LIFESTYLES APR 06

MEN ON PAUSE? 49 AND HOLDING: WHY?

Menopause Maven Stephen King, explained the whole story...

Women 49 and holding…What is the significance of that age and why is this topic worthy for your talk show guest consideration? Is it because they don’t want to reveal the secret that they passed the big 50 milestone? No. Could it be that they’ve been on our incoming hotline for 49 minutes and holding? Hopefully not. Is that the number of spam emails they received for female viagra? Close but not quite. It’s the age of: MEN ON PAUSE, otherwise known as Menopause. There, we said the “M” word and lived to tell about it. It’s the time when your “49 and Holding” loyal lady listeners begin experiencing hot flashes, wild mood swings, and suddenly become strangely similar to the every day temperament of your station’s General Manager (yikes!) So, before you begin to get inundated with calls from aging Baby Boomers who view their local talk show hosts as experts on everything, who are you going to call? Ghost Busters? NO. Call Stephen King. Not the horror novelist, but Stephen E. King, the one and only, the man of the moment, the life of the party, world class moody woman expert extraordinaire and all around great guy, otherwise known as: The Menopause Maven.

Menopause Maven Stephen King, explained how 49 nine years of age is the approximate time when millions of women across America begin experiencing symptoms caused by rising FSH in their bodies that cause them a number of symptoms, including sometimes backing down shying away from the amorous evening offers of affection by their beloved spouses. In easy to understand language, he detailed the relationship between FSH and Menopause and how tough it used to be to get a diagnosis of the stage of Menopause a women might be in at any given time. Stephen explains how women used to have to go for multiple, expensive, time consuming and needlessly invasive doctor’s appointments only to find out that “that time” had not yet arrived. Instead, Stephen King puts an end to such horror (see, the name did come in handy), sharing with your lady listeners, as well as their sometimes frustrated husbands, that there is now a convenient home test kit for Menopause, called Menocheck®, not Men On Pause, Not Men on Check, but Menocheck, the wonder kit that emancipates men and empowers women. Now all your lovely ladies or their desperate husbands need to do is take a test in the privacy of their own bathroom and, voila! They will instantly know if they are justifiably in a roler-coaster mood swing of a lifetime or if is just the subject matter of their local Talk Show host that got them going off on a wild rant. Menocheck® is a simple, one-step urine test that allows a woman to accurately check for the onset of menopause in the privacy of her own home. It is easy-to-use and is an attractive, non-invasive alternative to clinical blood testing for initial screenings. Menocheck® is similar to an at-home pregnancy test in design, and works by measuring levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the urine. FSH levels can fluctuate. However, as women enter menopause, these levels gradually rise and become permanently elevated once menopause has set in. Menocheck® is FDA approved and has been shown to be 99% accurate when used as directed. Synova began offering and distributing Menocheck® for retail sale in November 2003. It is currently available for purchase in more than 15 retail distributors including Walgreens, Albertson's, Happy Harry's, Brooks/Eckerd Drugs, Rite Aid, Longs Drugs and Duane Reade.

About “Menopause Maven” Stephen King: Why is this man smiling? Because he is making millions of women—and men—happy, empowering them with knowledge as to where they stand regarding Mid Life and the Age of Menopause. STEVEN E. KING is Chief Executive Officer of Synova Healthcare, Inc, makers of Menocheck® Menopause test kits. Before he was dubbed the “Menopause Maven” for marketing menopause home test kits, his professional experience included 17 years of pharmaceutical sales and marketing, both nationally and internationally. Mr. King has been directly responsible for the marketing activities of several well-known pharmaceutical brands, focusing in Women's Health and the Neurosciences, while working with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education from Brock University, with a major in Biological Sciences. From May 1995 to October 1999, Mr. King served in various progressive marketing and management positions with GlaxoSmithKline. From October 1999 to January 2003, Mr. King served in various progressive marketing and management positions with Wyeth, including Senior Director of Marketing from October 1999 to December 2000, and Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing - Neuroscience from December 2000 to January 2003. From 2000 to 2003 he served as a member of the Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Global Strategic Marketing Management Team.

LAURICE RAHME: New York's Queen of Fragrances...

Photo: Laurice Rahme.

