When it comes to colors, Pantone is said to be the global authority.  They have been bringing the consumers, and fashionistas, the season’s most important colors for the past 18 years.

For spring 2012, color experts Pantone has surveyed the designers and has come up with the most prominent hues for both men and women’s apparel. And the major must-have colors in your wardrobe for spring are in accordance with what spring is to many people.

Spring has become synonymous to renewal, revival, optimism, a promise of a new day, rebirth and thus everything is kind of bright and playful.  The Pantone’s colors for men and women are almost the same except for the colors Cabaret, Bellflower and Sweet Lilac for women while men’s palette has Granita, Dazzling Blue and Tradewinds instead.

Mens Colors

The colors may seem unknown to us but here are some samples from Uniform Point that shows how you can easily update your wardrobe with an addition of these hues. They even have polo shirts in all the spring colors fopr men. Take a look at the polo shirts from Port Authority and you will see Port Authority Men Pique Knit Sport Shirt or PA-K420 and see that they have in in similar colors but different names, in  this case, these are:Royal, Orange, Steel, Turquoise, Bark and Navy, respectively.

Yes, they also have it in yellow, sunset red, pistachio and other colors. The mens spring colors can be seen not only in these polo shirts but also other dress shirts, t-shirts and even accessories like caps.

Women Colors

Like what the Pantone has described, the different ladies polo shirts, plain t-shirts, and tank tops gives off what womens spring colors can bring. Here are some of slightly different name but of the same hues.

Sodalite Blue for Pantone is New Navy for DT-DT218H or District Threads Junior Womens Long Sleeve Thermal Henley Hoodie Jacket while Foliage Green is almost like Margarita.

On the other hand, District Threads® - Juniors Racerback Tank or DT-DT237 is available in New Navy, Aqua Ice, Light Pink and Neon Pink. Different names, same hues. So enjoy the spring with any of these cheap polo shirts, hoodies, cheap t-shirts and tank tops that is sure to make your days enjoyable, make your spirits soar, Accessories can certainly change by enhancing the look and making a statement this spring.

Just last week I was able to write about the different types of womens pants, not to be outdone we now try to learn more about the different types of mens pants. Are they really that different?

Let’s take a look at some of these:

Jeans
Both men and women adore jeans, it is the types of pants worn by all men of all ages, sizes and shapes and from different walks of life. It can be worn with any combination whether with a dress shirt and made a little bit more formal with a coat, with a polo shirt for a business casual look and even as a uniform, or paired with printed or plain t-shirts. It is the type of jeans that can be worn on any occasion; one just has to spice it up with accessories to make it more formal. Jeans are available in a wide array of sizes, cuts, and washes and one just has to choose which fits your style and personality. The different cuts and fit includes: bootcut, relaxed fit, skinny, slim fit, loose-fit and straight cut. Rises include the trendy low-rise, mid-rise, and the classic high-waisted.

Dickies Men's Regular Fit Five Pocket Jeans - DI-DD110

One of the things that men usually look for in their jeans is the kind of wash their favorite pants. Washed denim is the most popular selection of jeans and created when the jeans undergoes washing to remove or rinse away the excess dye left over when the denim is created and it is colored dark shades of dye. Raw denim is left unwashed after the material is dyed so it remains dark which is then expected to fade naturally. It is a favorite among fashion-conscious consumers, and jeans cut from it are often more expensive than those constructed from washed denim. Acid wash on the other hand is the kind of jeans that runs out of style every now and then. It may appear stylish this season but may look really outdated and a disgrace the next season. Dirty wash are the kinds of jeans constructed from dirty wash and are meant to look really well-worn. One of the most popular finish is the stonewash and is a must have of every guy's casual apparel collection. Nothing looks and feels better than jeans that have seen that have seen a lot of wear and tear. Vintage wash has the look of your favorite worn-in jeans. Distressed jeans are created with a vintage wash which gives them that look that everyone loves. This type of jeans goes with all types of shirts, printed, stripes or plain t-shirts. To accentuate the vintage wash a retro-style long sleeved shirt should be worn.

