This is the uniform outfit worn by cheerleading squads usually indicative of the mascot, school, and/or colors of the team and/or organization they are representing. Cheerleading uniforms in the early 1900s were a steadfast symbol of the schools they represented, usually depicting the first letter of a high school or the first letter plus the letters "H" and "S", standing for "high school." These letters were normally sewn onto a sweater-type garment, sometimes even polo shirts in warm weather. While showing school spirit and having a uniformed cheerleading team, these sweater-tops were often hot, bulky, and not very functional for any type of athletic movement. The most common type of sweater worn by cheerleaders in the early 1900s was a long cardigan with multiple buttons, normally worn over a turtle neck shirt or collared blouse. The school letters were often sewn in either corner of the sweater sometimes in the middle of a megaphone shape. Worn with the sweater was a very modest ankle-length wool skirt, often a darker color than the sweater. Some early cheerleading squads chose plaid fabrics for skirts, often these squads were from religious schools and universities, as plaid was the main fabric of their classroom uniforms. Early cheerleading squads wore saddle shoes or flat canvas sneakers with high dress socks with their uniforms. This style of uniform continued through the 1950s and 1960s and is often depicted in movies and photos from that time period.
Modern Styles of Cheerleading uniforms
As the focus of cheerleading shifted from an auxiliary unit, to an athletic pursuits, changes in the uniforms' material, style and fit were necessary.
1960s uniforms
As fashion styles changed through the 1960s so did the cheerleading uniform. Gone were the overly long wool skirts, as pleated shorter skirts became more popular. The long skirt was essentially chopped in half as knee length cotton fabric skirts made for easier movement and a more comfortable experience for the wearer as compared to their wool counterparts. The sweater top changed dramatically, squads elected to wear short sleeve crew neck sweaters in favor of long cardigans. However the school letters and megaphone emblem remained, now being placed in the center of the stylish crew neck sweaters. Some squads in the is time period, in particular high school squads, favored placing an additional embroidered emblem with the squad member's name on the center of the school letter patch. This was a symbol of high school popularity, as it was a huge privilege to be a cheerleader.
1970s uniforms
Much changed in uniform fashion from the 1960s. Most squads now wore more athletic sneakers or tennis shoes. Also more variety was available for sweaters, vests or shells and skirts. The sweater now featured a stripe pattern on the front, in alternating school colors. The letter patch became more elaborate as well, often more colorful and unique. Sweaters were also less bulky and had a more flattering fit. This new slimmed style allowed better movement and more of a functional fit, without sacrificing modesty or tradition. Sweaters were made to fit close to the body for a tighter fit, and the length was tapered very short to eliminate excess fabric overlapping the skirt. Often this caused the cheerleader's bare abdomen to be exposed during movement- by now most sweaters were worn without any shirt or collared blouse beneath them. Different styles were incorporated to give squads more of a choice. Round neck, and v-neck sweaters were popular with squads seeking greater functionality, as cheerleading was becoming more athletic instead of the standard vocal chant. The new sweater styles allowed squads to eliminate the extra collared blouse beneath the sweater, essentially just wearing the sweater over a brassiere. While these uniforms provided a functional style, some modest women in society viewed these outfits as scandalous and racy. The shorter skirts combined with the shorter and tighter sweaters were viewed by some as "improper."
1985-1995 uniforms
Theses uniforms are similar to the current uniforms except slouch socks especially wigwam slouch socks were very popular to wear. Also Keds champion sneakers were worn by many cheerleaders. A typical school cheerleading uniform from 1985 doesn't look much different than a uniform today. The favored top in this period was a waist-length button down sleeveless vest, worn with or without a turtle-neck layer underneath. The vest top was a modest style, and was mostly un-revealing. The choice skirt remained a pleat model, but with added color striping around the bottom hem. The length style preferred was shortened to mid-thigh or slightly longer for most squads. The general rule at this time was the skirt had to be down the the end of fingers when arm down at side.
Current Uniforms
Most uniforms are currently made from a polyester blended fabric, usually containing spandex as well. The top (currently called a vest or shell) is form fitting along the body and comes in either long sleeves or no sleeves. Most American school squads wear a sleeveless top with either a sports bra or an athletic tank top underneath. If the shell lacks sleeves, many teams wear a turtle neck bodysuit under it, although this is not required specifically. The bodysuits can be either leotard like or covering only to the bottom of the ribcage. Due to guidelines imposed by the National Federation of High Schools, high school squads must have a top that covers their midriff with arms by their sides. Most school sanctioned squads have modest looking uniform tops that are usually a waist-length fit, similar to a normal fitting shirt, showing the midriff only when moving, jumping, or bending. These requirements do not apply to all star cheerleading organizations, therefore, many have tops that stop at or just below the bottom of the bra line. Another growing trend among all star teams is having sections of material missing (allowing bare skin to show) across the top for the chest, the shoulders, the top of the back, or portions of the arms. The length of skirts has shortened dramatically, with the average length for skirts at both high school and all star being 12 to 14 inches, and lengths are shrinking every year, however some coaches and various team sponsors encourage wearing shorter skirts due to safety reasons (too much fabric can be dangerous while tumbling.) Skirts are worn over top of colored or metallic spandex/polyester briefs, also called lollies or spankies. These briefs are worn over top of underpants and are sometimes printed with starts, dots, etc. The briefs can also sometimes have a team logo, such as a paw print, sewn on the side or across the behind(this started back in the late 80's early 90's for sure).
