Fashion trends and beauty standards are always changing with the times, and we’ve seen quite a few over the years when it comes to men’s grooming habits, which at one point seemed to be exclusively functional. Frosted tips, lusty beards, perfectly groomed eyebrows, and now — nail art, and they’re nailing it. The manicure, or “menicure” as it has been recently coined, has become a super popular self-care habit this year among men from all walks of life. Celebrities like Harry Styles, Post Malone, A$AP Rocky, and even Brad Pitt have been sporting nail art as of late, and we have to say — we’re totally into it.

In the past, we’ve seen celebrity icons like Mick Jagger, Kurt Kobain, and David Bowie rocking freshly manicured digits, yet nail polish for men was rarely seen outside of the punk or grunge music scene or emo and goth subcultures. During this time, the “menicure” was seen as a symbol of rebellion and unlikely the average Joe could pull it off. But now we are seeing it everywhere, on men of all ages, from every domain, famous and unfamous. Anna Parvatalova, Creative Director for SNS Nails says, “I think one of the reasons we are seeing more men paint their nails is simply because there’s less stigma around it. I think more male celebrities are doing it. I’ve even seen popular streamers painting nails live in front of their audience, so it’s definitely something that’s likely to come across as less bizarre as it happens more and more.” –And it’s true, we are seeing it more and more.

Nail art has probably become increasingly popular among men because it’s a simple and low-maintenance way for them to express themselves. Think of nail art as a form of self expression like tattoos or piercings, but without the full-on commitment or regret. Almost anyone can paint their nails, and it’s easy to remove if you decide you don’t like it. From black and muted pastel varnishes to emojis and other symbols– these days, men are owning the nail art game and wearing it proud. Girlfriends everywhere, rejoice! Your boyfriend just may let you paint his nails this time.

For years, mainstream culture had reserved nail polishes soley for women, but now major fashion labels, such as Chanel are even securing the trend and creating nail polishes specifically geared towards men, and others seem to be following suit. “Fashion is a world that is constantly changing, especially when it comes to things traditionally associated as being masculine or feminine. The world of nails is no exception,” says Parvatalova.  Next time you go in for a handshake, don’t be surprised if you are greeted with some mega cool, manicured hands. With millennials and Gen Z-ers blurring the lines of gender stereotypes and everything seems to be becoming more fluid, the “menicure” may be here to stay, and we’re here for it.

Versatile leggings are no longer just for working out.  For some time now, they have been considered sufficiently mainstream to be worn like pants. Leggings are different from tights; they are thicker and footless. This is why leggings are the clothing of choice for fitness-related activities and crossover easily into casual settings. Plus, leggings are more comfortable than many other types of exercise clothing because they are constructed from softer fabics. Leggings are the perfect choice for women with sensitive skin seeking an alternative that fits well, is easy to move around in, and looks great.

In this article, we will look at what qualities make the best leggings for any activity.

Breathability

Normally, women wear leggings for high-intensity workouts, advanced yoga, and throughout an active lifestyle.  Skin needs enough air to remain cool and comfortable during these energetic activities.  Good quality leggings are constructed from fabric with built-in wicking ability.  So the fabric absorbs sweat and moisture  from the surface of the skin and pushes it through the material to the outer layer.  This cools the body by keeping skin pores open. When the skin cools after physical activity, the fabric assists in regulating body temperature.  A fairly new trend in leggings is incorporated mesh panels to aid in keeping the body cool.

Comfort

This can’t be stressed enough. Comfortable leggings get worn more. Leggings must be comfortable and not itch, tug or require constant adjustments to stay in place or fit properly. This is particularly true if leggings are worn during exercise.  The right fabric provides a soft, comfortable feeling against the skin without irritation.

Durability

Speaking of fabric, leggings made with top-quality material are more durable.  If you intend to wear leggings for high energy activity, don’t skimp on price.  You will only regret it later.  Besides, your leggings will last longer and won’t wear out as quickly, even if used solely for high-intensity workouts. In other words, cheap leggings do not stand the test of time and either rip or split at the seams quicker than top-quality leggings that barely show wear and tear over the same period. Durability may cost a little more but is worth it in the long run when replacement is further into the future.

