Debenhams Highlights Staggering Sales Rise in Low Necklines for Men

Debenhams has reported that for the first time men are using to their advantage what women have known for hundreds of years - that a low neckline can have a hypnotic effect on the opposite sex, sending sales of low cut v necks and their like spiralling.

Inspired by the successes, romantic and otherwise, of the likes of JLS, Peter Andre and Russell Brand, British men are snapping up tops with low necklines - to wear themselves. Sales of revealing men's tops have doubled over the past year, according to fashion store Debenhams.

No longer opting for the standard crew or v neck, male shoppers are seeing no limits as to 'how low to go' and are searching out low scoop neck mens t-shirts (http://www.debenhams.com/men/tops-polos/t-shirts ) and plunging Y-necked mens vests (http://www.debenhams.com/men/tops-polos/vests ), perfect to show off a toned he-vage, the male cleavage.

Their wives and girlfriends are even in on the act, with 68% responding when questioned by the High Street retailer that they do like to see their partners in an outfit which reveals a significant portion of chest*.

Add to this the increase in slimmer-fit shapes and the demand for lightweight cotton styles giving a sheer look, and it appears men are wising up to ho women's coats w to draw female attention to their hard work in the gym and salon.

Debenhams spokesperson, Ruth Attridge, said: "It's a growing trend but not one for the self-conscious.

"A low neckline on a woman is attention grabbing and it's just the same for men. A slim, toned body is a must and, according to boy bands, a tan and a chest wax to match."

The retailer warned shoppers however that if they don't tick the svelte boy band box then squeezing 'moobs' into a low cut tee could cause the opposite effect - that of the undesirable 'heavage'.

Until recently, the menswear market had remained virtually unchanged for years with polo shirts (http://www.debenhams.com/men/tops-polos ) the raciest it got, and heavy cottons and loose shapes as standard. However, demand for a variety of necklines and in particular deep, open necks has changed the market and demand is expected to grow, even through the colder autumn and winter months.

Ruth concluded: "As the temperature falls, we predict male necklines will follow. Not only are we expanding our range of plunging t-shirts, we expect he-vage revealing jumpers and cardigans worn without tops underneath to follow suit".

Notes to editors:
*Debenhams quizzed 1,000 women aged 18 years to 40 years on their views on male fashion?

About Debenhams (http://www.debenhams.com/ ):
Debenhams is a leading department stores group with a strong presence in lingerie retail, stocking brands like Wonderbra, Calvin Klein?and Sloggi. Debenhams is also renowned in a number of other key product categories including women's wear with dresses, bikinis, petite clothing, make-up, health and beauty, perfume, lingerie, jeans, mens fashion (http://www.debenhams.com/men ), home ware, accessories and children's wear.

For more information, please contact:
Ruth Attridge
Debenhams Press Office
Debenhams
33 Wigmore Street
London
W1U 1QX
0207 529 0172
http://www.debenhams.com

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Moosejaw Develops New Clothing Line with Help from Loyal Customers

Moosejaw, the Michigan-based outdoor retailer know for its Madness marketing, just launched its latest apparel line designed with input from their best customers, a group dubbed The Humans of Influence. "We wanted to get the best ideas and opinions from the people who matter the most to us - our long-standing customers," said Allison Capaldi, Moosejaw Brand Manager.

The Humans of Influence helped decide features such as colors, pocket placement, thumb holes and mp3 compatibility. To acknowledge their impact on the line, Moosejaw decided to name each piece after a member of The Humans of Influence.

"The story here isn't that we launched a new line, it's that our customers feel like they are part of the process at Moosejaw and we want to encompass that into everything that we do," said Moosejaw's CEO, Harvey Kanter.

Keeping a unique brand following is nothing new at Moosejaw. Customer interaction has been at the forefront of Moosejaw's marketing that has gained national recognition within the outdoor retail and ecommerce communities.

