Cardigan - LEC Boutique
Shoes - LEC Boutique
T-Shirt - Dunbar T-Shirt Shop
Much Love
LEC Boutique
Monday 29 April 2013
Todays Outfit - Cricket Season marks the start of Summer
In the UK mid-April marks the start of the cricket season, the days are longer and the sun occasionally shines. This also brings with it some serious cool fashion trends. Boyfriend wear is hugely popular and this cricket cardigan is an excellent example!
Friday 26 April 2013
Today's Outfit - Glam white Shorts
Black T-Shirt - Dunbar T-Shirt Shop
White Shorts - LEC Boutique
Black Leggings - LEC Boutique
Beaded Necklace - Love Eye Candy Jewellery
Nude Heels - LEC Boutique
Much Love
LEC Boutique
Wednesday 24 April 2013
Todays Outfit - Spikey and Bold
White Peplum top with gold spiked shoulders
Black Leggins
Gold studded LoveEyeCandy bracelet
Diamante Bow Heels
Much Love
LEC Boutique
Thursday 18 April 2013
Electronic Fabrics the next evolution in Fashion
The fashion world is a fast paced environment of change, with trends in and out the public limelight quicker than the new iPhone is released. So what happens when you merge fashion and the continiously adapting world of technology. Well Canadian University based researchers are hoping to find out, albeit they do not expect commercial use for another 20 years. The fabric can change colour and style based on movement, but beyond that the uses are eternal.
Sci fi films have depicted clothes that can adapt, change colour, merge and size according to the users preference for years so this is exciting news for the fashion industry. There will be practical hurdles to overcome, for instance the problems when electrics and water come into connection.
One of the biggest complaints of fashion is the ability to wear dresses in winter with such harsh weather, of course having an electric current through your Prom dress could provide heating for you, making fashion much more accessible and breaking down the barriers of Winter and Summer separation. Of course some of the first uses of the cloth will be in military and other vital uniforms to reduce amount of wires needed to keep batteries charged.
If you wish to read more from the BBC you can here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22199689
There is also a smart fabric conference which may enlighten you about other useful innovations: http://www.smartfabricsconference.com/home.aspx
Sci fi films have depicted clothes that can adapt, change colour, merge and size according to the users preference for years so this is exciting news for the fashion industry. There will be practical hurdles to overcome, for instance the problems when electrics and water come into connection.
One of the biggest complaints of fashion is the ability to wear dresses in winter with such harsh weather, of course having an electric current through your Prom dress could provide heating for you, making fashion much more accessible and breaking down the barriers of Winter and Summer separation. Of course some of the first uses of the cloth will be in military and other vital uniforms to reduce amount of wires needed to keep batteries charged.
If you wish to read more from the BBC you can here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22199689
There is also a smart fabric conference which may enlighten you about other useful innovations: http://www.smartfabricsconference.com/home.aspx
Tuesday 16 April 2013
Getting Clothes that Fit - The endless battle
Clothes are unfortunately not made to fit all shapes and sizes, they are also not all as advertised with many companies deciding to go large or small to cater to their own customers it can be that you have items ranging across three sizes that all fit. On top of this imagine the shelf life of your wardrobe, you may have items that last five years but then again others will be in the charity shop or bin within 6 months. And finally lets assume your body shape and size fluctuates over your lifetime like some reinflating balloon.
Frugality is important in today's world with money hard to come by, nobody likes to waste a thing. So it may seem a little extravegant to change your wardrobe every six months but ensuring you have well fitting clothes is important for a number of reasons listed below:
Self Confidence
The single most important thing is confidence, if you wear clothes with confidence you will feel better and more able to tackle the days events. Confidence can be small things like trying on a size 14 realising you need a size 12 or putting on those jeans from your Uni days and finding they are perhaps a little loose. Looking good is about comfort and style, it is difficult to look your best if you are a size too small for the clothes you are wearing, they won't sit right be constantly in need of a tug here and a pull there to keep them on right throughout the day, each time subconsciously eating into your confidence. Alternatively you may have clothes too tight fitting catching a glimpse of that bulge creeping over your waist or that arm fat poking out the sleeve is never going to get you feeling good.
