Men may like to labour under the illusion that the world is their oyster but the truth is; this is a woman’s world. Generally, married men seem less confused about who figuratively wears the trousers, but today this reality extends way beyond the confines of ruling the roost. Instead of changing the system, outspoken females have long been encouraging women to rewrite the rules, the feminine way.

Shifts in the fabric of society are making this rewrite possible and depending upon how women respond we will either witness a spiritual EVE-olution as has never been seen before or, alternatively, we will see a return to the Dark Ages where religion totally dominated the world.

As it stands staunch conservatives, like George Dubya, are using devious means to trash the rights women have gained and whereas previously women’s libbers were laughed-off, this extreme reaction shows that the boys are currently running scared.

There are five major shifts that have caused this social metamorphosis.
The first is an ‘accidental’ global switch to a matriarchal society. By definition a matriarchal society is one where a woman heads the family and the cultural values are passed through the female line.

In families today men are absent due to divorce, work pressure or simply because they are emotionally unavailable and by leaving parenting to the mother, women are passing on their female legacy to both their boys and girls.

Secondly, technology has so radically altered the work environment that employees no longer spend every moment of their working day being office-bound. Now networking is a key tool for success and with the addition of more flexible working hours, trends like outsourcing, contracting and the home-office are a boon for working mothers.

Allied to this is the ever-increasing female economic clout. Supporting this third shift, Tom Peters claims (in Re-Imagine) that the amount of money controlled by females in corporate US makes American women the largest single economy in the world. It’s also well known that women influence the purchase of 80% of all consumer goods and, as the existing global system only values matters to do with money, this shows how much the power of women is growing.

The blurring of male and female roles is the fourth catalyst. Today we have male fashion models and female engineers and with femininity being redefined to include the part of corporate tycoon, men too are questioning the advantages of the old-fashioned macho role.

The fifth change benefits neither men nor women but nevertheless contributes to the feminisation of the world. Derivatives of petrochemicals such as plastics, fertilisers and pesticides produce an oestrogen mimicking substance that is causing girls to menstruate as early as 8 or 9 years old. As these xeno-oestrogens interfere with testosterone they are reducing the size of boys’ penises and are contributing to increasing male infertility. While this is wholly undesirable, it’s ironic that the biggest current crisis within the patriarchal system is oil, the very substance causing the hormonal feminisation of the world’s population.

So if women continue to behave as if their physical body is the only power they have, while they dwindle their energy on lo-cal diets or distract themselves with false finger-nails, tucks and implants, powerful conservatives are regressing the world to a time where women’s voices could be silenced once more.

On the other hand, if females heal themselves from the scam of the learnt habit of self-sacrifice, they can take full advantage of these shifts. Rules can be written to recreate society around the value of wisdom instead of absolute power, peace as opposed to violence, cooperation instead of winner-takes-all, truth rather than political spin, abundance in favour of scarcity, loving values rather than abusive manipulation and real justice rather than man-made law.

Sweden, Norway and South Africa are the three leading nations promoting women’s rights. Each of these countries can be an incubator for more humane forms of social organisation. Sure there are huge challenges ahead but the real stumbling block for women is the limitation of not wanting to break the rules of being a good, obedient and dependent little girl. But it’s worth remembering that good girls go nowhere, only gutsy women – who break the rules – win.

Stephanie Vermeulen runs seminars on Applied Emotional Intelligence and Women’s Issues in business and public forums as well as being an inspiring speaker, writer and personal coach. Her books, ‘Kill the Princess: Why Women Still Aren’t Free from the Quest for a Fairytale Life’ & ‘EQ: Emotional Intelligence for Everyone’ are available from leading bookstores and online from Amazon.com and Kalahari.net. She can be contacted via her website http://www.eqsa.co.za

Nicola Trussardi was in his late 50s when he died of a tragic car accident, but he did not die without leaving his legacy in the fashion industry. If you would take a look at Trussardi’s background, you just might be amazed at how an Economics graduate was able to turn his family business of glove-making into one of the largest ever companies to ever strike the fashion industry.

Trussardi handled the glove-making business that his grandfather founded way back in the year 1910. With his background in economics and his avid fashion sense, it did not take long for Trussardi to turn the business into the huge company that it is now known. The major contribution of this company is that it helped make labels that are made in Italy all the more popular all over the world. He also took it upon himself to expand the product line of the family business, so that it would now go beyond the production of just gloves. Luxury accessories are now included in the Trussardi product line as well.

In 1973, the all-new product line was encompassed by the development of the Trussardi’s trademark greyhound logo. Not too long after, Trussardi also launched yet another line of expansion, which included leather jackets. This actually marked the first ever step made by the Trussardi line into the development of their own RTW product line. In the 1980s, the revamped RTW line now included men’s wear, women’s wear, children’s wear, and even sportswear. He also released a lot of fragrances, which include Trussardi for Women, Trussardi Uomo, Trussardi Action Donna, Trussardi Action Uomo, Trussardi Action Sport, Python for Women, Python Uomo, Fresh Donna for Women, and Fresh for Men.