Moosejaw also incorporates their trademark Madness into the line. The interior of each piece has a label with notable reads such as Emergency Discussion Topics such as"Who would win in fight, a ghost or a lion?" and "Does my hair look better with our without a banana clip?"
"We also have Other Uses for this Jacket, High Praise and Things to Consider. This could be the most important part of the new line," said Gary Wohlfeill, Creative Director.

The Humans of Influence line includes 13 new pieces ranging from a three piece yoga outfit to fleece, softshell and down jackets for men and women. All are currently available on Moosejaw.com plus at all Moosejaw retail locations -- Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Chicago, East Lansing, Grosse Pointe, Rochester and Partridge Creek.

About Moosejaw:
Moosejaw is a leading multi-channel retailer of premium quality outdoor adventure apparel and gear. Moosejaw currently serves its customers through seven retail stores in Michigan and Illinois, through Moosejaw.com, and through mail order catalogs.

Moosejaw offers products from leading outdoor manufacturers including The North Face, Arc'teryx, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, and Black Diamond as well as under its own Moosejaw brand. The company serves a diverse customer base including serious outdoor enthusiasts, active individuals pursui women's coats ng an outdoor lifestyle, and high school and college students who are passionate about the Moosejaw brand.

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prAna Announces New CEO Scott Kerslake

The Board of Directors of prAna Living, LLC ("prAna"), a leader in outdoor, yoga and active lifestyle apparel, announces Scott Kerslake as its new CEO, effective immediately. Scott succeeds Founder and current CEO, Beaver Theodosakis, who will remain on the Board of Directors and continue in an ambassador role focused on sustainability for business growth and developing relationships with business partners.

"We have tremendous confidence in Scott's leadership capabilities and look forward to working with him to take prAna to new heights. Beaver has done a tremendous job creating a strong culture and a great company, we look forward to his continued involvement and engagement as an active board member," stated Jim Caccavo, Chairman of the Board.

Since joining prAna as President 18 months ago, Scott has be women's jackets en instrumental in growing prAna's business and preparing it for an exciting future. Scott was the founder and former CEO of Athleta, where he led the development of the brand and company strategy, creating a premier apparel brand in women's sports and athletic markets. Scott also served as President of Miraval Life In Balance ?, one of the highest ranked destination wellness resort spas in the world.

"Scott will be taking on the role of CEO as we embark on a new stage of growth," says Beaver. "We are very excited to have Scott as our new leader, he shares our values and has the vision and skills to help prAna realize its full potential."

In the last year, Scott has been instrumental in expanding prAna's business, including: the launch of prAna's catalogue program; introducing a new line of outerwear; a refreshed e-commerce presence; and driving improvements in productivity and earnings in a meaningful way. "This is a very exciting time to be leading a special business like prAna. I have known Beaver and Pam for over ten years and have great admiration for what they have built. Over the last 18 months, I have enjoyed working closely with them and the amazing team at prAna. We've had great performance over the last year and are looking forward to building on that momentum in the years to come," says Scott.

About prAna

prAna was founded in 1993 by Beaver Theodosakis and his wife Pam. Beaver applied his branding expertise and Pam her design acumen to create a unique apparel company. As avid climbers and yoga practitioners, Beaver and Pam recognized the need to create clothing that was both functional for its stated activities but also comfortable and stylish. They also believed the company should be mindful of the environment and its surroundings so they created sustainability programs from the start. Their vision for not only building an apparel company, but also ensuring that the lifestyle components of their business philosophy were embedded into the culture and business practices established a solid foundation for success. Their leadership and unique approach has taken prAna from a small home based business to a highly competitive multi-channel global outdoor brand.

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Laura Ashley Gardener's Range Offers Luxury for Green-Fingered Enthusiasts

With the cold weather very much here, the thought of gardening might be the furthest thing from many people's minds, but for the truly green-thumbed the thaw of spring and the promise of gardens bursting with flowers are just around the corner.