NOTE:
2008年11月6日星期四
Onesie
Onesie or onesize is American English for a bodysuit for infants designed to conceal a diaper when worn. It is also called a creeper, diaper shirt or snapsuit. The British English equivalent is babygro. Onesie is a genericized trademark registered to Gerber Childrenswear, Inc., which continues to defend its trademark. Babygro is also a trademark brand, invented in the U.S. in the 1950s by Walter Artzt.
The shirt extends past the waist and has snaps or buttons that allow it to be closed over the crotch, with enough extra room to accommodate a diaper. Onesies are beneficial to the wearer and caregiver alike because they offer support to help keep the diaper in place. Onesies are frequently worn by infants in place of a shirt due to their ability to stay tucked inside the waist of pants, which is difficult to maintain with infants wearing regular style shirts. Onesies also are sometimes made so that the shirting material extends down the thigh about half-way to the knees, with snaps along the crotch to allow for the diaper to be changed without removing the garment completely. They may also cover the entire leg and feet. They are worn commonly by very small children, incontinent persons, and infantilists.
Onesies are popular gifts for expecting or new mothers. They are sometimes incorporated into party games played during a baby shower. One activity is for guests to custom decorate plain onesies prior to the arrival of the expecting or new mother.
NOTE:
The shirt extends past the waist and has snaps or buttons that allow it to be closed over the crotch, with enough extra room to accommodate a diaper. Onesies are beneficial to the wearer and caregiver alike because they offer support to help keep the diaper in place. Onesies are frequently worn by infants in place of a shirt due to their ability to stay tucked inside the waist of pants, which is difficult to maintain with infants wearing regular style shirts. Onesies also are sometimes made so that the shirting material extends down the thigh about half-way to the knees, with snaps along the crotch to allow for the diaper to be changed without removing the garment completely. They may also cover the entire leg and feet. They are worn commonly by very small children, incontinent persons, and infantilists.
Onesies are popular gifts for expecting or new mothers. They are sometimes incorporated into party games played during a baby shower. One activity is for guests to custom decorate plain onesies prior to the arrival of the expecting or new mother.
NOTE:
Angels Fancy Dress
Angels is the world’s longest-established supplier of costumes to the entertainment industry and general public. A British business that has supplied costumes to 27 films that have received Best Costume Oscars, the most recent being Marie Antionette, the company is unique as having been in the same family for six consecutive generations.
In 2005, the company received international headlines after the rediscovery of the robe worn by Alec Guinness as Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars on the rails of its fancy dress division in London. The Obi Wan Kenobi cloak (with a reserve price of £60,000) was auctioned along with other film items from the Angels archive at Bonhams of Knightsbridge on March 6th 2007.
Early years
Morris Angel started his business in 1840 in the Seven Dials area of London, near Covent Garden, selling second-hand clothing and tailors’ samples from Savile Row. Morris Angel’s shop became popular with theatrical actors, who at that time had to purchase their own clothes and costumes for auditions and performances. It was a request from actors to hire rather than buy outfits for the duration of a performance which served as catalyst for the launch of the costume-hiring business that is the Angels trade to this day.
Morris Angel brought his son Daniel into the business in 1870, and seven years later, the family opened a shop on Shaftesbury Avenue (this shop is now the site of Angels Fancy Dress). The quality and style of the clothes offered by Daniel was of a very high quality, and soon theatrical managers superseded the actor clients in seeking his expertise and services for their West End shows; by 1921, every major show in London’s West End was being dressed by the Angel family.
The Advent Of Cinema And The Oscars
With the advent of cinema, the Angel family made their second major diversification by supplying costumes to the new movie industry. The crystallization of the success of this move came when Angels supplied its first Academy Award-winning costumes to Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet in 1948. To date, 26 further Best Costume Oscars have followed for work that the company has undertaken on major international films, including Star Wars, Titanic, Lawrence Of Arabia, The Great Gatsby, The Aviator and Memoirs of a Geisha. At the time of writing, two movies - The Queen and Marie Antoinette – featuring costumes supplied by Angels – have just received 2007 Oscar nominations for Achievement In Costume Design.