Posture
Ill fitting clothes make you sit in different positions from your usual natural position to either hide or compensate for the ill fitting nature of your chosen get up. Whether it be jeans that make it impossible to sit without your bum leaping out of the waistband to say hello to the world or your Blouse waving in the wind giving a view down like a tourist attraction at disneyland. You need to be able to function for the chosen activity comfortably, chosing the right clothes is essential, baggy being best for excercise and strenuous activity but a tight black dress perfect for a relaxing meal out.
Stomach issues
One of the biggest complaints in Women as they reach their mid twenties is stomach issues, a mixture of an anxious lifestyle and poor diet contribute to this but of course there is also the issue of your waistband. Having a tight waistband has been proven to give you problems with digestion. This can also be related to poor posture not giving your digestive track the right alignment to move your nutrients through your different internal systems. So a trip to the shop for a better fit may not only be good for your mental health but also your physical health too.
Skin Complaints
Rubbing, imprinting and constrictive clothing can all lead to skin complaints, rashes, bumps and lumps and generally be a total nuisance. Ensuring your clothes are fitted correctly is an easy way to avoid this. Many problems exist around the arms, feet and waist so always pay close attention to the sleeves, waist and obviously the shoes you choose to wear.
The reason that celebrities don't suffer from this is the ability to buy a new wardrobe every day and have someone trained in dressing you to do the job before you have even finished the morning paper. In the real world you need to be in tune with your body. If you lose or gain a lot of weight don't throw out those old clothes just yet, they may come in handy in the future after all does anyone stay the same weight or shape through their entire life?
Frugality is important in today's world with money hard to come by, nobody likes to waste a thing. So it may seem a little extravegant to change your wardrobe every six months but ensuring you have well fitting clothes is important for a number of reasons listed below:
Self Confidence
The single most important thing is confidence, if you wear clothes with confidence you will feel better and more able to tackle the days events. Confidence can be small things like trying on a size 14 realising you need a size 12 or putting on those jeans from your Uni days and finding they are perhaps a little loose. Looking good is about comfort and style, it is difficult to look your best if you are a size too small for the clothes you are wearing, they won't sit right be constantly in need of a tug here and a pull there to keep them on right throughout the day, each time subconsciously eating into your confidence. Alternatively you may have clothes too tight fitting catching a glimpse of that bulge creeping over your waist or that arm fat poking out the sleeve is never going to get you feeling good.
Posture
Ill fitting clothes make you sit in different positions from your usual natural position to either hide or compensate for the ill fitting nature of your chosen get up. Whether it be jeans that make it impossible to sit without your bum leaping out of the waistband to say hello to the world or your Blouse waving in the wind giving a view down like a tourist attraction at disneyland. You need to be able to function for the chosen activity comfortably, chosing the right clothes is essential, baggy being best for excercise and strenuous activity but a tight black dress perfect for a relaxing meal out.
Stomach issues
One of the biggest complaints in Women as they reach their mid twenties is stomach issues, a mixture of an anxious lifestyle and poor diet contribute to this but of course there is also the issue of your waistband. Having a tight waistband has been proven to give you problems with digestion. This can also be related to poor posture not giving your digestive track the right alignment to move your nutrients through your different internal systems. So a trip to the shop for a better fit may not only be good for your mental health but also your physical health too.
Skin Complaints
Rubbing, imprinting and constrictive clothing can all lead to skin complaints, rashes, bumps and lumps and generally be a total nuisance. Ensuring your clothes are fitted correctly is an easy way to avoid this. Many problems exist around the arms, feet and waist so always pay close attention to the sleeves, waist and obviously the shoes you choose to wear.
The reason that celebrities don't suffer from this is the ability to buy a new wardrobe every day and have someone trained in dressing you to do the job before you have even finished the morning paper. In the real world you need to be in tune with your body. If you lose or gain a lot of weight don't throw out those old clothes just yet, they may come in handy in the future after all does anyone stay the same weight or shape through their entire life?
Friday 12 April 2013
You can leave your hat on
Sunshine brings with it all kinds of choices for your fashion conscious self. The shorts, skirts, vest tops, t-shirts, sandals and the big bags all come out in force like an avalanche from your wardrobe. But one item you can never do without is your hat.
Why a hat you ask?
Well hats can keep the sun out your eyes, set off a nice boyfriend wear look and also provide you with great cammoflage for that bad hair day your having.
What type of hat for me?