Does New York smell? Maybe, hot dogs and chili on major avenues. But how about intimate and exotic aromas of fancy neighborhoods? How About Chelsea, Soho and Tribeca? Central Park? Anything particular about those glitzy areas, besides exorbitant rent, high robbery price tags on imported goods and hot gossips?! You bet! And Laurice Rahme found out. She came up with most unusual idea. IDEA? Are you kidding? How about an invention? A flashy-dashy-aromatic invention? She did! World class perfume designer, creator and entrepreneur Laurice Rahme thinks that New York smells pretty good...Read full article

2007 FASHION NEW TRENDS. .Read full article

MODELS' EMBARRASSING MOMENTS...Read full article

BEST HOTELS IN NEW YORK

Read full article

Yves Saint Laurent Fall/Winter 2006/07 ready-to-wear collection

KABBALAH FOR YOUR HAIR, MADAME!

GIA SARI MAKING A BIG BUZZ IN MANHATTAN AND BEYOND!

Photo: Gia Sari, the Israeli inventor of the Kabala hair formula in her salon in Manhattan.

Oui Madame, but of course, Kabala formula for your hair. A new product to make a big buzz in the world of beauty and hair fashion, invented by a young Israeli hair designer who opened a "salon de beaute" in Manhattan. And stars and world celebrities are getting excited and curious about it. Some of them might go to heaven with long and beautifully Kabalistic hair. I mean, those who are meditating "under the boardwalk" or using this most unusual hair product!?

Photo: Madonna was the first superstar to receive a Kabala Hair Formula from the hands of inventor Gia Sari.

The stars and "mesdames de la societe" want to know everything about this magical "Kabala stuff" that makes your hair glow and grow like a sun flower. Why stars and starlets are getting curious and excited? Well, a special specimen, a very special bottle of this Israeli formula was given to Madonna to try it. And that's good. Because, nowadays, Madonna is trying everything. Her latest passion? Kabala or Kaballah of course. So why not a Kabala hair formula?. Madonna got the bottle and the paparazzi and gossips prima donne want to hear the rest of the story. Is it working? What there is in this thing? Who is using it? Any star a la carte? The cost per bottle? And of course, the name of the inventor. Alright, the inventor is a stunning, very bright, sweet and funny Israeli girl from Jerusalem who landed in New York City and opened a lovely and extremely friendly hair salon in Upper Manhattan. Her name is Gia Sari, a stunning beauty and creative hair stylist who is taking Manhattan by storm.

Gia is an Israeli fashion and hair stylist par excellence and by raison d'etre. Before conquering New York City, Gia began her career in London, in the salon of her mother. At eighteen, Gia joined the prestigious and ritzy salons of Vidal Sasoon and short after, she became a part of Elle and Vogue magazines teams. Her talent was noticed and her unique creativity attracted the attention of superstars and celebrities like Brooke Shields and Johnny Depp. She is accustomed to mingle with movies stars and celebrities. One day, she noticed that when stars get tired "because of this or that", Gia said, their hair loses their healthy look and brightness. Commercial products "don't do the trick, all the time. You need a special formula which has a supra-power. Something from above, which gives your hair a celestial splash. And I found the formula. It is inspired and influenced by the Kabala which I have studied for year." said Gia Sari. And she is serious. Really serious! This Israeli young beauty is fun and charming, but please, Madame, and you too mon cher Monsieur, please remember, Gia is very serious. So far, her salon is a smash hit. Now, let's wait and see what Madonna and other big shots of the glitzy society of New York will have to say about Sari kabala's bottle. Perhaps bottles, because those bottles start to circulate like hot cakes in the discreet corridors of New York City and beyond. Meanwhile, pay a visit to Gia 's salon. It could be very celestial and enlightening experience. The service is superb and Gia's assistants are very friendly, especially Dana, one of the shining stars of Gia Sari's team.

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

Photo: Creation of Baby Phat.

Skinny pants and clothes that are either shiny or slightly shabby, were among the early trends for fall at New York Fashion Week. Metallic fabrics replaced the beading that has been popular for several seasons, while distressed leathers, especially in military-inspired garments, looked modern and worn-in at the same time. Kimora Lee Simmons' Baby Phat show was packed to the rafters Friday night and still more editors, retail buyers and stylists were expected to arrive this weekend as Fashion Week kicks into high gear with Donna Karan,Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs presenting their fall previews early in the week. Baby Phat: For Kimora Lee Simmons, fall will be a season of restraint, which for Simmons, wife of hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, means clothes that don't get an X rating. Among the looks she sent down the runway: a double-breasted rose tweed coat and a winter white dress with brown trim that seemed inspired by a flight attendant's uniform - down to the matching hat. Dresses were the strongest part of her collection, including a flowing pink empire-waist gown with a red pleated satin bust and red ribbon threaded underneath. Skirts were mostly short and some tops, including a nice cream-coloured blouse with a ruffled neck, flounced sleeves and bottom, and a belt around the waist, were sheer. The model wore that top with slim leather pants. Several outfits featured metallic tweed fabrics. But Simmons couldn't resist a few tarty touches, such as a bodysuit worn with nothing but a fur vest and long leather driving gloves, and supershort shorts that looked like bubble bloomers paired with a draped top in shiny pink jersey.

