A throwback is a sports jersey that uses color schemes, logos or even teams from a bygone era. Throwbacks are usually either basketball, baseball, football or hockey jerseys. Popular with athletes and sports fans alike, the throwback jersey is sometimes worn by professional players during certain games to mark an historical date in the team’s history or as a part of a “turn back the clock” promotion. In the 1990s and 2000s throwback jerseys also became popular within the culture of hip hop.

Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia by Frank Mitchell and Charles Ness, Mitchell & Ness began to outfit players of local sports teams with their handmade uniforms as well as selling sporting equipment. When a customer brought in an old baseball jersey to be repaired, it inspired the company to recreate MLB jerseys to the exact specifications of those made in the past; using flannel instead of modern materials and using old logos and creating replicas of jerseys for teams that no longer play. Because of the success of the throwback MLB jerseys, Mitchell & Ness released throwbacks for the NBA, NHL, NFL and NCAA.

Other terms used for this kind of garments are bodystocking, leotards or catsuits. Bodystockings are usually made of sheer material that is worn as an under layer in cold weather. Leotards are typically worn by dancers and circus performers. They tend to show off the figure as they cling to the skin to form a second skin. Bodysuits and these other forms of clingy wear sometimes evoke a sexy characterization.

But it all depends on the intention of the wearer and the eyes of the beholder. They can just be simple undercover with a purpose and that is to keep warm or to smoothen out an undesirable body build. They can also be garments that evoke sexiness. In the case of dancers they are necessary to show off their gracefulness. When worn as costumes, they help define the character.

It is such a coincidence that the night I told my sister I found the man of my dreams; she said she found hers too! What’s weirder is that our boyfriends turned out to be friends. Both love outdoor adventures and both ride a motorcycle. Needless to say, my sister and I shopped for helmets and womens motorcycle jackets soon after.

Nowadays, I find myself hanging out with my sister more because our dates bring us to the same parties. I find it a good thing to get to know my sister’s boyfriend and vice versa. Just like when we were little kids, we continue to look out for each other and I hope this continues as we grow even older.

My family has never been ideal. I live with my father and my mother just sends me postcards and gifts from whichever place she was at. This situation used to be an issue for me because I’m a girl but I have learned to adapt. My father is amazingly well-informed and attuned to his female side.

We never had trust issues. We always found it easy to have a conversation about school, my friends, puberty, dating, his friends, work, and so on. My dad is the greatest in all aspects but he has the worst taste in clothes! Fashion has always confounded him. So, my wardrobe consisted of the basics jeans, jacket, and shirt, all in plain color. He has asked my mom to give him advice and she would respond by sending me different clothes but were either too small or too big or not age-appropriate. Finally, this Christmas, my dad took me shopping with free reign on his credit card! I was deliriously happy! He just stood and watched as I tried on dozens of clothes from skirts to blouses; from womens leather jackets to sandals and boots! I don’t how much it cost but he never complained.

The western way of clothing is easily recognizable. It connotes cowboy hats and boots. The hat could be wide brimmed and made of straw for summer and felt with fur detailing in winter time. The boots is made of leather and comes in varied styles. It used to be individually handmade but due to industrialization they are now being made by machine.

Blue jeans are a must in western clothing. Snug fit with straight cuts or bootlegs are favorites. Soon, it gained prominence in the world of fashion. The jeans have stayed on as a fashion favourite; there seems to be no end to demand for this kind of apparel. Designers are well aware of this so they continue to design and manufacture new styles.

Fashion is part of our everyday lives. I know that it is a major part of mine! How? This is because my wife and three daughters believe that looking good and fashion are the tools to use to let others know how much you value yourself.

The day I first met my wife was back in college and I was just in awe of her beauty. She is not the typical blonde blue-eyed bombshell that many guys ogle. She is an exquisite beauty with black hair and the most gorgeous green eyes you will ever see. Her skin is fair but not pale. Her complexion is smooth and flushes at just the right moments. Our three daughters, thankfully, take after her. I live in house full of beautiful women who like looking good and making others feel good, too. So, even at 40 and with full-grown daughters, my wife looks great in NYDJ jeans and I still stare in awe whenever she looks at me.

You just can’t keep people from expressing themselves. It could take the form of articulating an opinion or ranting about a problem. It could also be in praise of something they admire. They don’t even have to talk. They just have to wear one of the t-shirts that can be bought printed with some message or slogan.

Some pieces of clothing are being used to express a person’s feelings or conviction. “I Love Free Speech” or “Ban Homophobic Marriages” say it all. Others prefer to broadcast their preferences. Take for example baseball fans who wear replica MLB jerseys. They are proud to announce to the whole world that they are supporting a certain team.

The use of skimpy wear has increased over the years. It is common to see women in public places such as malls and groceries dressed in spaghetti tops and micro bikini tops. Where midribs used to be seen only in bedrooms and in the beach or by the pool, it is not surprising to see them now being exposed in women walking down the street. How did this come about? Is it because of climate change?

I don’t think climate has anything to do with it. As long as skimpy clothing does not border on the provocative, I don’t think people will have a problem with that. It is probably just a fashion statement. It may or may not change. But if it feels comfortable on people wearing them, it is a style of apparel that will stay on.

My knowledge and skills are quite limited to everyday things like cooking and cleaning house. I am now challenging myself into making clothes. I thought I’d make one of the simplest but stylish clothing I could think of that my daughter may actually get to use. Here are the instructions for making a leather vest:

Get the materials you will need: leather, vest pattern, sewing machine with heavy duty needle, thread and sharp scissors. Then follow this step-by-step process:

• Choose the right leather to use depending on your sewing machines capacity to sew heavy or light materials.
• Buy a vest pattern that you like and cut it out. There should be two front pieces and a back as well as facing pieces for the front that get turned in on a vest that is meant to be made with fabric.
• Make sure you know the difference of sewing fabric from leather or the proper sewing method for leather.
• Lay the pattern down and ask for help to have someone hold the leather down while you cut out the pattern.
• Sew the vest and note that there should be two front panels and the back. Sew the shoulder seams then sew the side seams. Trim the thread.
• Add fringe of your preference like beads, lace or leather fringe to put a more personal touch.

For some reason, I disliked wearing jeans during my teen years. Maybe because my brother would always tease me that I look like a straight board when I’m wearing a pair. Thankfully, when I entered university, my roommate knows a lot about fashion and taught me how to shop for jeans that would fit my figure.

Since then, I’ve always been on the lookout for pants that can make me look slim and yet keep my curves intact. One of my latest finds are NYD jeans. They fit nicely and feel so comfortable to wear. But what makes them stand out is that the designs are also very flattering to the figure.