Features

Good quality leggings have added features.  These vary depending on the brand, but common extras include a waistband that won’t roll, fold, or dig in or a pocket for bank cards or keys. Because leggings are worn for more than just time spent in the gym or running in the neighborhood, they are available in many different colors. Some leggings, like the ones from Sanctuary Clothing are available in color combinations that encourage coordinating with additional clothing items for working out or casual activities. Leggings are available in many different patterns, including the perennial favorite – camo leggings.

Fit

This is probably one of the most important factors to consider with leggings. The fit is crucial. Not only should it be accurate enough to match a specific body structure, but the fit has to be flattering as well. Good quality leggings stretch over the body and fit like a second skin that conforms to the body shape.  Leggings that are too big will appear baggy or may sag in places; wearing a size too small will stretch and pinch in areas and not fit correctly. There are also different types of fits for leggings. There are slimming designs, butt-lifting designs, and more.

Functionality

Another key consideration with leggings is that they do what they are designed to do well.  Leggings designed for active lifestyles should perform without effort.  They should assist in making high-impact workouts, and other exercises, easy to perform with little or no problem.  Good quality leggings should move and stretch with each movement and return to a normal state when the activity is completed. Durability and breathability both contribute to the functionality of good quality leggings, which makes them the perfect choice for a wide variety of activities that jeans or any other type of pant cannot do well.

Price

One of the best ways to determine quality is with pricing. When something has an extremely low price, it typically has something to do with the quality of the materials from which the product is made.  As mentioned earlier, cheaper materials don’t last as long as better quality ones.  Cheaper materials quickly break down. Good quality leggings are not always high priced;  they just are not extra low-priced either. Competitively priced leggings are of good quality, but the leggings that last longest will be at the higher end of the pricing scale.

Stretch

The material used to construct leggings determines comfort and stretch.  Polyester is a common choice,  but when  blended with lycra or elastane, leggings gain superior stretching qualities and comfort. Either of these materials provides a great deal of stretch and elasticity which enhances comfort and the ability to move around easily with these leggings on.

Versatility

We’ve mentioned that leggings are versatile. Versatility makes leggings suitable for just about any occasion. They can be worn for hiking, running, biking, working out, relaxing, casual events, and just about any other activity or function where comfortable pants or activewear would be suitable. Because leggings have stretchy material, they are perfect active gear.  Even so, the styling and colors available mean leggings can fit just about any setting from going shopping to going on a date.

Final Thoughts

There are many considerations to keep in mind when shopping for leggings. You can’t just pick the first pair available and expect them to last a long time. Plus, if you wear leggings frequently, you will want them to fit right, breathe, be comfortable, do what they are supposed to do, and many other things expected of this type of clothing. Fortunately, leggings come in many different styles, colors, and features to make it easy to find the right leggings for whatever you plan to wear them for.

If you are a filmmaker or the producer of any form of visual content, you need to sign-up with a royalty-free music provider. If you don’t know what royalty-free music is or how to use it, then you are in luck as we are about to educate you on the benefits of a service that is perfect for 2021 and beyond. 

When it comes to finding the right music to score your film or video project, you have a number of options at your disposal. Some are costly, others are complicated, and one option is a more intelligent choice all around.

Selecting the right music to fit your project is key to the success of your overall production, and as such, you want to be able to access as much musical output as possible. Those new to scoring projects may initially be considering using existing mainstream music, only to find the costs are prohibitive and securing permission is something of a minefield.

Others may hope to use music that is without copyright only to find that avenue doesn’t really exist or isn’t suitable. Simply put, music that has seen its copyright expire is almost always in relation to music that was recorded at least 75 years ago and therefore isn’t likely to suit any modern production.

So, what about royalty-free music?