Angels in The 21st Century
Today, this London-based business occupies a unique position as London’s (and the world’s) longest-established supplier of costumes. The business has two divisions: Angels The Costumiers, based in North London, which supplies the TV, film and theatre industries worldwide from its warehouse which contains over a million costumes spread across 5.5 miles worth of hanging rails. Angels Fancy Dress, on Shaftesbury Avenue, is the leading UK supplier of top class fancy-dress costumes and together with the Angels website provides the largest range of party outfits and accessories in the UK.
Tim Angel is the fifth generation of the family to work in the business and is Company Chairman (as well as being former Chairman of BAFTA). A long-running tradition in the Angel family is that the first son of each generation is named either Morris or Daniel. Tim (whose first name is Morris) joined his father, Daniel, in the family business in 1967. He now works from the Hendon Head Office with son, Daniel. Tim’s daughter, Emma runs Angels Fancy Dress.
Trivia
Angels Fancy Dress has supplied fancy dress items to parties hosted by Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John, and is regularly used by members of the Royal Family, though the controversial Nazi uniform worn by Prince Harry in 2004 did not come from Angels, as they have a policy of non-rental of politically sensitive costumes.
In the late 80s, fashion designer Alexander McQueen worked at Angels.
In September 2005, the original cloak worn by Alec Guinness as Obi Wan Kenobi in George Lucas’s Star Wars film was rediscovered hanging on the rails at Angels Fancy Dress – having been unwittingly available to the general public for some time as a monks-style robe, and having been used as crowd scene costumes in films including The Mummy. The provenance of the piece was confirmed by John Mollo, who created the item for the film in 1977, and received an Oscar for Best Costume for the work of the film.
The Obi Wan Kenobi cloak was auctioned by Bonhams in London on March 6th 2007 for £55,000. It formed part of a sale of 400 lots from the Angels archive – alongside iconic costumes from James Bond, Dr Who, and Highlander, and items worn onscreen by Ava Gardner, Erroll Flyn, David Niven.
For the first time in the history of the Bonhams auction house, members of the general public were able to try on items before placing bids.
NOTE:
In 2005, the company received international headlines after the rediscovery of the robe worn by Alec Guinness as Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars on the rails of its fancy dress division in London. The Obi Wan Kenobi cloak (with a reserve price of £60,000) was auctioned along with other film items from the Angels archive at Bonhams of Knightsbridge on March 6th 2007.
Early years
Morris Angel started his business in 1840 in the Seven Dials area of London, near Covent Garden, selling second-hand clothing and tailors’ samples from Savile Row. Morris Angel’s shop became popular with theatrical actors, who at that time had to purchase their own clothes and costumes for auditions and performances. It was a request from actors to hire rather than buy outfits for the duration of a performance which served as catalyst for the launch of the costume-hiring business that is the Angels trade to this day.
Morris Angel brought his son Daniel into the business in 1870, and seven years later, the family opened a shop on Shaftesbury Avenue (this shop is now the site of Angels Fancy Dress). The quality and style of the clothes offered by Daniel was of a very high quality, and soon theatrical managers superseded the actor clients in seeking his expertise and services for their West End shows; by 1921, every major show in London’s West End was being dressed by the Angel family.
The Advent Of Cinema And The Oscars
With the advent of cinema, the Angel family made their second major diversification by supplying costumes to the new movie industry. The crystallization of the success of this move came when Angels supplied its first Academy Award-winning costumes to Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet in 1948. To date, 26 further Best Costume Oscars have followed for work that the company has undertaken on major international films, including Star Wars, Titanic, Lawrence Of Arabia, The Great Gatsby, The Aviator and Memoirs of a Geisha. At the time of writing, two movies - The Queen and Marie Antoinette – featuring costumes supplied by Angels – have just received 2007 Oscar nominations for Achievement In Costume Design.
Angels in The 21st Century
Today, this London-based business occupies a unique position as London’s (and the world’s) longest-established supplier of costumes. The business has two divisions: Angels The Costumiers, based in North London, which supplies the TV, film and theatre industries worldwide from its warehouse which contains over a million costumes spread across 5.5 miles worth of hanging rails. Angels Fancy Dress, on Shaftesbury Avenue, is the leading UK supplier of top class fancy-dress costumes and together with the Angels website provides the largest range of party outfits and accessories in the UK.
Tim Angel is the fifth generation of the family to work in the business and is Company Chairman (as well as being former Chairman of BAFTA). A long-running tradition in the Angel family is that the first son of each generation is named either Morris or Daniel. Tim (whose first name is Morris) joined his father, Daniel, in the family business in 1967. He now works from the Hendon Head Office with son, Daniel. Tim’s daughter, Emma runs Angels Fancy Dress.
Trivia
Angels Fancy Dress has supplied fancy dress items to parties hosted by Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John, and is regularly used by members of the Royal Family, though the controversial Nazi uniform worn by Prince Harry in 2004 did not come from Angels, as they have a policy of non-rental of politically sensitive costumes.
