Eye Of Singapore

Introduction

Swimwear is the term used for garments designated for swimming and beach wear. It has gradually developed over the years from the bulky garments used to completely cover the body into the selection of brief pieces of fabric arranged to expose as much as possible of the body.

Finding the right sort of swimwear is not always that easy particularly if you do not have a large budget. There is an enormous variety of body sizes and shapes for both men and women and correspondingly there are an enormous variety of outfits ranging from the very cheap to the very expensive.

Fashion Dictates

If it was just a case of having a bathing costume to wear when going swimming and replacing it when it had worn out, life would be relatively easy. But there is the matter of fashion. Every year the makers come up with a different style so that the previous year’s model suddenly looks old fashioned and we feel compelled to buy a new one. As purchasers we are confronted with one piece swimsuits, two piece swimwear, some with long tops, some with skimpy tops, high leg cut, high waist cut, different cup sizes, in a variety of fabrics, colours, patterns, two tone and so on. The choice is endless.

History of Swimwear

The earliest recorded bathing costume was in 350 BC in Greece which was a toga-like garment for bathing. During the 18th century people visited spa resorts for their health where they spent time in the spa waters. Naturally they needed something proper to wear, other than their day clothes, when they were engaged in public bathing. Later the recreation of beach bathing demanded a specially made outfit to maintain decorum and decency, so the bathing suit was developed.

Initially the swimwear was rather like ordinary daywear, and the dresses worn by the women sometimes had lead weights sewn into the hems to prevent the skirts from floating up. As the expansion of the railways enabled the masses to spend time at the seaside a more practical type of outfit was required. By the early 1900’s the swimsuit consisted of bloomers with black stocking and shoes, and the top was like a jacket belted at the waist. Swimming was considered suitable for men, while women were assisted into the water for a short dip.

Over the century attitudes changed and swimming became an Olympic sport for both men and women. Gradually the swimming costume changed to adopt short capped sleeves and more ankle was exposed beneath the bloomers. As women became more active in the water the swimming costume needed to be less cumbersome so the neckline was lowered and the tops became sleeveless. Eventually the Princess cut was introduced which consisted of the trousers attached to a blouse in one piece.

In 1909 Annette Kellerman, the Australian swimmer, film star and author, defined ladies swimwear when she wore a loose one piece suit and was arrested for indecency, but by 1910 “Annette Kellermans” became the new accepted ladies swimwear.

From then on the swimsuits became lighter and briefer. By the 1920’s the women wore figure hugging tank suits made from wool Jersey and by 1928 they had evolved into the swimsuit we would recognise today. In the 1930’s cotton was introduced for bathing suits sometimes with little overskirts to hide bulky thighs, but film stars wore fashionable figure hugging costumes with higher cut legs sealing the fate of the fashionable swimwear.

The corset manufacturers in the 1940’s saw that women with less than perfect figures needed swimsuits to hide or control the bulges, so seeing a gap in the market they produced costumes which had control panels for the tummy and bra cups and bones to give support to the bust. Using the practice applied in corset making they introduced the stretch factor to bathing costumes so that they were more flattering than ever before.

With the development of new fabrics, Nylon and Lycra became the fabric of choice for swimwear because of their stretch properties. This meant that the costume could be pulled on without openings or fastenings and gave a firmer cleaner line to the figure. Women continued to wear all in one swimsuits until the 1950’s when the bikini became popular.

Leisure Swimming or Sunbathing

Although certain items are called swimwear, in fact some never get near the water. They are solely for sunbathing which usually means they are as small as possible, just barely covering the essential bits so that the skin gets maximum exposure to the sun and such a design would be classed as a bikini.

Two Piece or Bikinis

Over two thousand years ago early mosaics and pottery from Greece portray what in fact looks like an early version of a bikini. These garments were used by women performers and acrobats and were in two pieces to cover the breasts and the lower part of the body, much like the current style of Bandeau tops. Modern day runners and athletes wear something very similar when competing. Paula Radcliffe when running the Marathon last year, wore a garment almost identical to those worn thousands of years ago!!