Gardening is renowned for its soothing effect on the mind, not to mention the healthful benefits of being active and outdoors - but the stress that it can put on backs, joints and skin is undeniable.

The Laura Ashley Gardener's Range will ease tired muscles, repair cracked hands and protect against the elements. Five products - hand lotion, exfoliating hand wash, muscle soak bath foam, all weather barrier cream and intensive hand cream - come beautifully packaged in green-hued containers, appealingly labelled with simply rendered pen and ink sketches and a few inspirational lines that evoke the beauty and respite of nature.

Prices for products within the range fall between ?10 and ?12, giving shoppers the option to buy just one item as a small gift or the whole collection for someone special. To add another thoughtful, and still within theme, dimension to the present, customers could add one of the Laura Ashley range of cushions like the whimsical Monty, which features a vividly feel-good gardening scene appliquéd onto a plain cotton background and is edged with jolly gingham.

All of the products in the range include natural ingredients, such as shea butter, avocado oil and aloe vera and are made in England by the Somerset Toiletry Company under licence from Laura Ashley Ltd.

For more information please contact:
Laura Ashley PR Team
0207 880 5100

About Laura Ashley
Laura Ashley is one of the UK's leading retailers, with over 225 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland, plus an expanding international business offering stylish, high quality, great value women's clothing and home furnishings. In the last financial year Laura Ashley sales were ?268.4 million.

As a much-loved British heritage brand Laura Ashley founded in 1953 provides a source of design-led items, good-quality yet accessible fabrics, wallpaper, furniture, lighting and home accessories and women's fashion.

The company also offers an excellent level of services including an array of bespoke options for the home, including made to order upholstery in a choice of over 100 fabric options, made to measure curtains & blinds and a comprehensive Design service.

Laura Ashley has growing franchise operations all over the world, including the Far East, Australia, Scandinavia and South America, as well as increasing numbers of fashion coats online licensing projects for products including carpets, eyewear, scarves and bedlinen.

In addition to an increasing portfolio of store Laura Ashley also offers a mail order service and internet sales at http://www.lauraashley.com.

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Name Bubbles Announced Winner of Best School Supply in the 2012 SheKnows Parenting Awards

Name Bubbles announces today that their School Labels have been selected as Best School Supply in the 2012 SheKnows Parenting Awards. According to SheKnows, after being selected as a finalist among hundreds of submissions, the active community of SheKnows readers voted for select finalists, recognizing outstanding products and services in the parenting industry, based on functionality, quality, safety, convenience and best bang for the consumer's buck.

Name Bubbles School Labels offer a variety of name labels for little scholars that make back-to-school worry free; simply place the waterproof kids labels on everything heading to school: backpacks, lunchboxes, sports gear and uniforms, water bottles, pencil cases, and then rest easy knowing expensive school supplies will return home day after day. Each School Pack includes 88 labels that are microwave-, dishwasher- and laundry-safe, making them the perfect mix of labels for school and after school activities. With multiple designs to choose from, Name Bubbles personalized name labels are a smart choice for busy families.

SheKnows, a global destination for women with the latest information on parenting, health, entertainment and more, created the award program to recognize product Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) s within the parenting industry for true excellence. Spanning across 75 comprehensive sub-categories, from pregnancy essentials to baby gear, and eco-toys to tween favorites, the awards highlight the best items that parents (and kids) love.

"Our team at Name Bubbles was thrilled to learn that our School Labels won first place in the 2012 SheKnows Parenting Award for 'Best School Supply'. We work very hard to create durable and stylish children's labels that parents trust and to ensure that families save time and money by avoiding the lost and found bin. It's an honor and privilege to be recognized in the parenting industry alongside well-known national brands and up and coming small businesses alike. We couldn't have done it without our loyal customers, who have shared their product experience with friends and family and helped the business grow," said Michelle Brandriss, Founder and CEO of Name Bubbles.