Miller's mantra was stand up - and out - and be noticed. She used several stiff metallic fabrics that came away from the body. To emphasize her point, a few garments had oversized bows. Sometimes this worked, on a metal jacquard blouse, for example, but on a strapless embroidered dress, it looked more like holiday gift wrap than a party dress. The other bold statement was her use of big, graphic Byzantine mosaic prints, mostly in an autumnal palette of brown, olive and orange with gold accents. Miller picked up on the emerging trend of skinny pants, and a pair of distressed leather ones were especially nice, though some seemed too tight for the models - not a good sign for the rest of us. Some of her best looks were a high-neck asymmetrical coat in the Byzantine print with two jewels as fasteners, a lace-trimmed silk blouse and a stretch tissue metallic skirt, and an iridescent metallic coat that looked alternately burgundy and silver, which was worn over a blouson top in soft velvet and cigarette pants. John Varvatos: Varvatos designs for tough guys. They wear military coats or distressed leather jackets, flight pants and rugby shirts. On the runway, they wear their three-button suits with combat boots. Apparently, though, Varvatos isn't afraid to embrace a man's softer side. He borrowed a few details that have been popular with women lately, including a poncho, an asymmetrical coat and, in an item that's already becoming ubiquitous for fall, a stiff metallic scarf. The question is: Will regular Joes wear such things? Either way, they'll surely like the brown crocodile-embossed leather commander's jacket.

Dogs suffer the fashion whims of their owners

They're not an accessory yet people treat them and discard them as if they were.

Recently three ladies on the bike path in Whistler stopped their animated conversation when Callie, our golden retriever, approached them for a pat and a sniff. The ladies happily obliged her, all parties were pleased with the brief encounter, and various nice remarks were made about golden retriever charm. But as they passed by, I heard one of the women say, in reference to this breed, "Yes, but everybody and his brother has one." I was disturbed by the comment, not because of any personal affront, but because of the underlying attitude it conveyed -- that pets could be valued as symbols of status or prestige. The notion of pet as status symbol is not new, but it seems to have reached particularly egregious heights lately. Consider Tinkerbell, the chihuahua often seen nestled in the embrace of Paris Hilton like the fashion accessory to which she has been reduced. Although Tinkerbell may have stellar canine qualities of her own, one suspects that her role is of no more significance to Hilton than the pair of Manolos adorning her feet. The principle of celebrity endorsement seems to operate as successfully in the matter of livestock as it does in the sale of razor blades, and Tinkerbell has spawned a run not only on chihuahuas but on other "tea cup" sub-breeds as well. My sources tell me that other young lovelies such as Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Hilary Duff and Tori Spelling can also frequently be seen crushing tiny critters to their breasts.

Another trend, created in part by media hype, is the repackaging of cross breeds to quasi- purebred status--labra doodles, golden doodles, puggles, schnoodles, as well as older crosses such as cock-a-poos, maltipoos and peke-a-poos. That some of these couplings produce wonderful specimens is a result more accidental than intended. The primary drive behind these crosses is not the improvement of the breed's condition but the improvement of the breeder's. You can go down to the local pound and find a mix that suits your purposes or you can buy, say, a labra doodle for as much as $2,500. The usual cost of a purebred dog is only $500-$1000, so why the premium for a crossbreed? One labra doodle owner quoted in the National Post says, "They're the newest, sexiest yuppie dog. Everybody's looking to get one."