In the late 80s, fashion designer Alexander McQueen worked at Angels.
In September 2005, the original cloak worn by Alec Guinness as Obi Wan Kenobi in George Lucas’s Star Wars film was rediscovered hanging on the rails at Angels Fancy Dress – having been unwittingly available to the general public for some time as a monks-style robe, and having been used as crowd scene costumes in films including The Mummy. The provenance of the piece was confirmed by John Mollo, who created the item for the film in 1977, and received an Oscar for Best Costume for the work of the film.
The Obi Wan Kenobi cloak was auctioned by Bonhams in London on March 6th 2007 for £55,000. It formed part of a sale of 400 lots from the Angels archive – alongside iconic costumes from James Bond, Dr Who, and Highlander, and items worn onscreen by Ava Gardner, Erroll Flyn, David Niven.
For the first time in the history of the Bonhams auction house, members of the general public were able to try on items before placing bids.
NOTE:
Birkin bag
The "Birkin" bag is a handbag manufactured by leather goods and ready-to-wear manufacturer Hermès. It is named after British-born actress and singer Jane Birkin, a longtime resident of France.
Origin
Press accounts of the bag's genesis differ in details. Birkin told noted fashion writer Dana Thomas that while seated next to Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas in 1984 on a Paris to London flight, she opened her Hermès-made datebook and a flurry of loose notes fell to the floor. Dumas took her datebook and returned it a few weeks later with a pocket sewn into the back (which has since become standard). Birkin went on to discuss with Dumas her difficulty in finding a leather weekend bag and at his prompting, described her ideal. Shortly thereafter, the bag she described arrived at her flat with a note from Dumas.[1]
A more piquant version of the story was repeated by film director Andrew Litvack. He put the year as 1981 and says that Birkin was called to Hermès to receive the first prototype. As she was leaving with the bag, they asked if she had forgotten something. Puzzled, she realized they wanted her to pay for it. Litvack claims Birkin was eventually reimbursed, and now receives a 10% discount on Hermès products.[2]
Availability
Generally, the price of a Birkin starts at approximately $7500 USD, not including sales taxes, but can reach 5- and sometimes 6-digit prices, particularly when the bag is constructed from exotic animal skins. Allegedly, the waiting list for a Birkin is over two years. In practice, however, many stores have a "call list" and an "order list", both usually consisting of clients who have in one way or another become "regulars" or have formed a relationship with a particular Sales Associate.
Hermès does not sell its handbags online or to online retailers. Authentic Birkin bags are sometimes available on auction websites such as eBay, though often at a very high markup over the retail price. It is also possible to acquire a used Birkin bag at couture-consignment shops. In Plum Sykes' novel Bergdorf Blondes (2004), the character Julie Bergdorf steals a Birkin from her family's store, Bergdorf Goodman, to avoid a three-year wait, although in reality Birkins are only sold by Hermès, are not available (as claimed in the novel) in pink with fur trim, and probably would not require such a long wait for a socialite like her.
Investment
Hermès handbags have been noted for being one of the few brands of handbag to either hold or increase in value with time,[citation needed] giving them the distinction of being considered by some as "investment quality" products. Author Michael Tonello in his book, Bringing Home The Birkin, published by William Morrow in 2008, shares his experiences buying and selling the Birkin Bag on eBay. He recounts how he acquired Birkin Bags in Spain and France and became a powerhouse eBay seller until Hermes refused to sell him anymore Birkins. The book provides an insiders peek at the mystique of this exclusive accessory.
Manufacture and materials
Hermès Birkin handbags are hand-built by experienced craftsmen, one of the primary factors contributing to the high price of all Hermès handbags. The production of each bag may take up to 48 work hours, translating into weeks. They are distributed worldwide to Hermès boutiques on intentionally unpredictable schedules and in even fewer reliable quantities, creating a sense of scarcity and exclusivity around the product.
The exterior of the bag can be made of a variety of leathers. One of the most expensive variations of the bag is made of saltwater crocodile skin. The price of these bags depends on the size of the scales. Bags with smaller scales cost much more than those with larger scales.
Typically, a Birkin bag's lining is made of goat skin and its color will match the bag's exterior color. The bags can also be special-ordered from custom leathers and colors, but order privileges are granted only to certain established Hermès clients, and again, on an unpredictable basis. Orders are reportedly submitted to Paris twice a year, with "special-order" bags coming back anywhere from a year to 2 years later. Occasionally, special orders may never arrive, as Hermès is notorious for discontinuing certain leathers or colors without notice, frequently making the arrival and "pick-up" of a special order Birkin a cause for some fun fanfare both for the client, and occasionally even for boutique staff.