The bikini resembles women’s underwear and has been described as a scanty two piece bathing suit. The lower part may be two small triangles attached together with a string tie at either side, or even a thong. The upper part may also be two small triangles attached together with a string tie but arranged in a slightly different order. Louis Reard patented the contemporary version of the bikini in 1946; his design was similar to the skimpy string 1970’s bikini and it shocked the world when it appeared on French beaches in 1947.

The very first bikini shown in the cinema was in the Bond film Dr No when Ursula Andress rises out of the sea in a white bikini. This created the iconic Bond girl and made her world famous. When being interviewed on television recently she revealed that the bikini had been constructed out of a bra covered with the fabric to give her the required lift of the bosom. This actual bikini sold at auction for £35,000 in 2001.

Ultimately the top part of the bikini was abandoned altogether when topless sunbathing became the norm in some countries and the bottom was just a G-string or thong also called a Tanga. Oliver Saillard the fashion journalist states that the bikini is the most popular female beachwear in the world, and that the emancipation of swimwear is linked to the emancipation of women.

In the 1950’s there was a popular song entitled ‘In My little Itsy Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ that indicated the acceptance of the new style of swimwear. I remember my cousin persuading me to try on a bikini and I felt very exposed but she said how amazing I looked in it because I was so slim.

Although the bikini is now an acceptable garment whatever the size, the one piece swimsuit is still the best for serious swimmers. Some firms are well known for their skill at making swimwear and make all the garments for the Olympic team and other swimming competitions. Now swimwear is available in a wide range of bust sizes and the more expensive makes have control panels for the stomach combined with clever styling to create a good silhouette. Combined with a matching sarong, older ladies may feel more comfortable when walking around the beach area.

Helen Mirren was photographed on holiday in her substantial bikini last summer with the caption commenting on how good she looked for her age and that particular bikini was snapped up from the stores within days. Perhaps the buyers believed that they could look as good as Helen Mirren in a bikini if they had the same one.

Leg Line

Some two piece bathing suits are cut so that the waist is high and the matching leg line is also cut high. I believe the aim is to make the wearer look as though her legs are much longer than they are. However if you have less than the perfect shape for this style it can emphasise large hips so it’s not for all women.

Another fashion trend is the tankini where the bottoms look like little shorts and shows the lower curve of the bottom, which is fine if you are young with a nice pert bottom.

The tops to swimwear tankinis are long and cover the upper part of the body down to the top of the tankini shorts, exposing a tiny bit of midriff, particularly during movement.

The classic bikini style is still as popular as ever though, with the cut of the leg line following the natural crease between the leg and the hip.

The most recent development in fabric is the ‘tan through’ swimwear. This allows the body to tan without exposing the body to the world. Some commentators on this style point to the effects of too much sun on the body and the occurrences of skin cancer of which the evidence indicates an alarming increase. However, the counter argument to that is if you are wearing a bikini anyway then the extra exposure to the sun through the top and bottom garments is hardly going to make much difference.

Conclusion

Swimwear is a term used these days to cover all types of beach wear and swimming gear. It is a bit of a misnomer in that many outfits never see the water and are not used for swimming. However there is a huge range of garments available for the customer of different styles, sizes and fabrics. The one commonality of course is that everyone wants to look good once they don these garments. The main key to that is to make sure your new swimwear is the right fit and cut, for your body size and shape.

The importance of being properly measured for your swimwear is often overlooked but it is as important as being properly measured for your bra or other underwear, particularly if you do indeed intend to actually swim in your new swimwear! By wearing the right size and style swimwear for your body, will ensure you are really comfortable in it on the beach, in the pool or wherever else you choose to wear it.

Netcom3 is a piece of software that protects PCs against the pestering Trojans, viruses, dialers and various malware encountered inside the world wide web. Netcom3 covers a triple function: it detects the threats, it cleans the computer system and finally it prevents further attacks by shielding the computer system against infecting parasites. Moreover, Netcom3 represents a valid solution to invalid paths, shell extensions, run time errors, corrupt files and lots of other problems inherent to the operational system.