So what's wrong with all this? The first casualty of popularity is usually the dog itself. A labrador-poodle mating can yield 10 pups, twice a year. With a gestation period of 9 weeks, and with only one pair of dogs a breeder can make as much as $50,000 per year. Puppy mills with dozens of constantly pregnant bitches can make even more. Those experienced in the particular sub-culture of commercial pet breeding know that fads end as quickly as they begin, and in order to profit, they must get in on the action early. Whereas conscientious hobby breeders will have records of generations of offspring to guide their breeding choices, the quick-buck artists will have no qualms about breeding and selling anything they can, regardless of quality or suitability. During the 1980s, the shar-pei's abnormally wrinkled skin caught the fancy of North Americans. From a narrow gene pool of only about a dozen dogs, the number of shar-peis reached 50,000 in the US within a decade. The breed had unrelenting skin problems, eye problems, hip problems and unstable aggressive tendencies. By 1990, the market had collapsed and shelters filled with unwanted shar-peis. It is a truism in dog breeding circles that popularity is the kiss of death to a breed. Profit-driven breeding leads to inevitable decline in the genetic stock. The list of casualties over the years includes beloved breeds such as the German shepherd and cocker spaniel, once robust but now plagued with genetic problems. Buyers who are seduced by fads may end up buying disappointment. In the end, you have to live with your dog. Better to choose one based on your needs rather than the capricious fancies of the mass media.-By Moe Listein

Chocolate may cut heart disease

The health claims of chocolate are not accepted by all.

Researchers have produced more evidence that dark chocolate may help to reduce the risk of serious heart disease. They found eating a few squares a day may stave off artery narrowing and hardening in smokers by countering the disruption caused by their habit. Smoking compromises the activity of both endothelial cells, which line the artery walls, and platelets, which are involved in blood clot formation. The research, by University Hospital, Zurich, is published in Heart. The researchers compared the effects of dark (74% cocoa solids) and white chocolate on the smoothness of blood flow in the arteries of 20 male smokers. Before eating 40g of chocolate, smokers were asked to abstain from other foods rich in beneficial antioxidants, such as onions, apples, cabbage, and cocoa products for 24 hours. After two hours, ultrasound scans revealed that dark chocolate significantly improved the smoothness of arterial flow - an effect which lasted for eight hours. Blood sample analysis also showed that dark chocolate almost halved platelet activity. Antioxidant levels rose sharply after two hours. White chocolate had no effect on endothelial cells, platelets, or antioxidant levels. The researchers are convinced that the key is the high antioxidant content of dark chocolate, which contains more per gram than other food and drink laden with the substances, such red wine, green tea, and berry fruits. Research published last year by the University of California found antioxidant-rich flavonoids in chocolate helped the blood vessels expand.

Warning: Dr Charmaine Griffiths, of the British Heart Foundation, said: "There is some evidence that when eaten in small quantities, dark chocolate might have some beneficial effects on blood vessels, but as yet no study has investigated the long-terms clinical effects - and this new, small study from Switzerland, does not change that. "The key thing to remember about such studies is that chocolate is a bigger part of the problem than the solution. "Whilst dark chocolate is higher in anti-oxidants, all forms of chocolate are very high in calories (typically about 500 calories per 100g) and contain an average 30% total fat. "We are certainly not suggesting people never eat chocolate - everyone can enjoy a treat from time to time. "But there are much better ways of improving your heart health, such as eating a varied diet, including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. "And whatever they eat, the biggest step the smokers in this study could make to reduce their risk of heart disease would be to give up."

CONSIDERING PLASTIC SURGERY?

It is not widely known, but plastic surgery seldom, if ever, uses any plastic. In fact, the name actually has no connection at all with synthetic polymers (i.e., plastics). In this sense, "plastic" derives from the Greek word plastikos meaning "to build up or take form." Plastic surgery deals with the appearance, form and surgical reconstruction of body tissues -- not the use of plastic substances to do so. Plastic surgery is also much older than most people think. The ancient Egyptians, the early Greeks, the Hindus of India and physicians for hundreds of years have attempted to change facial characteristics through surgery of various sorts. However, modern techniques did not develop until after the First World War by surgeons attempting to repair the disfigurement of combat. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons was formed in 1931. This marks the beginning of the true profession of plastic surgery. Breakthroughs in plastic surgery have occurred in the past 20 years. It is popularly believed any surgeon can become a plastic surgeon. This is not true. Plastic surgeons require as much or more postgraduate training than does any other surgical specialty. It is also popularly believed that plastic surgery is a frivolous specialty, concerned only with cosmetic facelifts, breast enlargements, tummy tucks and such. This is also not true. More than 60% of all plastic surgery deals with reconstruction to repair serious damage from burns, injuries or congenital abnormalities.