Dickies Men Relaxed Straight Fit Five Pocket Jean - DI-DD210

Pleated Pants
Pleated pants have creases at the front of the pants along the waist created by folding the fabric and sewing it down before the waistband is attached. Pleated pants are more formal than khakis but it can be worn on all types of occasions be it formal like a job interview or a business meeting as well as less formal occasions such as hanging out with friends. Pants with front pleats are popular mens pants for all ages especially because these pants are generous around the middle making it more comfortable and allowing for ease of movement. This type of pants is better suited to larger men – men with large back-sides or athletes with large thighs - especially when worn at the true or natural waist as the pleat’s lines create a visual effect. Active men or men with physically active jobs and lifestyle generally prefer pleated pants since these are roomier and do not restrict their movements. Slimmer men should avoid pleated pants because the extra room would not look good on them as it gives a baggy look. These pants never go out of style and are favored if comfort is preferred.

Dickies Men's Premium Cotton Pleated Front Pants - DI-WP114

Flat Front Pants
Flat-front trousers or pants have a more modern and cleaner look because there is no extra line. Flat-front pants have a dart which is a contouring feature that allows the pant fabric to lie flat against the body. These are preferred by the style-conscious as they go in and out of style. Those who prefer slimming and snugger fit should choose the flat front pants. Because there are no pleats, the silhouette is more straight and smooth and hence accentuates slimmer figures. This type of pants is quite unforgiving and will not only accentuate a slim figure but also emphasize a belly. Larger men should choose pleated pants since the flat front pants may be tight and uncomfortable around the waist belly and thighs. Unlike the pleated pants that looks better worn just above the hipbone, the flat-front pants should be worn just on or below the hipbones.

Dickies Men's Premium Cotton Flat Front Pants - DI-WP314

Cargo Pants
Cargo pants may be considered the most comfortable type of pants. This is because these pants are loose and baggy and do not restrict movement and thus feels extremely comfortable. These are perfect for rugged, outdoor activities like trekking, hiking, camping and many more. Additional patch pockets on the side called cargo pockets, as well as spread out from the top of the pants down to the ankles, allows wearer to carry additional items, aside from the backpack, making it really handy to get while at the same time leaving the hands free for any other activity. These pockets are usually secured with snaps, buttons, Velcro, or even zippers. Designed with accordion folds in the sides and  the loose-fit gives the wearer freedom to move around without restriction - bend down, stretch up, and kick out their legs - which is necessary when doing outdoor activities. Cargo pants are usually made from hardwearing fabrics with tough stitching to make it durable for the outdoors and designed to dry quickly should it get wet. This type of pants can be worn with polo shirts and all types of t-shirts. These are available in a wide range of sizes and colors and with different configuration and number of pockets.

Dickies Men's Relaxed Straight Fit Cargo Work Pants

Khakis
One of the most popular varieties of pants is the khakis. It is made from 100% cotton so khakis are extremely soft and comfortable. It looks stylish and a great choice for relaxed formal clothing and can be paired with any type of shirt, shoes and sandals. Khakis are usually available in black, navy, beige, and khaki and other earth tone colors. These are the pants more popular for young professionals who work in a workplace with a relaxed dress code or if with a dress code then on casual Fridays.

Chinos
Most of the time, people think that khakis and chinos are interchangeable but this is not true. Although some styles can easily pass for tapered khakis but the chinos and chino-style pants can be set apart from khakis by the narrow cut of their legs and the way their bottoms are tapered. Chinos are mostly crafted from a combination of cotton and stretchy synthetic fiber to offer great comfort, fit and modern styling. Chinos are best suited with dressier T-shirts and dress shirts. Chinos can be worn at any casual occasion or even those a little more formal occasions since they are considered bit dressier than jeans or khakis. Still, the chinos and chino-style pants are not formal pants.

Corduroy pants
Corduroys are pants made from a durable cut-pile fabric -- usually cotton -- and are vertically ribbed. These ribs or ridges may vary in thickness ranging from very thin and discreet to thicker and richer-looking ribs. These are available in various colors, cuts, thickness and style. These corduroy pants can be worn with any printed or plain t-shirts or shirts and shoes but are most often than not really casual and should not be worn in the office especially if the company has a formal dress code. It is better to wear cords during fall and winter months and if you really want to wear them during warm weather or during summer make sure you choose the ones with thin ribs or ridges.

Drawstring, jogging & track pants
Drawstring pants are usually loose and with a comfortable fit and derive its name from the fact that it has a string or cord used to tighten or tie closed an opened fabric. Medical scrub pants in drawstring are just an example of a comfortable and casual pants that have crossed over from the hospital setting to an everyday must have because of its lightness and easy to care features. Jogging pants, track and other sweat pants are loose and comfortable pants worn for the gym and other physical activities like jogging.