Netcom3 solves Windows registry errors

Given the high proficiency of the tool, Netcom3 cleaner is able to fix some very upsetting errors related to the operating system. The inconsistencies are most of the time internal even for the best of computers, given the fact that any Windows operating system needs to create some entries for the tasks it performs. The entries remain even when no longer used and accumulate in the computer slowing down the operations. Once Netcom3 is installed it cleans all these registry errors automatically and improves the computer’s time of response.

Malware problems and Netcom3

In recent years, the impact of malware (spyware and adware) has grown immensely, making lots of home and corporate users vulnerable to attacks, and massive data loss. Spyware scans a system in search of personal data: these are the programs behind the dreaded Internet phishing schemes; adware on the other hand installs all sorts of programs without authorization on a computer and shows pop-ups. Netcom3 addresses all these challenges more than well, detecting malware, eliminating it and preventing any further breaching of the system.

Netcom3 support of other programs

Netcom3 has been designed in such a way so as to be compatible with the common computer protection, which includes anti-viruses and firewalls. Thus, the maintenance and optimization of the personal computer functions can be supported and shared by Netcom3 and other specific software. The complexity and complementarity of Netcom3 is easy to understand if we think how it combines the functions of an anti-virus tool with the specifics of a registry cleaner. Computer performance is hence maintained at a very high level.

The installation of Netcom3 is very user friendly, with great graphics and a rapid access mode. From a vast range of similar antispyware products, Netcom3 outclasses many of them by the level of control and safety it brings to the PC user.

Being new to trading in Forex markets can be a little intimidating.  Although many people desire want to learn about trading in the Forex, those who begin learning about the trading system find the rules and strategy tactics to be overwhelming at times. Use these three rules to help you get started and successfully maneuver throughout the foreign exchange market. 

Don’t Over Leverage Your Portfolio

When you are just starting out in the Forex, it can be really easy to get caught up in the leverage of the market.  The great thing about leverage is that someone who is not investing as much as other larger traders can play with the “big boys” and potentially makes a good profit. An investor can expect to only need to back their investment up to 4% in most cases

Know When to Quit

Another simple rule for trading in the Forex market is to know when to quit.  In turn, this can also mean knowing when to let things stay as they are.  There are no way around having occasional trades that have a negative impact on your finances.  Not every trade you make will be a hugely successful one.  If life were fair, this may not be true, but in the foreign exchange market, where things change by the minute, there is no way to guarantee every trade will reap rewards. 

Research Trades

Researching trades beforehand can seem very boring.  However, you should never make an order in the Forex market without knowing exactly what you expect to happen.  You can look at trends and the history in order to get a better idea of what to expect.  If you simply go out into the market with no background on the issues, you will likely lose a lot of money.  So, take the time to do a little research before you begin. 

Place Stop Loss Orders

The stop loss order is something that should be places right along with your entry order.  This type of order protects you from a potential loss getting out of hand.  If the market takes a dive, you will be protected with the stop loss order.  You must figure out however, before placing the order, at what point you would want to cut your losses.  You should always do this way before placing an order.  Although you may find that many traders do not utilize the stop loss order process, you will find that the more successful traders use it often. 

Introduction

In the current economic climate, it’s not just employees who are coming under scrutiny in many organisations, but the effective use of work space as well.

With major advancements in the use and availability of mobile technology, it’s much easier and in some cases much more efficient for both the employer and employee to agree a flexible working arrangement. So as well as the more traditional accommodation for office based personnel, employees are now able to work from home and work from several locations during the working week. Even when in an office environment, hot-desking, touch-down areas or hotelling are all common arrangements being made for the mobile employee.

In providing this flexibility, it’s important that the employer considers how to ensure that the business premises are used to their maximum efficiency. It’s a major challenge for any employer, who will not want to see rows and rows of empty desks day after day.
Effective workplace planning is something that many organisations are now considering. There is much to consider such as minimum space requirements, lighting requirements, fire exit and disabled access considerations , to name but a few. So seeking the advice of a specialist workplace planning contractor could prove a effective investment.