"We are proud to have worked with so many great companies, and we are extremely pleased with this year's voting results," said SheKnows Parenting Editor, Laura Willard. "We extend our sincere congratulations to Name Bubbles."

To learn more about the SheKnows 2012 Parenting Awards and to find a complete list of winners, as well as the Editors' Choice winners, visit SheKnows 2012 Parenting Awards.

Readers can join the conversation on Twitter: #SKParentingAwards.

About NameBubbles.com:
Winner of the prestigious iParenting Award for Outstanding Products and voted Best School Supply in SheKnows Parenting Awards 2012, Name Bubbles are press-and-stick name labels designed to help busy families keep track of kids toys, clothing, hand-held electronics, baby bottles, school uniforms, sports equipment, lunch boxes, backpacks and much more. Name Bubbles waterproof kids labels are dishwasher, laundry, and microwave safe. Custom label packs are available for camp labels, school labels, daycare labels, sports labels and write on message labels – the sticker label you customize again and again. They can all be personalized and purchased directly on the Name Bubbles website at http://www.NameBubbles.com.

For More Information:
Name Bubbles
Lauren Rose, Director of Business Development
p. (866) 797-6263 x 102
lrose(at)namebubbles(dot)com

About SheKnows.com:
SheKnows is the new standard of publishing with its family of female-centric properties and custom programming. It is among the largest online lifestyle communities for women ages 18 to 54, attracting more than 55 million unique visitors (Google Analytics, April 2012), and meets the needs of today's modern woman with information important to her daily life.

SheKnows boasts a stimulating, well‐rounded online experience enhanced with Emmy Award-winning SheKnows TV, captivating blogs, celebrity contributors and a vibrant social reach. As one of the fastest-growing destinations on the web, SheKnows is recognized among the top three properties for women.

Recently honored by Forbes as one of the Top 100 Websites for Women and one of the Top 10 Lifestyle Sites for Women, SheKnows also won the OMMA Award for Web Excellence for the second year in a row in 2011. SheKnows has been named the No. 1 site for Family, Parenting and Women's Interests. For advertisers, sponsorship opportunities and creative integration go well beyond the banner and make marketing messages an uninterrupted part of the user experience. The company is based in Scottsdale with offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. SheKnows is part of Atomic Online, Evolve Media Corp.'s publishing unit.

About the SheKnows Parenting Awards:
Each year, the SheKnows Parenting Awards program (formerly the SheKnows Parents' Choice Awards) seeks out products that have set themselves apart as a leader in the parenting industry. The goal of the awards is to give SheKnows readers all the information they need to make educated decisions in their everyday lives – particularly when it comes to their kids! Nominated products are reviewed by the SheKnows team of editors and hand-picked for quality, functionality, safety, convenience and more. Winners are determined via an organic online voting process open to the public and are announced on the SheKnows website each fall.

For More Information:

SheKnows Parenting Awards
Laura Willard, Parenting Editor & Laura Seli, Special Projects & Promotions Manager
awards(at)sheknows(dot)com

SheKnows
Alison Bills
Executive Editor
(480) 237-7100 Ext. 4109
alison(dot)bills(at)sheknows(dot)com

Hollywood Bodies Are The Tabloid Topic Of The Week –

Bodies seem to be the topic of the week – who has one, who doesn't, who wants one and more diets than we care to know about. In other words, none of the tabs have any NEWS for us this week. Except for the ENQUIRER.

Well, maybe not news but it sure as hell is better than the body bits you'll hear about later.

The ENQUIRER blasts TOM & KATIE SPLIT OVER LIES ABOUT BABY … THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR LIFE INSIDE TOM'S MANSION. Obviously, the story is about Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes and the tabloid-fueled rumors about 'what ever happened to baby Suri?