The metallic hardware on a Birkin bag (the lock, keys, buckle hardware and feet studs) are typically plated with gold or other precious metals, such as palladium, which, unlike silver, will not tarnish. The metal lock may be covered with leather as an option when custom ordering. Certain notable Hermès clients have paved buckle hardware with diamonds, notoriously resulting in one black crocodile skin Birkin which notably sold for close to $65,000 at auction in 2005. [3]
Birkin lock keys are enclosed in a type of leather lanyard known as a "clochette" which is typically, but not necessarily, carried by looping it through one of a Birkin's handles. The Birkin bag may be locked by closing the bag's top flaps over all buckle loops, wrapping the buckle straps, and closing the lock on the front hardware.
Locks and keys are number-coded.
Authenticity
Because of the high profile of the Hermès brand and the high prices attached to their products, there is a significant amount of counterfeit Hermès merchandise produced and sold, some of which ends up on online retail and auction websites such as eBay.
Authenticity can sometimes be determined by the presence of these characteristics:
Appropriate pricing - a Birkin in any vendable condition will never sell for less than 50% of its original value. Even stitching
Gilt or blind stamped in the front face under the tap: "Hermès Paris, Made in France"
Craftsman's marks and letter year of manufacture stamped in a square underside of right belt. The year of manufacture should be consistent with condition and history of bag
Interior leather zipper tag parallel with zipper hardware, not perpendicular
Feel of superior leather. The touch and weight of fine leather are not easily duplicated.
In popular culture
In pop culture, the Birkin has become a symbol of ultimate luxury, although its ostentatious use by the wives and girlfriends of British footballers during the 2006 World Cup caused some fashion writers to speculate about its continued desirability.[4] In Paris it has been associated with, among others, so-called BCBG (bon chic bon genre) women. Jane Birkin remarked that by 2006, the fame of the bag had exceeded her own: "Now when my daughter [actress Charlotte Gainsbourg] goes to America, they ask her if she is the daughter of the bag."[5]
In recent years the bag has featured prominently on popular television shows such as Sex and the City[6], Gilmore Girls[7], and Will & Grace[8]. In the final season of The Sopranos, Dr. Melfi carried a Birkin bag into her own therapy session. In Gossip Girl, Lily van der Woodsen carries her Birkin bag in black and tan in season one.
A widely publicized incident at London's Heathrow Airport in 2006 where actress Lindsay Lohan's orange Birkin bag was reportedly stolen drew further attention to the bag. The actress claimed that the lost bag was full of valuables worth upwards of $1,000,000. It was returned shortly thereafter.[9] Sophie Albou, founder of the fashion house Paul & Joe, claimed to have bought a Birkin each season for ten years, describing her collection as "an expensive addiction but ... part of my heritage as a French woman".[10]
NOTE:
Origin
Press accounts of the bag's genesis differ in details. Birkin told noted fashion writer Dana Thomas that while seated next to Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas in 1984 on a Paris to London flight, she opened her Hermès-made datebook and a flurry of loose notes fell to the floor. Dumas took her datebook and returned it a few weeks later with a pocket sewn into the back (which has since become standard). Birkin went on to discuss with Dumas her difficulty in finding a leather weekend bag and at his prompting, described her ideal. Shortly thereafter, the bag she described arrived at her flat with a note from Dumas.[1]
A more piquant version of the story was repeated by film director Andrew Litvack. He put the year as 1981 and says that Birkin was called to Hermès to receive the first prototype. As she was leaving with the bag, they asked if she had forgotten something. Puzzled, she realized they wanted her to pay for it. Litvack claims Birkin was eventually reimbursed, and now receives a 10% discount on Hermès products.[2]
Availability
Generally, the price of a Birkin starts at approximately $7500 USD, not including sales taxes, but can reach 5- and sometimes 6-digit prices, particularly when the bag is constructed from exotic animal skins. Allegedly, the waiting list for a Birkin is over two years. In practice, however, many stores have a "call list" and an "order list", both usually consisting of clients who have in one way or another become "regulars" or have formed a relationship with a particular Sales Associate.
Hermès does not sell its handbags online or to online retailers. Authentic Birkin bags are sometimes available on auction websites such as eBay, though often at a very high markup over the retail price. It is also possible to acquire a used Birkin bag at couture-consignment shops. In Plum Sykes' novel Bergdorf Blondes (2004), the character Julie Bergdorf steals a Birkin from her family's store, Bergdorf Goodman, to avoid a three-year wait, although in reality Birkins are only sold by Hermès, are not available (as claimed in the novel) in pink with fur trim, and probably would not require such a long wait for a socialite like her.
Investment
Hermès handbags have been noted for being one of the few brands of handbag to either hold or increase in value with time,[citation needed] giving them the distinction of being considered by some as "investment quality" products. Author Michael Tonello in his book, Bringing Home The Birkin, published by William Morrow in 2008, shares his experiences buying and selling the Birkin Bag on eBay. He recounts how he acquired Birkin Bags in Spain and France and became a powerhouse eBay seller until Hermes refused to sell him anymore Birkins. The book provides an insiders peek at the mystique of this exclusive accessory.