Jerzees Super Sweats Mens Two Pocket Elastic Waist Sweatpants - JE-4850MP

Getting the right fit for your pants is kind of hard when you don’t even know the type that suits you best. Just like dresses, skirts and shorts, there are types and cuts and styles that work for short people while some work for those with long legs and vice versa. It’s harder still when you don’t even know the different types of pants for men and women.

Pants, sometimes called trousers, are the type of clothing generally worn over the lower part of the body. It used to be that only men were able to wear pants but over the years and the evolution of fashion, pants are now part of any woman’s wardrobe. And so from formal wear to casual apparel, from classic fit to contemporary to low-rise, there are now so many different pants in the market today. When buying pants there are several factors to consider other than the fit, although it is of course of utmost importance, cuts and rises and that includes the fabric of the pants, the occasion or the place where you are wearing it. Choosing the best pants to wear would depend on the fabric, shape, size and the style that best fits your waist, hips, legs and even your butt perfectly. It should suit you perfectly not only in fit and style but also in comfort.

So let us go over the different types of pants and try to see which you like best and when and where these types are applicable.

Type of Women Pants:

Trousers - These are the types of pants that are perfect as corporate clothing. Worn with dress shirts or a more formal blouse would give anyone a smart corporate look, very professional and chic. Trousers are often available in a variety of styles and fabrics including cotton, polyester, and wool.

Jeans - Jeans have now become a staple member of any woman’s wardrobe. These types of pants are available in a plethora of styles, colors and fabrics, in the type of denim wash, in different cuts and rises, in regular size, petite or tall and even plus-sizes. Some styles may become out-dated but wait awhile and it comes back in style with a tweak or two, new accents or details. 

For those who have a hard time choosing the right cut for their figure here is a tip: lean or slim body should go for low and ultra-low rise jeans while the medium rise looks good on all types of body figure. Women with broad and fuller hips could also choose boot cut jeans with flare bottoms. 

Jeans and denims are one of the most common casual pants loved by most women. But the good thing about jeans is that you can make it classy or dressier with the right top, coat and accessories.

Yoga Pants/Sweat Pants - These are the pants worn for work outs and should never be worn for the office. Although these types of pants are extremely comfortable fashion experts believe that wearing sweat pants to the office is a corporate faux pas since these are specifically made to be worn for work outs. Yoga pants are usually skin-tight but made with cotton-spandex blend so are stretchable and perfect to wear at home, when going out with friends, doing errands, and of course for the workouts.  Sweat pants on the other hand are extremely baggy or loose-fitting or oversize making it easy for you to move around. 

Sport-Tek Youth Womens Sweatpants

Leggings - Leggings are the type of pants that are tight form-fitting that they are often referred to as tights. They can also be seen as the fitted and tighter version of capris as these also end at mid-calf  or near ankle length. Leggings made from nylon-lycra blend are worn for exercise and may be referred as bicycle or running tights. Leggings made from cotton-lycra, or a cotton-polyester-lycra combination can also be worn for exercise but are more typically worn for fashion. These are available in a wide range of colors and sometimes may also have designs and prints. A modern style called jeggings is a variant style of leggings but take attributes from jeans.

Cropped Pants - These are the pants very popular during warm weather or the summer and can be worn for work or as casual wear.  These types of pants are usually straight slim pants and may be called different names depending on their lengths.

Capris - Hugely popular with women, capris are trendy pants that reached mid-calf available in lots of colors and may be made from cotton, nylon, denim and polyester. 

Pedal Pushers - These pants are just like capris except these are a little bit shorter as they fall just slightly below the knees.

Gauchos or Gaucho Pants - These are also calf-length pants except that they are flared from below or wide-leg and elastic bands. These free flowing pants are ideal for summertime but are most often worn for dance and yoga classes.

Palazzos or Palazzo Pants - Palazzos are loose-fitting trousers with wide legs best suited for lean women. Usually made out of soft and sheer wrinkle free fabrics, these palazzo pants can be teamed with tank tops or trendy blouses and a nice pair of shoes.

Image Source: Uniform Point | SanMar | A Glimpse of Everything | Fashion Icons

It's amazing that there are so many different types of women’s shirts.

