for eyeglasses at their office. This simply isn’t so. As a patient, it is still your right to have your prescription filled at any location. That means that you can take your prescription to another office or, as many more people are beginning to do, you can make your purchase of new glasses at an online store.

Since this is a growing trend, more and more options are becoming available, and online stores, like eyeglasses.com, are continually adding features that benefit current and potential customers. Not only will you have an extremely larger selection from which to choose, but many online stores, including eyeglasses.com, are accepted by major insurance companies. Since the cost of purchasing glasses online is often cheaper than that of the inflated cost at local optometrist offices, you may actually end up saving yourself some money while finding frames that fit you and your facial features perfectly. It is no wonder so many people are changing over to this new way of shopping for eye-wear. There are so many perks that once you try it, you will not want to settle for the limited options you had in previous years.

Graduation Tassels and Cords

admin — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:45:44 +0000

A Brief History of A Long Standing Tradition

The graduation tassel that hangs from the top of a flat graduation cap has a history dating back to the late 19^th century when a code was adopted by all learning institutions in the United States regarding academic dress and regalia. The tassel that adorns the top of a graduation cap is modeled after cords that adorned academic attire dating as far back as medieval times.

Cords were always a part of academic dress, from as far back as the 14^th century. Different types of cords designated different tiers of learning. In Europe, it was common for students of universities and higher education institutions to wear academic attire all of the time, not just for ceremony. There are still universities in England in which academic attire is worn by the students.

Tassels, or cords, would signify not only the tier of learning of an individual, but also any honors that they may have bestowed upon them. This still rings true today as many universities, high schools and even grammar schools use a color on a tassel to signify honors or other distinctions.

In the United States, the square cap with the tassel has been used in graduation ceremonies since the late 19^th century. This academic attire is used from university to grammar school level. At the grammar or high school level, the tassel is usually colored with the school colors. A charm usually hangs from the tassel that indicates the year of graduation. Although graduates often rent the cap and gown needed for the graduation ceremony, they get to keep the tassel, a symbol of their graduation.

For those graduating college, tassels are often adorned with different colors signifying the area of study. A fine art major may have a brown tassel whereas an education major may have a light blue tassel. Different colored tassels can also signify academic achievements. Each school system has different rules when it comes to the tassel and graduation attire, although the American Council on Education governs the basics.

The flat cap with the tassel worn in the United States and Australia as part of a graduation ceremony is modeled after motarboard caps worn by British schoolteachers up until the 1950s. The flat cap with a tassel is now only used as part of the graduation ceremony.

During most graduation ceremonies, the tassel hangs to one side prior to the commencement and, upon receiving their diploma; the graduate flips it to the other side. This is more of a modern tradition, however, and has no historical significance. Another modern tradition, especially with American high school graduations, is to hang the tassel on the rearview mirror of the car of the graduate, signifying to the world that he or she made it through high school, and are now considered an adult.

Jewelry – What’s Today’s Fashion Statement?

admin — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:33:18 +0000

The appearance of jewelry has changed dramatically over the centuries, but the fact that men and women have sought beautiful things to adorn themselves hasn’t. From centuries ago, master craftsmen have woven precious stones and beautiful metals into designs fit for kings and queens.

Expanding technology over the past couple of centuries has wrought some important changes. Most notably, jewelry has become more intricate and elaborate. Custom designs are highly prized as more of the jewelry manufacturing is done by machine.

Materials have also changed. Instead of pure gold which is not always durable, chains and other jewelry are often made of tougher materials and plated with gold. New materials have also emerged, including titanium – one of the hottest new jewelry trends on the market.

Titanium comes in several colors, is very durable and – most importantly – is considered extremely fashionable.

Fashion trends are the most important thing to shape the jewelry industry. From one decade to another, the trends have changed. Often, jewelry trends reflect the ideas, passions and goals of the times. Who can forget the terrific jewelry of the 1960s and 1970s? The “peace sign,” “flower power” and other symbols of the “hippie era” were all the rage. And many of those designs are seeing a return to popularity, along with some of the clothing fashions of the day.

The stones of jewelry have also changed over the decades though some classics remain constant. Pearls, diamonds, emeralds and rubies have remained important. A half century ago, no self-respecting socialite had a jewelry box without a string of pearls – though some were faux pearls.

But pearls didn’t have their first chance at popularity in the 1950s. Thirty years earlier, strings of pearls (or beads if pearls were just out of the question) were a must for those enjoying the Flapper phase.

The costume jewelry of that period, along with jewelry fashions distinctive to other times, have become collectors’ items. Entire businesses are built around the ability to provide those pieces to the movie industry.

What will be next year’s fashion statement? You may think we’ve seen it all with multiple ear piercings, belly button rings, nose rings and tongue rings. But it’s pretty much guaranteed that those trendsetters who start the fashion rages already have something new in mind.

Jeff Lakie is the founder of jewelry Resources a website providing information on jewelry