It’s not just about effective planning and utilisation of space. Is mobile working and the creation of hot desking areas right for your business? In some organisations, the company culture and the flexibility of employees will mean that such initiatives will work. In other companies it may not. There are many things to consider in planning the workplace environment. No two companies are the same. For one organisation, it may be decided that a stimulating working environment for employees is required, whereas with other organisations effective use of space around the office location will be a priority. Which ever is effective for your organisation, you will want to ensure that the company’s culture and values remain clearly understood by employees.

The work schedule can take several weeks or in the case of bigger projects several months to complete. Either way, from the outset the project needs to demonstrate a clear plan to maximise the use of space, office and layout design, construction timescales and management of contractors whilst on site. The company’s employees will also need to be temporarily relocated whilst the work is undertaken. There are also stringent health and safety regulations concerning the office environment, which must be adhered to in the planning of the project.

Workplace planning contractors will undertake an audit of the business premises to try and understand if such a scheme is likely to be a success. From the contractors point of view, it is a worthwhile exercise, to take time to discuss and agree the options with the client to ensure that once the plan of action is agreed, work will be scheduled to ensure the minimum disruption to the business. Taking time to assess your workplace planning requirements is an essential element of any office reorgansiation

There are strict regulations so ensure office fit outs take into consideration, fire exits and disabled access compliance issues.

What should be taken into consideration when planning the workplace area?

One of the most critical considerations when undertaking workplace planning is to be absolutely clear about what tasks will be performed in the designated areas. Different layouts, different furniture, the amount of space required, should all be considered depending upon the tasks to be employed in the area. So whether the workplace is to be for permanent staff or mobile workers, consideration needs to be given to the comfort of the working environment, to aid productivity.

Permanent workers will spend many hours at their desk so it is important that consideration is given to individual work areas. The correct provision of the appropriate office furniture and equipment all aid productivity and efficiency levels. Each employee will require their own personal space around their work station. No one likes to be cramped in and there are many variations of desk design, from single to multi desk designs to ensure enough space for each employee.

Comfort at the desk is a key priority to ensure that health problems are avoided through being in the seated position for long periods of time, so a comfortable chair is essential. Lighting is also a key consideration. A more pleasant working environment is created where the office has good natural light , but consideration will also need to be given to avoid glare on computer screens. Telephone communication also needs to be well positioned on the desk. Equally, for the mobile worker, ease of connecting up a laptop and mobile phone will be essential.

It is important to take into account all of these issues to, as far as possible prevent distractions from other areas of the office which could interfere with work. However, employers need to get the balance right, as it is just as important to maintain good communication and working relationships within the office. Ensure that each employee has ample space to effectively and efficiently undertake their tasks, without being distracted by other workers close by. Therefore, in some cases, the provision of a conference room to enable one-to-one or group discussions to be held, may be another effective element of the office design.

In my opinion, the most effective way in which to ensure that employees buy-in to what the employer is trying to achieve is to consult with the employees. Through consultation, the employees can give their views on what type of workstation will be best suited to performing the tasks.

For example if the environment is to be used by a sales person, where regular communication with clients is required, then a slightly more secluded working environment may be preferred to avoid background noise, particularly if discussing detailed proposals or contracts. A sales person is one type of employee who will have mobile working requirements, where a small amount of their working week will be spent in the office, whilst the rest of their time will be spent out on the road visiting potential and existing clients.

If the environment is in a finance department or call centre, then the use of system desking or multi seated work stations may be a more appropriate solution, where a number of employees can be seated in a work area together..

Employ a specialist contractor to undertake office refurbs or interior design projects to maximize space utilisation.

Health and Safety in the office

Whatever the office conditions, the employees should be allowed a degree of flexibility to set up their work station to suit their own needs. As long as the employer has provided and considered the requirements of the working environment to allow employees to undertake their work effectively, employees will want to add a personal touch to their own work area. As long as employees do not place their own health and safety or that of others at risk, then there is nothing wrong with the employer allowing some flexibility with this.
Guidelines for use of equipment at the workstation

Taking time to ensure the comfort of employees at the workstation can eliminate health and safety problems in the future. Every one enjoys working near a window and if this is possible, the reflection from windows onto a computer screen can make reading of the screen difficult. Therefore, window blinds or shades need will need to be installed to enable employees to control lighting conditions.