Less than 40% involves cosmetic surgery for reasons of vanity only. Of these, in one year alone (2002) in just the United States, 6.6 million people had cosmetic plastic surgery of one kind or another. Eighty-five per cent of these were women. The top five "cosmetic surgical procedures" for women were: (1) breast augmentation; (2) liposuction; (3) nose reshaping; (4) eyelid surgery; and (5) facelift. The top five "cosmetic surgical procedures" for men were: (1) nose reshaping; (2) liposuction; (3) eyelid surgery; (4) hair transplantation; and (5) ear surgery. Forty-five per cent of those having cosmetic plastic surgery were aged 35 to 50. Twenty-four per cent were aged 19 to 34. Twenty-two per cent were aged 51 to 64. Six per cent were aged 65 and over. Three per cent were aged 18 and younger.

COULD RESEARCHERS ACCIDENTALLY CREATE A VIRUS THAT WIPES OUT ALL HUMANS?

The answer to this has to be yes. It sounds rather like the scenario of a B-grade science fiction movie, but researchers around the world for many years have been creating one deadly virus after another in the laboratory. In January, 2001, Australian researchers experimented with viruses in an attempt to develop a way of controlling mice that plague Australian agriculture. They created a genetically modified (GM) mouse-pox virus. However, this "supervirus" was far more powerful and effective than anyone had predicted. The virus killed off 100% of those mice exposed to it that were not immunized against it. It also killed off half of the mice that had been immunized against it. Mice are genetically rather similar to humans. Isn't that a reassuring thought? The researchers reported their results in The Journal of Virology. In 2000, Japanese researchers, while experimenting with the virus that causes AIDS stumbled onto a way to make HIV grow much faster. Making HIV grow faster is not exactly what we want, but we now know how to do it. They reported their results in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.-By Steven Juan.

Mon Bon Chien dog patisserie Parisian Patisserie for pets

Photo: Mon Bon Chien makes 200 to 300 biscuits every day.

Paris is well known as a canine form of paradise, with the city's 200,000 dogs welcome in department stores and even allowed to eat at the table in the best restaurants. Now though one entrepreneur has ingeniously combined Parisians' two real passions - for their pets and gourmet food - to produce the perfect Parisian patisserie: a bakery devoted to dogs. It sells bacon biscuits in the shape of a cat, or garlic and cheese flavour, and even bone-shaped cookies made of real foie gras. All are on offer here, sugar and salt-free for the sensitive pet. 'Pastries and pets': The boutique's owner is an award-winning pastry chef. But - whisper it quietly, so that spoilt Parisian pooches don't hear - she's an American. Harriet Sternstein moved to Paris from the United States with her dog Sophie-Marie, a golden labrador with a love of biscuits and glamorous pink nail varnish. Sophie-Marie provided the inspiration for the new business for her owner, who decided the best way to make a living was to combine her biggest enthusiasms - pastries and pets. And so far, the patisserie Mon Bon Chien has been a real hit with Parisians - both the two- and four-legged varieties. "Everything is made in the back of the boutique," said Ms Sternstein.

Harriet Sternstein

Photo: Proprietor Harriet Sternstein is an award-winning pastry chef.

"Every day, I make 200 to 300 biscuits and special orders are taken on a daily basis. "The Parisians come - and the first time they think it's very funny and they look at it, and buy the ones that they think are the cutest. Then the dogs come back and choose which flavours they like the best. "It's not so much a matter of the form that they're in, but the taste. We have peanut butter bears, we have vegetable stars, we have foie gras, which is actual foie gras that you and I would eat," she explains. "Those are the butterflies and then their little shapes; we also have the bacon cats. "I change flavours, based on what's going on for the holidays. We did a whole Halloween one, Christmas and next, I think it will be Valentine's Day." The biscuits can also be eaten by humans, although Ms Sternstein advises using your back teeth to chew them rather than your canines! -By Carolinne Watt.

Creativity, some scientists say, may play an important role in healthy aging

The singers' average age is 80; the youngest is 65 and the oldest 96.

It's an odd medical meeting that features Rogers & Hammerstein and brilliantly coloured paintings rather than, say, X-rays. What does belting out Oklahoma or putting oil to canvas have to do with brain health? Perhaps a lot, when the singers are active 70- and 80-year-olds and the painters are in the throes of dementia. Creativity, some scientists say, may play an important role in healthy aging; conversely, the ill can shed extraordinary light on just how the brain perceives art. "Even though our brains age, it doesn't diminish our ability to create," says Dr. Bruce Miller, a behavioural neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco. The big question, as arts projects become more common in retirement and nursing homes, is whether tapping elders' creativity truly brings them physical health benefits as well as joy. And if so, what works best? The National Institute on Aging and Society for the Arts in Healthcare brought scientists and artists together last month to galvanize interest in research on creativity to find out. Mental decline once was thought inevitable with aging. Scientists now know that's not true, and the brain continually rewires and adapts itself even in old age. Even dementia "doesn't wipe out all aspects of creativity," says Miller. Indeed, some forms release astounding abilities to draw by people who never did so before, providing important clues to where the brain houses creative abilities