Ok as long as your not going to a wedding, funeral or baptism you can probably get away without those fancy straw hats with the fascinator attached. We want hats that can be worn daily, the casual hats, the cools hats that make you look like a celebrity right?
Well the rapper cap is big in with boys over last season so that means its time for girls to do it better, boyfriend wear is a great look and adding a flat peak hat can really pull off that glam casual look. The key to pulling off good boyfriend wear look is to accessorise, so have a flash of pink in the hat and some noticeable jewellery, after all you don't want to look like a boy.
Festival hats. Don't you love festival time, the sun is shining people drink out in the open air, music seems to emanate from all sorts of places and everyone has a delighted spring in their step. The festival hat was made glamorous by the Madchester movement who wore them in a grungy way, but why not spruce it up a little and give your eyes some shade. They make for a great way to keep the top of your head burning, especially important if you have a parting, I mean who remembers to put sun cream on their scalp?
Baseball caps are the must have for celebrity ladies, usually as they hide from the paps, but in doing so have made them cool. Looking like a celeb for many is a full time job so get a baseball cap and join the party.
Some examples:
much love
LEC Boutique
Why a hat you ask?
Well hats can keep the sun out your eyes, set off a nice boyfriend wear look and also provide you with great cammoflage for that bad hair day your having.
What type of hat for me?
Ok as long as your not going to a wedding, funeral or baptism you can probably get away without those fancy straw hats with the fascinator attached. We want hats that can be worn daily, the casual hats, the cools hats that make you look like a celebrity right?
Well the rapper cap is big in with boys over last season so that means its time for girls to do it better, boyfriend wear is a great look and adding a flat peak hat can really pull off that glam casual look. The key to pulling off good boyfriend wear look is to accessorise, so have a flash of pink in the hat and some noticeable jewellery, after all you don't want to look like a boy.
Festival hats. Don't you love festival time, the sun is shining people drink out in the open air, music seems to emanate from all sorts of places and everyone has a delighted spring in their step. The festival hat was made glamorous by the Madchester movement who wore them in a grungy way, but why not spruce it up a little and give your eyes some shade. They make for a great way to keep the top of your head burning, especially important if you have a parting, I mean who remembers to put sun cream on their scalp?
Baseball caps are the must have for celebrity ladies, usually as they hide from the paps, but in doing so have made them cool. Looking like a celeb for many is a full time job so get a baseball cap and join the party.
Some examples:
much love
LEC Boutique
Tuesday 9 April 2013
Fashion Business - How to get started
A fashion business is a rather open statement, as fashion can be a myriad of different things. Many people would love their own business and everyone loves fashion, even if they don't think they do. Fashion is the thing you consider when you get dressed in the morning, when you accessorise and when you purchase clothes. People often see fashion industry as being a high vogue end catwalk champagne fuelled party, but it is often far simpler than that. The need for clothes is constant, as clothes are a perishable good in so much as they need to be replaced. This means that the industry is growing as more people enter the world but also as more people are willing to part with money to buy more and more clothes. The reason for this is two fold, firstly the media tell us all we need to look great and secondly it is directly linked to our self esteem. Only a very confident person can feel great in awful clothes.
So how do you exactly enter into this industry and try to make your way in a career which is something you enjoy doing, you know not like that job you do currently sat behind a desk for little reward. Here are 5 entry level ways of getting into the fashion industry.
Parties Agent
Franchising of a product has been around for generations and the rise in working home based parents has meant agents are big business now for brands. With this increased popularity comes an increase in competition so here are some tips on what to look out for. Do not go with a big brand, they are a saturated market and they have sliced their areas up so much many have become a pyramid scheme of agents selling to agents meaning your at the bottom and won't make much money. If you can't find a brand you want to sell for offering franchising why not ask? Approach a brand you love that isn't well represented in your local area and offer to sell their goods for them at a percentage. The principle idea is you sell to friends, family and neighbours products and take a cut of the money. This is a great thing to do if your social and well respected, people will trust your judgement but due to the people you are selling to it is essential you believe in the products you sell, why would anyone want to rip off their friends?
Love Eye Candy offer Jewellery boxes and Handbag Packages to agents with commision rates of up to 50% which make it particularly appealing.