Manufacture and materials
Hermès Birkin handbags are hand-built by experienced craftsmen, one of the primary factors contributing to the high price of all Hermès handbags. The production of each bag may take up to 48 work hours, translating into weeks. They are distributed worldwide to Hermès boutiques on intentionally unpredictable schedules and in even fewer reliable quantities, creating a sense of scarcity and exclusivity around the product.
The exterior of the bag can be made of a variety of leathers. One of the most expensive variations of the bag is made of saltwater crocodile skin. The price of these bags depends on the size of the scales. Bags with smaller scales cost much more than those with larger scales.
Typically, a Birkin bag's lining is made of goat skin and its color will match the bag's exterior color. The bags can also be special-ordered from custom leathers and colors, but order privileges are granted only to certain established Hermès clients, and again, on an unpredictable basis. Orders are reportedly submitted to Paris twice a year, with "special-order" bags coming back anywhere from a year to 2 years later. Occasionally, special orders may never arrive, as Hermès is notorious for discontinuing certain leathers or colors without notice, frequently making the arrival and "pick-up" of a special order Birkin a cause for some fun fanfare both for the client, and occasionally even for boutique staff.
The metallic hardware on a Birkin bag (the lock, keys, buckle hardware and feet studs) are typically plated with gold or other precious metals, such as palladium, which, unlike silver, will not tarnish. The metal lock may be covered with leather as an option when custom ordering. Certain notable Hermès clients have paved buckle hardware with diamonds, notoriously resulting in one black crocodile skin Birkin which notably sold for close to $65,000 at auction in 2005. [3]
Birkin lock keys are enclosed in a type of leather lanyard known as a "clochette" which is typically, but not necessarily, carried by looping it through one of a Birkin's handles. The Birkin bag may be locked by closing the bag's top flaps over all buckle loops, wrapping the buckle straps, and closing the lock on the front hardware.
Locks and keys are number-coded.
Authenticity
Because of the high profile of the Hermès brand and the high prices attached to their products, there is a significant amount of counterfeit Hermès merchandise produced and sold, some of which ends up on online retail and auction websites such as eBay.
Authenticity can sometimes be determined by the presence of these characteristics:
Appropriate pricing - a Birkin in any vendable condition will never sell for less than 50% of its original value. Even stitching
Gilt or blind stamped in the front face under the tap: "Hermès Paris, Made in France"
Craftsman's marks and letter year of manufacture stamped in a square underside of right belt. The year of manufacture should be consistent with condition and history of bag
Interior leather zipper tag parallel with zipper hardware, not perpendicular
Feel of superior leather. The touch and weight of fine leather are not easily duplicated.
In popular culture
In pop culture, the Birkin has become a symbol of ultimate luxury, although its ostentatious use by the wives and girlfriends of British footballers during the 2006 World Cup caused some fashion writers to speculate about its continued desirability.[4] In Paris it has been associated with, among others, so-called BCBG (bon chic bon genre) women. Jane Birkin remarked that by 2006, the fame of the bag had exceeded her own: "Now when my daughter [actress Charlotte Gainsbourg] goes to America, they ask her if she is the daughter of the bag."[5]
In recent years the bag has featured prominently on popular television shows such as Sex and the City[6], Gilmore Girls[7], and Will & Grace[8]. In the final season of The Sopranos, Dr. Melfi carried a Birkin bag into her own therapy session. In Gossip Girl, Lily van der Woodsen carries her Birkin bag in black and tan in season one.
A widely publicized incident at London's Heathrow Airport in 2006 where actress Lindsay Lohan's orange Birkin bag was reportedly stolen drew further attention to the bag. The actress claimed that the lost bag was full of valuables worth upwards of $1,000,000. It was returned shortly thereafter.[9] Sophie Albou, founder of the fashion house Paul & Joe, claimed to have bought a Birkin each season for ten years, describing her collection as "an expensive addiction but ... part of my heritage as a French woman".[10]
NOTE:
Fur clothing
Fur clothing is clothing made entirely of, or partially of, the fur of animals. Fur is one of the oldest forms of clothing, thought widely used as hominids first expanded outside of Africa. Some view fur as luxurious; others reject it due to animal welfare and ethical concerns. The term 'a fur' is often used to refer to a coat, wrap, or shawl made from the fur of animals.
A fur mozetta, worn by a canon, Flanders
History and use
Fur is generally thought to have been among the first materials used for clothing and bodily decoration. The exact date when fur was first used in clothing is debated. It is known that several species of hominoids including Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis used fur clothing.
Nutria jacket, reversible (2008)
Wholesale dealer (Leipzig, 1862)
Fur or skin clothing of some form is worn in virtually every country. Furs are especially popular in colder countries due to their excellent properties of insulation. The Inuit peoples of the Arctic relied on fur for most of their clothing, and it also forms a part of traditional Russian, Scandinavian and Japanese clothing.