How to buy toys

Die-cast Meccano dinky toys If you're thinking of beginning a collection of toys, there's a huge variety to choose from. Many collectors specialize in a particular area - such as clockwork toys, robots or cars - or in a particular maker, but others just collect those toys they really love. You need to be sure of your area of interest before visiting the larger auction houses because many sell different types of toy - such as soldiers, model cars or trains - in specialist sales. Prices for toys depend on the maker, the rarity of the model and the condition. Although chips and dents are virtually inevitable, a toy in mint condition, or with its original packaging, is what every serious collector longs for. Repainting will nearly always reduce the value of a collector's toy, so only repaint items in your collection as a last resort. Toys made by well-known firms are always sought, and minor damage is acceptable if the toy is made by a premium firm such as Toy R Us, Bing, Märklin or Lehmann. Viewing sales and visiting specialist dealers is the best way of getting to know which models are the most desirable. Once you've a good feel for prices, you don't have to buy from an up market auction house or dealer. Because many collectable toys aren't very old, it's always worth scouring your local junk shop for bargains.

ANTIQUES CARE

Textiles

As textiles get older the fibres break down and they can be easily damaged. While we wouldn't advise DIY repairs on delicate items, there are a number of things you can do to look after your textiles.

Handling

A textile may be more fragile than it first seems.

Remove all jewellery or accessories that could catch on a textile.
To be on the safe side wear white cotton gloves. These can be purchased at chemists and are inexpensive.
Knowing which areas are weak will help you avoid further problems.
If a piece of costume is on a hanger, use the hanger to hold it. A strong grasp of a shoulder can cause creasing or splitting.
If you are moving a small flat textile, you can carry it safely by sliding a piece of clean card underneath.
Costumes should be carried in a white sheet across the forearms.

Cleaning

It is tempting to approach cleaning antique textiles the same way as one would modern ones but as textiles age they need a different approach. Even hoovering can cause further damage. The suction could be strong enough to pull the fabric apart. Flat, sturdy textiles may be cleaned by covering them with a microfilament net (make sure the raw edges of the net are covered or they can catch on the fabric) and using a vacuum cleaner on a very low power setting. If fibres rather than dirt are coming off, stop immediately. Any further cleaning should be discussed with a textile conservator. Never be tempted to use boiling water or such things as soda crystals with old textiles.

Storage

There are a number of specialist storage solutions designed to protect textiles.

Acid-free tubes - large flat textiles are best stored face upwards on a large tube. It is difficult to find acid-free tubes so if you are using regular rolls find one with a large circumference (at least the size of a coffee mug). Cover with four or five layers of acid-free tissue. This will need to be replaced when it starts to yellow. Plastic piping can also be used for rollers. Make sure it is clean and the ends are smooth. Carefully roll the piece trying to keep it smooth. You may need help doing this if the object is large. When finished, cover by rolling acid-free tissue over it allowing it to extend beyond the textile. Tie at the ends with cotton tape. If it needs more ties, make sure the ties aren't pressing into the textile. Acid-free boxes - try to purchase boxes that allow textiles to be stored without having to fold them too much, as folds can turn into splits. Start by lining the box with the tissue letting it extend over the edges. This can be folded over the final layers to keep it in place. Heavy items like beaded dresses should be boxed rather than hung. Never use blue tissue, the dye can rub off onto the textiles and it's acidic. If you have to fold textiles, soften the folds by rolling up tissue and place it inside the fold. It is also helpful to use the tissue to pad areas (not too tightly) that may be crushed. Hangers - to safely hang a costume, find a sturdy hanger that follows the shoulder shape of the garment (this is very important). It should not extend beyond the sleeve. Avoid wire hangers as they're not strong enough. Cover the hanger with polyester wadding (check to see that it is flame proof) and then with a sheet of clean white or off-white cotton or polycotton.

General housekeeping tips

Don't use plastic. It can attract dirt through static electricity, develop condensation which can encourage mould and when it chemically breaks down it can give off degradation products.
Coverings should be of clean white or off-white cotton or polycotton. The best coverings are shaped like garment bags.
Try to give textiles enough hanging space so they are not crushed against other items.