Stalls
Local markets are now back in boom, thanks to the financial crisis and lack of unique sellers on the high street they are a showcase for local talent and many towns have well established markets which attract thousands of visitors every weekend. Setting up a stall is easy if you have the initial outlay of cash for stock, you can build up over time and then begin to go around various markets to get a good wide range of customers. The benefit of a stall is the low overheads, a one off payment is all it takes to get a pitch but remember to do your homework, if your are in competition with another stall your products must have a USP (Unique Selling Point) of either quality or price.
Market trading also gives you the chance to interact with people that may be more critical than your friends and family. Never take criticism directly, it is all about improving your service so all feedback should be gratefully received and any issues acted upon. Sourcing products for a market can be cheap by using local suppliers. The barrier for using wholesalers is often the minimum order quantity that they have (between £100 to £200) which makes it expensive to get a wide enough range of products. Bulk lots are often sold on auction sites or clearance sales from shops is a great place to grab a bargain. Remember ex chain store items are OK to sell.
Make something
Having a skill with a sewing machine or knitting needle can be handy when getting into fashion. Making your own clothes, bags, jewellery or designs will attract a lot of attention if they are good quality. Facebook is a great medium for crafters and gives you a platform to showcase your work, also remember that you are a great advertisement. Getting compliments on your clothes is a sure fire way to get sales, wear your work with pride and let others see your skill. Of course this can be time consuming but once you have an established business factories will work from your design to mass produce your items, that's how fashion labels get started! You can also find plenty of outlets that may take your work on sale or return basis to help you get your work in a retail store.
Buy and sell vintage
Thanks to our love affair with out of town shopping you will see local high streets can be awash with charity shops. For some time people have been buying up vintage clothing and either adjusting or accessorising to make them glam again. Why not make these your stock supplier. Handpick the items and ensure the best quality, repairing any damage or amending the pattern and then selling to a niche market. Steam Punk fashion is popular and easy to do with some vintage products. Of course it may be some time before we see shoulder pads in fashion again but it could happen. Not only could you pick up some great items you are also ensuring that money is donated to charity, what's not to love about this business.
Remodel
Remodeling of clothes is huge boom past time thanks to the rise of individual blogs. Buying a cheap item from Primark or other cheap clothes retailers but making it individual is a good way of getting yourself into fashion. Often the raw materials are more expensive than the finished garments you can purchase in these shops and you frequently see some great remodeling jobs, a handbag made from a pair of jeans, or a dress made from a man's T-Shirt.
These ideas are all great ways to get started and can bring in a part time wage quickly, depending on your effort and time it could be a full time career within a year. The thing to remember about getting into fashion is never let money rule your decisions. Figure out a niche or an angle and stick to it regardless if the profit margins are bigger elsewhere. A business can quickly be found out for simply targeting money and losing sight for actually helping customers. Your number one goal should always be that you are helping people to find something they wouldn't have if you weren't around. Making people feel good is a rewarding way to run a business and you can be sure happy customers are the only way to build a brand. Starting in this way can lead on to design, wholesale and stardom, honestly it can there are plenty who have done it. There is one example of what not to do though that we cannot express enough:
eBay Business
eBay used to be the place to be for all home based retailers buying and selling items that could turn a great profit. Due to increased fees and competition this has now become saturated with many large companies using it to liquidate stock, meaning the profit is not there are most items that sell are done so at a loss. To get a good eBay takes years of constant high quality selling and the effort for the return is simply not there anymore. There are lots of smaller auctions sites that will cater for a home based business much better than eBay and will charge you a lot less in fees.
Whatever you decide to do good luck, and if you want us to help promote your stuff give us a shout and we can let you share your new items on our blog. We can also provide advice on setting up, provide you with agent stock or offer sale or return on our online store or high street shop.
Much love
LEC Boutique
So how do you exactly enter into this industry and try to make your way in a career which is something you enjoy doing, you know not like that job you do currently sat behind a desk for little reward. Here are 5 entry level ways of getting into the fashion industry.