In case you've been living atop a mountain in Tibet, the tabloid world has gone agog because Tom hasn't shown them baby Suri. That's right, no photos, no holding the kid up in the air for everyone to see – nothing. The tabs are all lathered up because they think they – and you – have a right to see the baby. Well, here's a news flash straight from Tabloid Tuesday World Headquarters – they don't and neither do you. The screams of 'prove to us there really is a baby' are resonating on deaf ears. Tom and Katie are not under any obligation to show the baby to any of the tabs, news organizations, private detectives or even people like you who are curious what the baby looks like. Is it a bit strange? By Hollywood and Tom Cruise standards, not even close. Sure, most normal folks would take pride in showing off their new bundle of joy, but remember who we're talking about here…. So all the tabs are in a feeding frenzy, raising ridiculous questions and making incredible demands for Tom and Katie to prove to them the baby exists. Get a life!

Anyway, the ENQUIRER reports that "Secrecy surrounding invisible infant puts strain on marriage." Quite catchy, but doesn't mean a thing. They're together, she hasn't left, he hasn't turned her into a Scientologist. Big yawn.

What else does the ENQUIRER bring us this week? Well, how about the story of how COCAINE BROKE UP HILARY SWANK'S MARRIAGE … THE REAL STORY. Sound familiar? It should – it's been all over the place for the last month, ESPECIALLY after Hilary Swank told the world about it in a Vanity Fair article. Whoops! Looks like the old ENQUIRER is a day late and a dollar short – again.

Let's move on to the bodies. Listen, if you enjoy looking at photos of young Hollywood stars and starlets in bikinis, short dresses, tight fitting clothes, lots of skin and hair – then you're going to LOVE this week's issue of STAR, US WEEKLY and IN TOUCH because that's all there is. No news, no really juicy gossip, just a lot of photos of the same men and women we've all seen countless times.

IN Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) TOUCH tries a new pitch with BODY CONFESSIONS … LINDSAY, BOOB JOB CONTROVERSY …. KEIRA, ANOREXIA RUNS IN HER FAMILY … ASHLEE, RESPONS TO SURGERY RUMORS… KATE, TALKS ABOUT HER WEIGHT STRUGGLE.

Now make sure you know who these tragic, suffering, deformed women are – Lindsay Lohan, Keira Knightley, Ashlee Simpson, Kate Hudson. Is there any ONE of them that you think has a body to be ashamed of? Didn't think so.

Ashlee Simpson – who's 21 (wonder what they'll say when she's 30?) – according to IN TOUCH owes her new look to cosmetic surgery! Want to know what part turned her into a 'blond bombshell' according to the tab? She had a nose job! Yup, that's all it took – from cute as a button to a hot tamale because, according to the story, she had a 'nose reshaping surgery.' Never mind the fact that she's 21, works out, is 21, watches what she eats, is 21, takes care of herself and, did we mention, she's 21!

IN TOUCH next turns to Keira Knightley. In the story, Keira is quoted as saying her grandmother and great-grandmother battled anorexia, but in the next sentence she lets the world know that she's not anorexic. Even an expert quoted in the story says that someone can be as naturally thin as Kiera and not be anorexic. But that doesn't stop the weight-watchers at IN TOUCH. Nope. Here's how they handle the denial: "But Keira's certainly looking slimmer than she was in 2003's Love Actually, and it could be because she's simply not taking care of herself.'

Get the point of how it's going with INTOUCH? Kate Hudson put on some weight when she was pregnant and lost it in about three months, but that wasn't fast enough for FAT POLICE at INTOUCH. Nope. According to the article "The star opens up about her battle to lose post-baby weight."

We're done with INTOUCH. Lost interest – and a few pounds.

US WEEKLY focuses on diets with EXTREME DIETS … INSIDE HOLLYWOOD'S DANGEROUS OBSESSION WITH BEING THIN… and of course the poster girls are Kiera Knightley and Kate Bosworth. Same photos we've seen before, same words, same conjectures about 'have they gone too far.' Nothing new here. But wait a minute – what about the EXTREME DIETS? Let's check again…. Nope, nothing about that. As usual.