Women’s shirts come in different styles which can be worn for different occasions. They differ to suit the size, shape and personal preference of the woman wearing it.

When choosing a shirt there are different options to consider:

• Sleeve Length – short sleeve, long sleeve, three-fourths or three-quarter length, and sleeveless
• Neckline – round neck, v-neck, plunging, crew, boat, cowl, jewel, scoop, and button-down or with collar
• Fabric – 100% cotton, poly-cotton blend, with additional features rayon, silk and many more
• Color or Prints – solid colors, plain or with prints and patterns

Women’s shirts can also be worn on different occasion – casual, work or dressy – and one just has to find the right type of shirts to suit the occasion or the needs. Experts though believe that even a simple shirt can be made classy and dressy with the right accessories and a dressy one can be made simpler with a few tweaks. 

When looking for a top, some women have problems differentiating a shirt from a blouse. According to Wikipedia, a shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body and may come in different types while a blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that was formerly worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women and children and is typically gathered at the waist (by a waistband or belt) so that it hangs loosely or blouses over the wearer's body. The word blouse is generally associated with a woman’s shirt but it can actually refer to a man’s shirt if it is also loose-fitting, such as the poet shirt.

These days the word blouse refers to a nice comfortable flowy shirt, more feminine and fancier than a shirt and usually without collar and buttons with accents like ruffles, ruching and drapes.

For now though, let us take a look at the different styles of women’s tops most often worn for casual wear.

Casual Shirts:

Simple, comfortable and even cheap shirts are ubiquitous in a woman’s wardrobe. These are often worn on casual occasions, going out with friends, or doing everyday stuffs like doing grocery.

T-shirts – A mainstay of any wardrobe, men and women, t-shirts are usually made of cotton and may have different sleeve lengths and necklines. Plain t-shirts may be available in a wide variety of colors while some may have graphic designs or quotes on it. Women’s tees may be a little fit than men’s cheap tee shirts are.

District Threads Junior Womens Perfect Fit 1x1 Crewneck Tee (DT-DT234C) in Fresh Aqua and V-Neck Tee (DT-DT234V) in Dark Fuschia

Port Authority® - Ladies Modern Stretch Cotton Scoop Neck Shirt  in 3/4 sleeves, long sleeves annd short sleeves, respectively

Women Polo Shirts – a T-shirt with collar, two- or three-button placket, and an optional pocket and it can be worn both with jeans and slacks.

Port Authority Ladies Silk Touch Polo Shirts  in short, 3/4 sleeves and long sleeves, respectively

Henley Shirts – These are the shirts without collar but with a button placket of two to five buttons and may have short or long sleeves.

OGIO 3/4 sleeves Crush Henley

Tunics – these are usually loose-fitting and often silky, flowing tops longer than regular t-shirts and women love these with leggings or skinny jeans.

District Threads Tunic Tee

Sleeveless

These are the casual tops that do not have sleeves and show a little more skin. They can be used as is. Especially on a warm day, it can be layered under other shirts, or can be made dressier or more formal with a blazer or coat. These sleeveless shirts can be worn with jeans, shorts and skirts.

Tank top and spaghetti straps shirt from District Threads

Tank Shirts/ Tank tops – These are the tops without sleeves and instead have shoulder straps and are worn by women for active wear because of their breathability, and because it is sleeveless, it keeps the person cool as arms are not covered and gives the wearer a wider range of movements. These can be worn under cheap tee shirts, button-downs, cardigans, and even shrugs. It is very versatile that it can also be made more formal when worn with blazers or coats in the workplace.

Spaghetti Straps Shirts – Just like the tank tops, the spaghetti straps shirts can be worn on its own or with a cardigan, a light sweater or a shrug. The name is derived from the fact that the straps are actually very thin resembling the thin pasta strings called spaghetti.

Halter Top – is a type of sleeveless shirt for women akin to a tank top but with a big difference on the straps. The halter top has its straps tied behind the neck so that there is only a narrow strap behind the neck and a narrow strap at the middle of the back leaving the upper back bare. There are different kinds of halter tops.

Different types of halternecks

Image Sources: Uniform Point | San Mar | Google Images

President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address tackled a lot of things but each one of us has our own agenda and is more critical on the stuffs that affect or matter to us. And as it has always been the case, the people are divided or have mixed reviews on the SOTU with some being more vocal about it and more disappointed especially those in the opposite spectrum of his politics.