Parties Agent
Franchising of a product has been around for generations and the rise in working home based parents has meant agents are big business now for brands. With this increased popularity comes an increase in competition so here are some tips on what to look out for. Do not go with a big brand, they are a saturated market and they have sliced their areas up so much many have become a pyramid scheme of agents selling to agents meaning your at the bottom and won't make much money. If you can't find a brand you want to sell for offering franchising why not ask? Approach a brand you love that isn't well represented in your local area and offer to sell their goods for them at a percentage. The principle idea is you sell to friends, family and neighbours products and take a cut of the money. This is a great thing to do if your social and well respected, people will trust your judgement but due to the people you are selling to it is essential you believe in the products you sell, why would anyone want to rip off their friends?
Love Eye Candy offer Jewellery boxes and Handbag Packages to agents with commision rates of up to 50% which make it particularly appealing.
Stalls
Local markets are now back in boom, thanks to the financial crisis and lack of unique sellers on the high street they are a showcase for local talent and many towns have well established markets which attract thousands of visitors every weekend. Setting up a stall is easy if you have the initial outlay of cash for stock, you can build up over time and then begin to go around various markets to get a good wide range of customers. The benefit of a stall is the low overheads, a one off payment is all it takes to get a pitch but remember to do your homework, if your are in competition with another stall your products must have a USP (Unique Selling Point) of either quality or price.
Market trading also gives you the chance to interact with people that may be more critical than your friends and family. Never take criticism directly, it is all about improving your service so all feedback should be gratefully received and any issues acted upon. Sourcing products for a market can be cheap by using local suppliers. The barrier for using wholesalers is often the minimum order quantity that they have (between £100 to £200) which makes it expensive to get a wide enough range of products. Bulk lots are often sold on auction sites or clearance sales from shops is a great place to grab a bargain. Remember ex chain store items are OK to sell.
Make something
Having a skill with a sewing machine or knitting needle can be handy when getting into fashion. Making your own clothes, bags, jewellery or designs will attract a lot of attention if they are good quality. Facebook is a great medium for crafters and gives you a platform to showcase your work, also remember that you are a great advertisement. Getting compliments on your clothes is a sure fire way to get sales, wear your work with pride and let others see your skill. Of course this can be time consuming but once you have an established business factories will work from your design to mass produce your items, that's how fashion labels get started! You can also find plenty of outlets that may take your work on sale or return basis to help you get your work in a retail store.
Buy and sell vintage
Thanks to our love affair with out of town shopping you will see local high streets can be awash with charity shops. For some time people have been buying up vintage clothing and either adjusting or accessorising to make them glam again. Why not make these your stock supplier. Handpick the items and ensure the best quality, repairing any damage or amending the pattern and then selling to a niche market. Steam Punk fashion is popular and easy to do with some vintage products. Of course it may be some time before we see shoulder pads in fashion again but it could happen. Not only could you pick up some great items you are also ensuring that money is donated to charity, what's not to love about this business.
Remodel
Remodeling of clothes is huge boom past time thanks to the rise of individual blogs. Buying a cheap item from Primark or other cheap clothes retailers but making it individual is a good way of getting yourself into fashion. Often the raw materials are more expensive than the finished garments you can purchase in these shops and you frequently see some great remodeling jobs, a handbag made from a pair of jeans, or a dress made from a man's T-Shirt.
These ideas are all great ways to get started and can bring in a part time wage quickly, depending on your effort and time it could be a full time career within a year. The thing to remember about getting into fashion is never let money rule your decisions. Figure out a niche or an angle and stick to it regardless if the profit margins are bigger elsewhere. A business can quickly be found out for simply targeting money and losing sight for actually helping customers. Your number one goal should always be that you are helping people to find something they wouldn't have if you weren't around. Making people feel good is a rewarding way to run a business and you can be sure happy customers are the only way to build a brand. Starting in this way can lead on to design, wholesale and stardom, honestly it can there are plenty who have done it. There is one example of what not to do though that we cannot express enough:
eBay Business
eBay used to be the place to be for all home based retailers buying and selling items that could turn a great profit. Due to increased fees and competition this has now become saturated with many large companies using it to liquidate stock, meaning the profit is not there are most items that sell are done so at a loss. To get a good eBay takes years of constant high quality selling and the effort for the return is simply not there anymore. There are lots of smaller auctions sites that will cater for a home based business much better than eBay and will charge you a lot less in fees.
Whatever you decide to do good luck, and if you want us to help promote your stuff give us a shout and we can let you share your new items on our blog. We can also provide advice on setting up, provide you with agent stock or offer sale or return on our online store or high street shop.