Animal furs used in garments and trim may be dyed bright colors or with patterns, often to mimic exotic animal pelts: alternatively they may be left their original pattern and color. Fur may be shorn down to imitate the feel of a soft velvet fabric, creating a fabric called shearling.
Sources
Common animal sources for fur clothing and fur trimmed accessories include fox, rabbit, mink, beaver, stoat (ermine), otter, sable, seals, cats, dogs, coyotes, and chinchilla. Some of these are more highly prized than others, and there are many grades and colors.
Processing of fur
The manufacturing of fur clothing involves obtaining animal pelts where the hair is left on the animal's processed skin. In contrast, leather made from any animal hide involves removing the fur from the skin and using only the tanned skin. The use of wool involves shearing the animal's hair from the living animal, so that the wool can be regrown. Fake fur or "faux fur" designates any synthetic material, produced from oil, that attempts to mimic the appearance and feel of real fur.
The chemical treatment of fur to increase its felting quality is known as carroting, as the process tends to turn the tips of the fur a yellowish-red "carrot like" color.
A furrier is a person who makes, repairs, alters, cleans, or otherwise deals in furs of animals. Fur clothing is clothing made entirely of, or partially of, the fur of animals.
Anti-fur campaigns
Anti-fur activists approach fur clothing wearers with a sign reading 'Attention! Skin of tortured animals'
Anti-fur campaigns reached a peak in the 1980s and 1990s, with the participation of numerous celebrities.[1]
Animal rights advocates object to the trapping and killing of wildlife, and to the confinement and killing of animals on fur farms due to concerns about the animals' welfare, suffering, and death in general.
Some animal welfare groups have disrupted fur fashion shows with protests while others sponsor anti-fur poster contests and fashion shows featuring faux furs or other alternatives to fur clothing. These groups sponsor "Compassionate Fashion Day" on the third Saturday of August to promote their anti-fur message. Other groups participate in "Fur Free Friday", an event held annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving that occurs globally with the intent to bring the issue of fur to light through educational displays, protests and other methods of campaigning.
In Canada, a government survey[2] showed two thirds of Canadians supported the hunting of seals if the regulations under Canadian law are enforced. Three quarters of Canadians were not opposed to the seal hunt, after being informed of these regulations.
Products from all marine mammals, even from abundant populations and regulated hunts, such as the Canadian seal hunt, are banned in the United States.
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A fur mozetta, worn by a canon, Flanders
History and use
Fur is generally thought to have been among the first materials used for clothing and bodily decoration. The exact date when fur was first used in clothing is debated. It is known that several species of hominoids including Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis used fur clothing.
Nutria jacket, reversible (2008)
Wholesale dealer (Leipzig, 1862)
Fur or skin clothing of some form is worn in virtually every country. Furs are especially popular in colder countries due to their excellent properties of insulation. The Inuit peoples of the Arctic relied on fur for most of their clothing, and it also forms a part of traditional Russian, Scandinavian and Japanese clothing.
Animal furs used in garments and trim may be dyed bright colors or with patterns, often to mimic exotic animal pelts: alternatively they may be left their original pattern and color. Fur may be shorn down to imitate the feel of a soft velvet fabric, creating a fabric called shearling.
Sources
Common animal sources for fur clothing and fur trimmed accessories include fox, rabbit, mink, beaver, stoat (ermine), otter, sable, seals, cats, dogs, coyotes, and chinchilla. Some of these are more highly prized than others, and there are many grades and colors.
Processing of fur
The manufacturing of fur clothing involves obtaining animal pelts where the hair is left on the animal's processed skin. In contrast, leather made from any animal hide involves removing the fur from the skin and using only the tanned skin. The use of wool involves shearing the animal's hair from the living animal, so that the wool can be regrown. Fake fur or "faux fur" designates any synthetic material, produced from oil, that attempts to mimic the appearance and feel of real fur.
The chemical treatment of fur to increase its felting quality is known as carroting, as the process tends to turn the tips of the fur a yellowish-red "carrot like" color.
A furrier is a person who makes, repairs, alters, cleans, or otherwise deals in furs of animals. Fur clothing is clothing made entirely of, or partially of, the fur of animals.
Anti-fur campaigns
Anti-fur activists approach fur clothing wearers with a sign reading 'Attention! Skin of tortured animals'
Anti-fur campaigns reached a peak in the 1980s and 1990s, with the participation of numerous celebrities.[1]
Animal rights advocates object to the trapping and killing of wildlife, and to the confinement and killing of animals on fur farms due to concerns about the animals' welfare, suffering, and death in general.