What is Royalty-Free Music

Royalty-free music is a fast-growing industry that offers you a cast catalog of great music for an inexpensive fee and does so without the need to sort out additional licenses. It’s a market that has become hugely popular with filmmakers and social media influencers and could be the right option for you.

The music offered by royalty-free music providers is produced by singers, musicians, DJs, and bands who align themselves with a relevant company, and it’s a regularly updating database of music that will cover all your needs.

Why You Need It

Those who have tried to find music prior to the advent of royalty-free music will tell you that the process is lengthy and resource-heavy. Where previously the number of available options was few and far between, now you have a world of choice at your fingertips.

The Benefits of Royalty-Free Music

Perhaps the most significant benefit of royalty-free music is the scale of what’s on offer. A good provider will have thousands of songs and samples neatly organized according to themes and styles. 

They will also have an SFX (sound effects) library, which will prove invaluable, and the best thing about all of this is that the libraries are constantly updating so that whenever you delve in, you come across new options. 

The costs associated with royalty-free music, which is usually offered on a subscription basis, are far cheaper than trying to clear even a single track of mainstream music. In all honesty, choosing a song via an extensive database will almost certainly be more relevant to your production than randomly selecting a song you heard on the radio. 

In this way, royalty-free music is very much fit for purpose and an ideal choice for anyone who’s looking for quality musical accompaniment for their projects.

What to Look for In a Royalty-Free Music Provider

There are now many options in the royalty-free music sphere, and now is the right time to select one as the pricing has been kept competitive. There are some key factors to keep in mind when choosing your provider.

Look for a company that offers high-quality music files and one that regularly updates its selection.  It’s useful to note just what genres and styles of music are covered by the provider and also whether their interface is intuitive. 

The best providers have systems that make it a breeze to search through thousands of files at ease. 

There are many good royalty-free music providers, but there’s one that stands out of the crowd, and that’s Artlist. The quality of their product is such that even those who are not aware of the industry are still acquainted with the name of the brand.

They offer a few great incentives to get you to sign-up, one of which guarantees you that any music you download remains your property even if you choose to leave their service. This is the kind of additional detailing that makes them a true leader in the royalty-free music space.

A Rapidly Growing Industry

We have all become voracious consumers of visual content. Whether that’s when we scroll endlessly through our social media feeds or when we tune in to the latest show on a streaming service. This boom in content production is one of the main drivers that have made royalty-free music so huge, and the market is now very mature, and that means that as a user, the service is now far more effective than it once was.

Now is the opportune time to consider a trial with any of the better brands in the market, and no doubt, the experience will prove far more smooth than any other avenue you might consider when putting a soundtrack to your projects.

For many households, wintertime can be very challenging due to various reasons, including bad weather, lack of heating, or even condensation.

Use Your Heating Before it Gets Cold

You’ll likely need to re-acquaint yourself with your heating as we transition from summer to winter. Ensure that your radiators are bleeding, that your boiler is working, and that you dust your vents and filters before the weather gets freezing. By doing this, you’ll have time to make sure everything’s still working before the days get too cold.

Check your guttering

There are many issues associated with gutters, including heavy overflows of leaves and drainage problems. Make sure your gutters are free of leaves and debris in order to prevent a buildup of ice and heavy gutters when the cold weather starts.

Clean Up Your Garden

Cleaning your garden, ensuring it’s clear, and preparing it for winter is essential. Protect greenhouses, plant pots, and wheelie bins from the wind. It would be best if you also kept on top of any leaves in your yard so that they don’t pile up over the autumn and make a mess when it comes to important occasions.

Ventilate Your Home

Condensation is a nasty thing. That’s why you should buy felt lap vents to prevent condensation in your loft. Lap vents will solve the issue of condensation and will keep your worries at bay.

Paint Before It’s Too Cold

If you’re thinking of redocorating your home, make sure you do it before it’s too cold. It takes longer for rooms to dry in winter and requires you to open windows, thus letting out heat. We highly recommend doing it before the cold season of winter.