Much love
LEC Boutique
Saturday 6 April 2013
If you wear it watch it
We do not believe in animal products to be used for fashion, with so many man made fabrics without any animal products it is easy to create the look without harming animals. If you wear animal products perhaps this video will help you understand why you shouldn't
We care about animals and do not supply any animal products in our store.
Much Love
LEC Boutique
Wednesday 3 April 2013
Dedication to Scottish Fashion - Judy Clark
You may have noticed recently the press coverage for Judy Clark. She is the creator of some amazing wearable run way dresses and we love her. Her dresses showcase some of the best Scottish textiles on the market and put a modern twist on some vintage styles.
Tuesday 2 April 2013
Festival Fashion
Each day that passes we hear more bands announced, this is the time of year the excitment begins for Festival Summer. Whether it's sunshine or mud you need to get prepared now, camping glamourously is not easy with problem about what to do with your hair, what clothes to wear, more importantly what clothes not to pack, the shoes, the bags, the accessories and that's just for day one.
Here is our top 3 items for the summer festival:
Flat boots
No point in even looking at your collection of heels, even with glorious sunshine you'd sink faster than the titanic so lets think what shoe's are appropriate. Many girls make the mistake of open topped sandals, thinking they are cute and comfy, think again. If your in a crowd and that 6ft tall bloke in front of you takes a step back then you may have a long wait at the A&E tent getting a plaster. So Boots it is, preferably boots that can be wiped clean if it is muddy, remember and pack those baby wipes they are a godsend.
Big Bags
You don't want to have to run back to your tent just as your favourite band starts so a handbag that can fit everything you need for a twelve hour day is perfect. But big doesn't have to be a rucksack, get a big bag that is fashionable. Again avoid any fabrics that could stain easy, it will spend most of the day on the floor at your feet as you jump around to the beats of summer. The secret zip pocket is ideal for that stash of cash you can't leave in your tent, that's if you haven't bought a money belt that clips under your shirt.
Onesies
Can you really get any more comfortable than a onesie? So last year everyone went mad for those stupid animal ones. Hardly the kind of pictures you want posted on your facebook timeline is it? So let's get this straight you can get designer onesies, classy onesies that are designed to be worn outside and make you look less like you'd just returned from a panto where you played the panda!
Hair tips
You need to wear your hair up, firstly because straighteners that run on batteries are as useful as a solar powered torch, secondly because its an open field and you don't want windy hair in your face as your trying to see Mick Jagger move like he's twenty. Here is a useful video about putting your hair into a fishtail Braid from the gorgeous Lauren Conrad.
Here is our top 3 items for the summer festival:
Flat boots
 |
| Flat Boots £30 |
No point in even looking at your collection of heels, even with glorious sunshine you'd sink faster than the titanic so lets think what shoe's are appropriate. Many girls make the mistake of open topped sandals, thinking they are cute and comfy, think again. If your in a crowd and that 6ft tall bloke in front of you takes a step back then you may have a long wait at the A&E tent getting a plaster. So Boots it is, preferably boots that can be wiped clean if it is muddy, remember and pack those baby wipes they are a godsend.
Big Bags
 |
| LEC Boutique Handbags |
You don't want to have to run back to your tent just as your favourite band starts so a handbag that can fit everything you need for a twelve hour day is perfect. But big doesn't have to be a rucksack, get a big bag that is fashionable. Again avoid any fabrics that could stain easy, it will spend most of the day on the floor at your feet as you jump around to the beats of summer. The secret zip pocket is ideal for that stash of cash you can't leave in your tent, that's if you haven't bought a money belt that clips under your shirt.
Onesies
 |
| Designer Onesies £25 LEC Boutique |
Can you really get any more comfortable than a onesie? So last year everyone went mad for those stupid animal ones. Hardly the kind of pictures you want posted on your facebook timeline is it? So let's get this straight you can get designer onesies, classy onesies that are designed to be worn outside and make you look less like you'd just returned from a panto where you played the panda!
Hair tips
You need to wear your hair up, firstly because straighteners that run on batteries are as useful as a solar powered torch, secondly because its an open field and you don't want windy hair in your face as your trying to see Mick Jagger move like he's twenty. Here is a useful video about putting your hair into a fishtail Braid from the gorgeous Lauren Conrad.
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