One of the key messages that all those in work uniforms are anxious about is what he has in stored for them. And President Obama certainly focused on the most important issue that is uppermost on every American’s mind and that is our economy. He talked about jobs, job training, immigration, outsourcing and other employment-related issues. The president made it clear to everybody that job growth is a priority and that he intends to ensure getting unemployed workers back to work but he also acknowledged the “skills gap” that is keeping more Americans out of work. In my post Skills Needed To Get Unfilled 3.4 Million Job Openings one of the factors that kept job seekers from getting hired was because of the lack of necessary skills.

In his address, President Obama proposed a new initiative to train and place 2 million Americans in work uniforms with the help of businesses and community colleges. This training program has already been part of the government’s stimulus plan but only a small portion has been spent on it and thus is not enough for the much need skills and knowledge for the work available. Simplified government-sponsored training programs are also seen as solutions to this. Partnerships between companies and community colleges will ensure that the skill they get will lead them directly right to the job.

I still believe that one of the things the government should also work on is to ensure less high-school dropouts since this lowers their earning opportunities and economic prospects. And it’s a good thing that the president also addressed this issue when he called upon every state to make sure that their students not give up on their education.

“We also know that when students aren’t allowed to walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma.  So tonight, I call on every State to require that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn eighteen.”

Before calling upon the state and the Congress to help make education easier for students, he also mentioned the teachers and how valuable they are in the future of our children and our economy: "A great teacher can offer an escape from poverty to the child who dreams beyond his circumstance.   Every person in this chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives."

It is certainly a good reminder to all of us how important education is and how crucial it is to make it more available to everyone. These days no matter how much you want to go to a university the thought of the huge student loan looming afterwards can be discouraging. Even the cheapest state colleges’ tuitions are a struggle and oftentimes become a burden for families today; the very much needed education becomes a pipe dream for most American youth. The president is correct when he said that while other countries are doubling down on education we are cutting down on ours. But, the success of whatever economic plans we make today and its continuous success lie on what we can do for our youth today, and that starts with the best education we can give them. No matter how many jobs we bring in if we do not have the work force skilled and knowledgeable enough to do the job then success will only be partial.

"We will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt and phony financial profits," the president said. "I want to speak about how we move forward and lay out a blueprint for an economy that's built to last -- an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers and a renewal of American values."

The president knows that what has left our shores, like jobs that has been outsourced, will not be brought back to the US for Americans to work on. And his radical way of making sure more people are in their work uniforms here is to kick-start America’s manufacturing industry. The manufacturing industry coupled with other policy changes especially in making sure that no foreign manufacturers has an advantage over our manufacturing industry is what he deemed key to slowly win over our economic slump. The economic blueprint that will reduce income inequality.

And I believe Americans want to believe him or pray that would really get us out there, maybe not as big as before but definitely better. If all his plans are implemented, then we can really expect a great and positive impact on our economy. Maybe, his plans have some weaknesses, maybe he made some mistakes in the ways he sees China as a competitor instead of something to be studied and to look at China and all the possibilities, at what can be done amidst so many adversities. Let us all remember that China's financial system is less modern than ours but manage to finance their development efforts from the construction of universities, airports, and high-tech train statitons. Still, he gives us hope and for now it is more than what we have.

"Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the playing field is level, I promise you – America will always win."

Image Source: USA Today

When buying online, one major concern by any buyer is the sizing and finding the correct size for them. Although it is okay to return and exchange products ordered online but then we all know it’s a little bit inconvenient. One would want to be able to order items left and right knowing that it would fit them. Unfortunately, different brands have different manufacturers and not only do their colors/hues and tints differ but their sizing may differ by one or two numbers, too. Add to that are what you see as women’s size, junior fit, and missy fit and it makes you ask what the differences are between this sizes. When it says contemporary fit does it mean it’s different from regular and classic fit? What does it mean when you read slim-fitting when compared to regular fit clothes or the plus-size clothing? What does it mean when it says H on the size?

Since online clothing stores are a plentiful these days and makes shopping so much more convenient, more and more people are buying online. Getting fitting and sizing problems would cause people to have problems or hesitate to pursue their online shopping. This is not a problem encountered by customers looking for pants, dress or even plain t-shirts but also in all kinds of work uniforms. So, let us define simple terms for better understanding and an easy way for you to look for the items that would fit you and communicate the sizing details to the sales person you are talking with.