Some animal welfare groups have disrupted fur fashion shows with protests while others sponsor anti-fur poster contests and fashion shows featuring faux furs or other alternatives to fur clothing. These groups sponsor "Compassionate Fashion Day" on the third Saturday of August to promote their anti-fur message. Other groups participate in "Fur Free Friday", an event held annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving that occurs globally with the intent to bring the issue of fur to light through educational displays, protests and other methods of campaigning.
In Canada, a government survey[2] showed two thirds of Canadians supported the hunting of seals if the regulations under Canadian law are enforced. Three quarters of Canadians were not opposed to the seal hunt, after being informed of these regulations.
Products from all marine mammals, even from abundant populations and regulated hunts, such as the Canadian seal hunt, are banned in the United States.
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Avia (shoes)
Avia is an American shoe company founded by American entrepreneur Jerry Stubblefield in Oregon, in 1979.[citation needed] Stubblefield reportedly came up with the word "avia" (derived from the Latin term meaning "to fly") while on a jet flight, and decided to use it as a brand name for a sports shoe to suggest aviation.
History
Jerry Stubblefield and his son Don Stubblefield, an engineering graduate from Stanford, developed shoe designs that revolutionized athletic footwear.[citation needed] The father-and-son tandem created designs such as the widely-imitated cantilever sole,which helped make Avia an industry leader. In 1987, Avia was acquired by Reebok, who later sold the Avia brand to the American Sporting Goods Corporation in the mid-to-late 1990s.
Avia's present Sales Manager is former long-distance runner David Edge, who represented Canada at two consecutive Summer Olympics in the men's marathon.
Products
Avia was known as a leading brand in the 80s for its line of women's walking and aerobics shoes, as well as men's shoes. In the late 80s and early 90s, Avia had a thriving line of basketball shoes; among those who wore Avia were Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, and Clyde Drexler.Avia shoes are well-known for their performance, durability and comfort.
The company is also known for some of the performance technologies built into their shoes, including the Cantilever Heel (heel support), the Anatomical Cradle (comprehensive foot cushioning and arch support), and Avia's FOM technology (shock compression).
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History
Jerry Stubblefield and his son Don Stubblefield, an engineering graduate from Stanford, developed shoe designs that revolutionized athletic footwear.[citation needed] The father-and-son tandem created designs such as the widely-imitated cantilever sole,which helped make Avia an industry leader. In 1987, Avia was acquired by Reebok, who later sold the Avia brand to the American Sporting Goods Corporation in the mid-to-late 1990s.
Avia's present Sales Manager is former long-distance runner David Edge, who represented Canada at two consecutive Summer Olympics in the men's marathon.
Products
Avia was known as a leading brand in the 80s for its line of women's walking and aerobics shoes, as well as men's shoes. In the late 80s and early 90s, Avia had a thriving line of basketball shoes; among those who wore Avia were Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, and Clyde Drexler.Avia shoes are well-known for their performance, durability and comfort.
The company is also known for some of the performance technologies built into their shoes, including the Cantilever Heel (heel support), the Anatomical Cradle (comprehensive foot cushioning and arch support), and Avia's FOM technology (shock compression).
NOTE:
Pump (shoe)
The term pump for shoes is of unknown derivation according to the Webster's Third New International Dictionary. The reference can be to different types of shoe depending on the person using the word and where they are located:
A type of athletic shoe:
In Britain it is one of many regional names for plimsoll shoes.
In Britain, it is another term for a type of shoe currently popular, also known as ballerina shoes, ballet shoes, ballet pumps or flats. These shoes are usually flat, rounded, covering the toes, sides and back. they are usually made from leather, canvas or synthetic materials. They can be plain, multi coloured, metallic and be decorated with patterns, straps, bows etc.
Athletic shoe equipped with inflatable air bladders was known as a pump sneaker, often shortened to pump.
Shoes worn by dancers are called pumps. This is particularly true of Highland dancers.
In North America, pumps (British English, court shoe) are heeled shoes with low cut fronts and usually no fastening, but can also be formal shoes for any gender. The type of women's shoe referred to as a pump is somewhat similar in overall shape to the handles of old-fashioned manual well pumps, possibly accounting for the name.
NOTE:
A type of athletic shoe:
In Britain it is one of many regional names for plimsoll shoes.
In Britain, it is another term for a type of shoe currently popular, also known as ballerina shoes, ballet shoes, ballet pumps or flats. These shoes are usually flat, rounded, covering the toes, sides and back. they are usually made from leather, canvas or synthetic materials. They can be plain, multi coloured, metallic and be decorated with patterns, straps, bows etc.
Athletic shoe equipped with inflatable air bladders was known as a pump sneaker, often shortened to pump.
Shoes worn by dancers are called pumps. This is particularly true of Highland dancers.
In North America, pumps (British English, court shoe) are heeled shoes with low cut fronts and usually no fastening, but can also be formal shoes for any gender. The type of women's shoe referred to as a pump is somewhat similar in overall shape to the handles of old-fashioned manual well pumps, possibly accounting for the name.
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