fashion funnies: how to get rid of that muffin top...

happy friday!  enjoy the weekend!!  don't forget to turn back your clocks...an hour extra sleep!

photo source

fit fit fit...

probably one of the most neglected aspects in dressing...the wearing of clothes that are either too big...or too small...and believe me...neither one is good...what is it about the size of a garment that has so many women squeezing into a size that is clearly not right for them?

i recently went shopping with a client...and while she "normally" wears a size 8...this one particular dress she tried on...in a size 8...did not flatter her...so i had her try on the size 10...and the dress flowed so beautifully on her body...she...however...was stuck on the size 10...

so we talked about it...in length...and the bottom line came to...would you rather be wearing a dress...that had a size 8 label...that didn't flatter you...or wear the same dress...in a size 10...that actually made you look like you were a size 6?

and then you have the mindset of...if i wear clothes that are bigger on me...and not close to my body...it will somehow hide my size...the problem with that...is that usually...bigger clothes make you look...well bigger...who wants that?  

fit is crucial...crucial...crucial...i have always told my clients...if the number on the label bothers you...cut it out...because ultimately...it is not the number on the inside label that no one sees...it is how that piece looks on you...

what does the designer label mean to you?

this morning i read a very interesting article in the wall street journal entitled "how can jeans cost $300?"...truth be told...i have never spent $300 on a pair of jeans...but...if i tried on a pair of jeans that fit unbelievably perfect...would i then spend $300 on them? tough question...because for me...it is all about the fit...it doesn't matter the price or the brand...if the fit is poor...the jeans won't look good...no matter what name is on them...

this really boils down to any garment...i remember years ago...watching a show...i have tried to research to find it...but i honestly cannot remember the name of the show...who was on it...all i remember is that the premise of the show...some people that were trying to get the coveted spot of an internship...

the one scene that i so vividly remember...all the contestants were in a room...and the head person in charge...decided to critique them on what they were wearing...one girl in particular...who would constantly boast of the "labels" she wore...thought she was a shoe-in to be chosen...as her outfit that day was gucci...again...nothing wrong with gucci...i wouldn't mind sporting some fabulous gucci pieces...

but i digress...

one girl was there...she was a bit larger then the other girls...didn't have a lot of money...but she was chosen...she looked fabulous...and the key? her clothing fit her so well...and so perfectly for her body...it was a no brainer...no well known labels was she sporting that day...

moral of the story...it doesn't matter what you spend...what matters...is the fit...

curious as to what your go-to brand is...and why?

photo source

working towards your goal...

as a wardrobe consultant...a common scenario that i see...over and over...is someone wanting to lose that last 15 pounds before buying anything new...what ends up happening...usually...is that the person ends up wearing clothes that are too big...or too tight...

so what can you do?

whether it's 20 pounds or 5 pounds...it seems all of us are reluctant to invest in our wardrobes until we're at the 'perfect' weight...

the problem is...clothing alterations can only accommodate so much poundage...at which point...you end up wearing garments that really don't fit you well...and here's the really bad part of that situation...you end up looking BIGGER than you really are because your clothes don't fit properly...

and really...who wants that?

so i have a couple of suggestions for you:

*if you are in the situation i described above...you NEED to purchase at least one staple outfit that fits you NOW(whether it's a suit, pants suit, or coordinated separates.) as you lose the remaining weight at least you'll be looking sharp...and when you reach your goal weight...then alterations can be made and your investment won't have gone to waste...

*if you have that staple outfit that is your 'go to' while you're losing those last pounds...there's an easy way to update your look: a new top, sweater or accessory...these items are more adaptable to weight changes...and can give an instant "pop" to your style...

there is really no reason why you should look any other way other then fabulous...even when working towards your ideal weight...

did i just lose ten pounds?

although it might be a little more challenging to feel your personal best when you have extra weight on your frame...i truly believe that anybody can be well dressed by learning a few slimming techniques...

so...if you are feeling like your figure is a little less-than-perfect...here are some slimming strategies...

first...and most important...make sure all your clothes fit properly...clothes that are too big or too small can add weight to your frame...you may think you are "hiding" something...but...well...you probably are not...so get the best fit possible...it really does make a difference...

sleeve length matters...pay attention to wear your sleeve ends...when sleeves have not been properly shortened...they can cause a distraction at your hip line...and speaking from experience...many women would rather not call attention to the hips...

start with a monochromatic base...this easily creates a vertical...as opposed to horizontal...silhouette...which is typically more slimming than an outfit with several contrasting colors...

look how well it works on madeleine albright...


dark colors such as black, chocolate brown, navy and dark grey are "minimizers"...wear these shades to camouflage the areas of your body where you are least confident...

light and bright colors are "maximizers"...so for example...women who are self-conscious about their weight like to wear dark base pieces (pants, skirts, and jackets) and wear light colors near their face to draw the eye up and away from the rest of the body...

select pants with a bootleg cut to balance hips, thighs...and mid-sections...pants that fit closer at the ankle or knee can cause your midsection to balloon out more than it needs to...

facing the facts...

what fits me??

the color might be perfect...the pattern and texture may be pure genius...but if the lines of an outfit are off and it doesn't fit properly, then you might as well toss in the towel and begin again...(or find a great tailor)

line and fit are about how clothes conform to your body...proportion is the key for visual effect...as for fit, your clothes should feel like a second skin...sometimes, this depends on the brilliance of the designer...has he draped, cut, tucked, and sewn seams in ways that not only inspire wonder, but also hide your weak spots? and you...have you chosen to dress in something that really suits you? it can be baggy or tight, short or long, or even asymetrical...just as long as it's supposed to be that way on you...

confronting the mirror can be tough...but the alternative - a blind certainty that bold horizontal stripes bring out the best in your figure...is worse...by far...
see yourself clearly, but be gentle...

are you petite? rubensesque? do you hate your elbows? even if green is the color of the moment...does it make you look like someone who resides in a damp, mossy crevice? are you the proud owner of the world's best collarbone? bellybutton? calf muscles? if so, terrific! go out and find something that will show them off...

the more you know about your body - sizes, good sides and bad sides, spandex tolerance - the better you'll be dressing for yourself...not a salesperson, your mother, or to make your significant other jealous...

by all means, fall in love with magazine spreads, but be self-assured enough to realize when something's just not for you...