Junior Fit: This fit is designed for the teenage body, pre-teen and young -teen, which has not fully developed. The cut is straighter with less curves, less definition between the hips and waist, and smaller in the bust. For the tops, the cut is made to fit a higher than average bust (not larger) and shorter back. The rise of the crotch area is shorter from waistline to inseam than that of missy sizes. Junior size is meant to bridge the gap between children’s size and missy sizes as the body changes.It is designed trendy, casual and youthfully styled, and more suitable for school and casual going and even first job wear.

Junior Sizes are displayed in odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19 with size 13 as the upper limit but still there are manufacturers who extend their size range into size 19.

Missy Fit: Missy size, sometimes also called misses sizes, is designed for more mature women with fully developed body. Compared to junior size, missy size is cut more generously in the bust and hips. Most average-sized women fit best in missy size once they are out of their teens and in their early twenties. Missy clothing style tends to be more tailored than women’s size clothing which tends to be looser.

Missy Sizes are displayed in even numbers 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 20 with missy size 18 as the upper limit but still there are manufacturers who extend their size range into size 20.

Plus-Size: Plus size clothing tends to refer to clothing made for women who wear a size 14 in the US or 16 in the UK. But then plus-size can vary between different manufacturers, whether in a brick stores or online clothing stores, so it’s a little bit harder to understand. It is wrong to say that plus-size is the term given to clothing proportioned specifically for overweight people but the correct term should be full-figured women.

Dress Shirts

Tailored-Fit/Slim-Fit: Dress shirts are slightly tighter around the chest and sides.

Standard-Fit: Dress shirt has a slightly baggy, but traditional "full-cut" appearance.

Athletic Cut: These are the dress shirts that have a full chest but are tapered at the waist.

Oversized/Relaxed Fit: These are the dress shirts that are considerably larger than a regular fit. It allows a 2 to 4 inches additional circumference than actual bust/chest measurement.

Clothing

Regular/Relaxed Fit clothing is sized between the generous and slim fits. It tends to skim most body types comfortably; regular fit pants and shirts have a little extra fabric than slim fit clothing.

Slim Fit clothing refers to any garment that fits the wearer close to the body and slim-fit styles are quite tight. Slim fitted pants, shirts, and other garments don’t have extra fabric hanging or draping anywhere.

Generous/Full Fit clothing refers to any garment that is loose and it usually has extra fabric hanging or draping anywhere than a regular fit, allowing 2”- 4” additional circumference than actual chest/bust measures.

Image Source: google.com

Days before Christmas day and still reading the news when graphs and economics are what I encountered. Several articles tackled about graphs which actually started when BBC asked several economists to name their graph of the year. Some of the world’s top economists shared their insights in the financial developments particularly in the Eurozone by choosing a graph which they felt explained the currents events and what they can expect in the near future.

American newspapers and blogs did not want to be left without their own version and decided to ask their favorite economists, economic policymakers and investors to name their favorite graph of the year or the graph clearly influenced their thinking in 2011 with the reasons why it did. I have to say that Derek Thompson hit it on the head when he said “In a discipline where facts are murky and certainty is elusive, graphs offer a bright light of information and a small confidence that the world can be summed up between two axes.”

The economy and the changes with and around it is really a complex thing. Charts and graphs certainly make it easier for any layman and any person in industrial workwear interested enough to understand what is happening. Here are some of my favorites among the chosen graphs with the explanation from the expert who chose it as graph of the year for 2011. 

Peter Diamond, MIT

"This chart shows that a great deal of hiring is happening, as it does each month, that hiring per job opening is higher than it was when there was less unemployment, and that the ratio of quits to discharges, while still low, is recovering (a sign of better job opportunities). I infer that the low level of job openings is our key problem, reflecting inadequate aggregate demand and the need for significant fiscal stimulus."

Larry Summers, Harvard

"The near quadrupling in the share of men not working and the seemingly inexorable trend changes every aspect of society. Cyclical and structural changes are combining in a perfect storm."

Mark Zandi, Moody's

"Households are rapidly deleveraging and getting their proverbial house in order. The number of delinquent household loans has plunged from a peak of close to 35 million in early 2009 to less than 25 million in November."