In situations, where the workstation is to be used for longer periods of time, guidelines recommend that the use of computers may require an anti-glare filter to be placed across the screen to eliminate problems with reflection. A computer screen is recommended to be at least 25cm from eye level.

It is also necessary to ensure that enough electrical points are available, for additional communications equipment such as mobile phone chargers and laptops.

Employees may also require printers or scanners to be located on their workstation.
The correct seating is critical of any workstation design. Perhaps the most important feature of the workstation is the provision of the correct type of office chair. Many hours will be spent seated at the workstation, so the better the quality of office furniture, the less likelihood there will be of receiving complaints from employees about discomfort in the back, shoulder or neck area of the body. The chairs comfort and design can impact upon how effective or productive the employee will be. So it is good practice to test some desk chairs for comfort before purchasing too many.

Good morale amongst employees is positive for your business and a comfortable working environment will help the cause. I was recently involved in a project to set up a new call centre to accommodate eighty call centre agents. Following much discussion with the office design contractor and consultation with around twenty existing agents, plans for the new look office were agreed before the contractor went away to draft the plans. The existing agents felt that team working was important and therefore it was agreed that the most effective office layout would be for the call centre agents to be located in teams of six around a circular desk system.

Once the plans were finalized, over a three month period the office layout was developed. Taking time to involve the existing agents has proved very effective indeed, with all call centre disciplines showing good signs of improvement.

There is a variety of storage racks and shelving systems available.

Fire Exit Considerations

No matter what type of business you operate, employers must comply with regulations around safety at work, and this includes what to do in the event of a fire.In today’s health and safety led environment whether it is at home or in the office, the installation of smoke detectors is common place.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, was introduced to provide guidelines for businesses on what reasonable steps should be taken to reduce the risk from fire, to occupants of the premises . More importantly the Order contains advice to business owners to ensure that a safe escape plan is in place should fire occur.

Generally speaking, ensuring fire safety within premises is a common sense approach. It is important that in any workplace planning programme, that time is taken to identify for example, where the nearest exit routes are for employees to safely leave the building and where employees should congregate upon evacuation of the premises.

In some premises of course, hazardous materials may be in use within the building and therefore it is wise to seek further advice from fire safety advisors who can advise on how to take specific precautions. Equally, office buildings on several floors will also require advice from fire safety experts to ensure safe escape routes are identified. Many businesses now appoint fire marshals whose responsibility it is, to make sure that every one within the building is aware about what they should do in the event of a fire.

In any work environment , escape routes should be safely and immediately accessible at all times and suitable for the number of people likely to use them. They should not be obstructed in any way and accessible for emergency services.

Guidelines do recommend that at least two fire exits should be available if a office is to be occupied by more than 60 people. The guidelines also extend to the number of flights of stairs and passages of corridors, so your workplace planning considerations will need to comply with the regulations.

Disabled Access

There are many considerations for employers to be mindful of when planning to accommodate disabled people within offices and premises. Under the Disability Discrimination Act every business is required to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the working environment to ensure that people with disabilities are not discriminated against.

These include making adjustments to the workplace to ensure ease of access for the disabled and providing suitable modified office furniture to provide the same level of office comfort as able bodied employees. The inclusion of a stair lift may also be necessary to accommodate disabled employees in areas other than the ground floor area.

Conclusion

It can be a cost effective solution to engage with a workplace planning specialist to review the layout of your current office environment. There are many rules and regulations to comply with, so taking time to consider the implications of exactly what is required is imperative. Do not under estimate the amount of issues to consider in making your workplace a pleasant working environment.

Unfortunately we live in a society where employees are quick to point the finger of blame at their employer for failing to provide the correct workstation or office furniture. So the contractor and client should take time to undertake a site survey, establish what is required from both the employer’s point of view and that of the employee to ensure that the end result meets both the needs of the employer and the employee. Productivity and morale will be greatly improved in a pleasant working environment.

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