Trussardi’s Fashion House has also delved into designing interiors of airplanes, cars, and helicopters as well. This is how extensive the product line of Trussardi has become over the years. The interior of Alitalia, for instance, can be credited to the designing prowess of Nicola Trussardi. Alfa Romeo cars and models are not exempted from this as well. And during the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, it was also Trussardi who designed the uniforms of the Italian athletes. All of these strongly indicate a short yet fulfilled life led by Nicola Trussardi.

Browse all Trussardi Perfumes at our Mens and Womens Fragrance Store. Also, read more about Trussardi fragrances by visiting us at PerfumeCenter.com

Belts used to be seen as a necessity – to hold your pants up. But if you want to be in style right now, you need a belt. Belts worn with a variety of interchangeable and cool belt buckles are hot today. They are one of the biggest must-have fashion accessories this season. New fashions are focusing on a crisp architectural fit, with the spotlight on the waist. Popular styles of the forties are integrated with new designer looks, all accentuated with tons of accessories – with the belt creating the soft architecture by defining the natural womanly curves into new stylish silhouettes. Belts with lots of changeable belt buckles offer a versatile trend and a vital fashion staple in your wardrobe that you can put to good use as a figure enhancing waist belt – and as an addition of instant pizazz to any outfit!

The belted look is not limited to women’s fashions. Runways up the style factor for men this season by showing belted shorts, pants, jackets and coats. The soft silhouette is carried through and created by sleek, cinched, and fitted looks, extended to even the simplest of men’s ensembles.

According to Kim Martin, fashion editor for Stylelist.com, “The belt is creating this new silhouette. If you don’t have a waist, create one with a belt. If you do have one, play it up. As far as the belts themselves…they are different colors…have different buckles. They are very versatile.”

Jackets, dresses and skirts all are completed with belted cinched waists. Fall runways spotlight the lean and mean silhouette from mid-calf to floor-grazing, from jumpsuits and safari looks to military jacket, from cropped-look to more volume in skirts…Classic fall layers have been reworked with a waist-defining belt. Belts can also be seen worn somewhat high on the waist…or hung lower on the hips.

Skinny belts may be hot, but not many women can wear them effectively or to their advantage. A belt that’s about 1 or 2 inches wide will create a more figure-friendly look.

For a romantic look, pairing a ruffled blouse with a menswear suit, or a soft floral dress grounded with a leather belt, will show off your feminine side. Shop for fitted jackets. Shop for turtleneck sweaters – especially in black, creating a blank palette to show off a wonderful belt buckle! Make a jean ensemble or a sleek dress your very own by adding a belt and bold belt buckle of your choice. Emphasize an hour-glass look.

Joyce Caruso Corrigan, Editor at Large of Marie Claire magazine explained how to get the most out of belts for the style and look you are after. Pairing a cocktail dress with an unexpected everyday leather belt enables you to wear it in the daytime. You could also wear a jean jacket over this. Remove the belt, add some jewelry, and the dress is ready for the evening! Menswear-inspired wide leg pants can be made more feminine and create a feminine shape by adding a belt with a unique belt buckle! The bland and solid look of a self-belted trench coat can be spiced up with a different, contrasting wide belt and big shiny belt buckle!

Celebrities draw constant attention to their styles and fashions, influencing fashionistas everywhere. This was the case when Kate Moss was recently spotted in New York wearing a tiny cut-off T-shirt dress with a belt and oversized disc belt buckle.

“Belt Up” in Vogue magazine features the latest fashion trend, “With a cinched-in waist remaining firmly at the forefront of feminine fashion season-on-season of late, a good belt is a wardrobe must-have…” Both men and women consider the perfect belt for their shape and style, with a choice of belt buckles as stand-out as they like.

“As the spotlight falls firmly on the waist, belts become the instant definers,” as seen in the latest fashion designs by Burberry Prorsum, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, etc. A revisit of the fifties corset is seen in their wide, structured belts. Winter coats are featured with, broad, cool belts. Delicate and feminine looks are achieved with narrow belts.

Along with the emphasis on accessories, quirky belts and stunning buckles are featured for their decorative extras by designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, etc.

Tough gladiator dresses join the soft architectural fashion scene with heavy belts. “The collection is conscious of the internal body, revealing the inside on the out. Fabrics are draped to hold shape in the same way as a skeleton” says Marios Schwab. These tough dresses amidst the soft mood of the season, are included in the collections of Alberta Ferretti, Christopher Kane, Emporio Armani, Givenchy, Marios Schwab, etc.

Forgetting a belt is a no-no! Tighten up your fashion sense by a notch or two – wear a beltbucklebelt!

Willie Lieske is co-owner and marketer of a retail and informational website for Better Belt Buckles. To find quality hand-picked pewter belt buckles, rodeo belt buckles with up-to-date rodeo information, and NEW! Christian belt buckles with daily inspirational verses, visit our website at http://www.betterbeltbuckles.com

Take a look at our new belt buckles and find the ones that suit your style and needs. If you are looking to buy belt buckles, cross belt buckles or unique belt buckles as a gift or for yourself, we are your one stop belt buckle shop.