Michael Greenstone, MIT, the Hamilton Project

"This chart shows how the jobs gap has evolved since December 2007 and shows three different scenarios for different rates of job growth. If the economy adds about 208,000 jobs per month, which was the average monthly rate for the best year of job creation in the 2000s, then it will take until February 2024 — over 12 years — to close the jobs gap."

Robert Frank, New York University

"My entry is the attached graph of what I call the Toil Index. It's an index I constructed to portray the most dramatic element of the middle-class squeeze -- the effort required to rent a house served by a school of average quality. "

Mike Konczal, Roosevelt Institute

"This graphic was originally part of a presentation two IMF economists gave in Cairo days before the Arab Spring happened. In the graph they showed 2008-era youth unemployment in the MENA region and warned about the long-term effects, both economic and political, of mass youth unemployment. I've updated it to include US youth unemployment in the Great Recession."

Source: Wonkblog

Dickies®  POLO SHIRTS

This is supposed to be the What’s New Monday where we feature new items from our website, Uniform Point. Since, I have been featuring new items through my other updates, we decided to just put a product under the spotlight today.

Today, the spotlight is on two polo shirts from one of the trusted names in workwear apparel. Though the youth may know the brand Dickies for their fashionable and trendy pants and the casual tees, they actually have a proud heritage of providing tough, quality clothing to American workers for more than 87 years.Dickies® has an extensive range of innovative and durable work apparel but also ventured in meeting the needs of their customers for quality after work clothing. Their unpretentious image has transcended generations and socio-economic boundaries as you can see the workwear apparel become trendy and the Dickies product appeals to typical American workers also appeals to fashion trendsetters, from construction worker to nurses to college students, to name a few.  Customers can be thankful that Dickies continues to evolve and display innovation in their workwear design to meet the changing demands of their customers.

Polo shirts though used to be worn by tennis players earning the term tennis shirt, also gained followers in other sports and thus earned the moniker polo shirt as well as golf shirt though the polo shirt underwent some changes to adapt to the need of the sport. Compared to other apparel, the polo shirts are a little bit more formal than t-shirts but a little more casual than button-down dress shirts but still being a little dressy. Thus polo shirts are often worn in settings where t-shirts are not acceptable but formal business attire is not required. Due to its rugged casualness and style, these were worn by those who work outside of the office such as maintenance workers and groundskeepers. In the 90s it became a part of the business casual apparel as those who work in high-tech industries favored the polo shirts as workwear. Over the years, the polo shirts has become a part of the school uniforms, sports team uniforms, and favorite corporate giveaways simply because the company logo can be embroidered or screen printed on it and still look a little bit more formal than t-shirts and flexible enough to be worn with jeans and slacks.

[DI-WS449] - Dickies Men's Short Sleeve Mini Piqué Polo(starting at $13.95)

A Dickies classic fit mini Piqué work shirt is with a moisture wicking feature and it's made of 6.8 oz. /230 gm. 100% cotton fabric. It comes with a single roomy inset welt pocket for storing items, rib knit collar, short set-in sleeves, three button taped placket, three logo horn buttons and drop tail.

• Classic Fit
• Moisture wicking
• Inset welt pocket
• Rib knit collar
• 3 button taped placket
• Logo horn buttons
• Drop tail
• 6.8 oz Mini Pique , 100% Cotton

This polo shirt is available in other colors including: Black, Cadet Blue, Amber, Willow, Dark Navy, English Red, Heather Gray, and White.

Manufacturer: Dickies

Uniform Point Apparel Style Code: DI-WS449

Sizes: M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL 5XL

[DI-WS415] - Dickies Men Short Sleeve Slub Jersey Polo Shirt (starting at $14.95)

Dickies features this men's polo shirt made with 6 oz and 100% ring-spun jersey cotton. This classic fit shirt has a taped neck and shoulders for the best fit possible. It wicks moisture away from the skin. The design includes a rib knit collar with taped neck, elbow length sleeves, metal logo buttons, side vents and dropped tail. It's shipped on a hanger and tagless for comfort.

• Classic fit & moisture wicking
• Rib knit collar with taped neck
• >Metal logo buttons
• Side vents and dropped tail
• Tagless for comfort
• 100% cotton

This polo shirt is available in other colors including: Black, Dark Navy, Smoke, Seaweed, Lake Blue and Maize.

Manufacturer: Dickies

Uniform Point Apparel Style Code: DI-WS415

Sizes: M L XL 2XL 3XL

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