And then there's the Star… hot pink and all. By the way, the photo on the cover of Carmen Electra beats any photos that IN TOUCH or US WEEKLY has on theirs this week. But as they taught Tabloid Tuesday in Journalism story – the story is the thing.

Star's headlines announce     THE NEW LIPO … NEW PROCEDURE MELTS FAT & TIGHTENS SKIN IN MINUTES! - & IT'S AFFORDABLE!... +12 SEXY CELEB DIETS THAT WORK!

Here we go, page 56 – THE NEW LIPO: MIRACLE FAT ZAPPER… hmm, only $3,000 - $4,000 per area (that's "affordable"?) Before and after photos of The Rock, Howard Stern, Kathy Griffin… but where's Carmen Electra? Nowhere in the story, that's where… she's on the cover, part of the "New Lipo" pitch – but as usual, what you see isn't what you get. You gotta admit – when you're expecting Carmen Electra and Kathy Griffin shows up, it's a real let-down. But what else is new. And don't even ask about the diets.

THE MEN.COM WORST OF THE WEEK: THERE'S A 3 WAY TIE – US WEEKLY, IN TOUCH and STAR. Nothing of substance, nothing of interest, not even close to reality. And after reading them, you still don't know any more than you did just a few minutes ago.

THE MEN.COM BESTOF THE WEEK: NONE

Save your money. Go buy yourself an ice cream – you don't want to wind up looking like Carmen Electra, do you?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: According to the folks at IN TOUCH, Cameron Diaz said: "I need to have a cheeseburger now and again!" No wonder she didn't make it on the cover of the tabs this week. Keep up the good work.

Tabloid Tuesday is syndicated every week by Men.Com and provides a review and analysis of the front page stories from the tabloids.

? 2006 Men.Com. All Rights Reserved.

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Mixed Martial Arts Brand-Name Apparel Transforms Fans and Fighters into Warriors

Ron Landriault has spent a lifetime indulged in a fascination for martial arts. It began at age 12 when he enrolled in his first Shotokan karate class with Sensei Gilles Depéré and practiced the art for another 3 years thereafter. Next he expanded his skill set to include boxing and became a member of the renowned Beaver Boxing Club in Ottawa Ontario, Canada operated by famous trainer Joey Sandulo. Finally, he topped off his talents with the study of jiu jitsu and kick boxing techniques.

Today, Landriault has utilized his passion and personal experience with mixed martial arts to establish an online haven for MMA fans and fighters with the launch of http://www.MMAWarriorShop.net in June 2009.

Here, shoppers may browse through a vast collection of MMA clothing and training gear for men, women and children as well as a variety of equipment and accessories. From heavy-duty essentials like fighting cages or rings to small-scale necessities like gym bags and grappling dummies, you'll find everything you need and more. They even carry specialty merchandise like collectable figurines, jewelry and body care supplements.

Keep an eye out for new arrivals as Landriault will continue to update his collection with new merchandise; just on the horizon a Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) re new styles of brand-name MMA apparel such as TapouT, UFC and Affliction.

"We'll be updating our store monthly to incorporate new styles," Landriault said. "MMA fashion is the primary focus of the site's new blog, which will be used to promote the latest developments and trends."

Additionally, shoppers can look forward to an abundance of instructional DVDs and other training materials to learn tips and techniques and observe the raw talent of the pros, like Chuck Liddell. These resources are designed to educate fighters in cross training, mixed martial arts, grappling and more.

Landriault hopes to additionally expand the popularity of MMA fashion to Canada. A goal he plans to carry out with an attractive foundation of his business: wholesale prices, professional service and no false advertisements about what's in stock.

Stop in today to discover the warrior within you!

About the Company:
MMAWarriorShop.net is owned and operated by Web entrepreneur and martial artist, Ron Landriault, with help- from his business partner Connie Kuehni.

Ron Landriault
http://www.MMAWarriorShop.net
(250) 573-4355

iePlexus, Inc.
http://www.iePlexus.com

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