fashion funnies: global warning...

one of my friends had posted this on her facebook page...i had to share it for our saturday fashion funnies...my how time has changed...



hope you are enjoying your weekend!

what lies beneath...

just be glad you don't live in late-nineteenth-century england...you might be sporting the lemon-cup bust improver...an early bra that contained a "light" coiled spring in each cup packed with bleached horsehair...please don't ask me to explain that one...i can't =)

bras have come a long way...

women who burned them in their youth are now looking for support in unpreccedented numbers...thanks to body-conscious fashion...

you should demand four things from a bra....
- fit
- comfort
- support
and...
- good looks =)

easier said than done??

here are some basic pointers...

...know your size...and if you don't...or aren't sure...please please please consult with someone who can tell you what it is...now-a-days...many stores offer you an expert in the field to help you...take advantage...

...spend the time to find the right bra...then...if it works (especially if it was hard to find) buy lots of them, in different colors (white, black and nude)...

...if you're looking for something to wear every day...choose a bra that's well constructed rather than one that's too dainty...

ask yourself what you expect from your bra...do you want to look like jayne mansfield (who was an impressive 42dd) or are you trying to play things down a bit?

the good news...is that anything is possible...

photo source

that which lies beneath...

the thrill is knowing that...under an old pair of jeans and a comfortable sweater...you have on the kind of satin and frills usually reserved for antique dolls...or...more likely....the harlots of the house of the rising sun...

maybe you're the only one who knows...maybe you've let someone else in on the secret...it's expensive...but you can't put a price on desire...each piece must feel luxurious against the skin...so fabric is key...it must be expertly designed to both fit and flatter...

the long-overdue innovation was using stretch lace and other new fabrics to combine support with sexy and feminine styling...

lingerie...ultimately...it must be ready to seduce...you are probably not buying french teddies to cook in....and as any designer can tell you...seduction is in the details...

underneath of all things usually hidden from the naked eye...what slips between you and your outerwear ranks among the most alluring...but underwear...is not to be underestimated...

it has everything to do with the clothes that cover it...it shapes our bodies so that we can fit into tiny-waisted ball gowns and second-skin dresses...it may scathe us in satin, lace, or cotton...making us feel warm...or confident...or pretty...or seductive...

at times...our underwear is our outerwear....we let the whole world see us in our drawers...other times...we're more private...we might let one special person peek beneath the layers...

start to build your underwear wardrobe with basic colors...white, black, nude...fit and fabric make all the difference...spend time finding the right size and cut...make sure leg holes and waist don't cut into your body...think about usage...underwear that looks the prettiest on its own often looks lumpy under clothes...

men's corner: spanx for men...

i knew that it would just be a matter of time before the big ole "spanx" revolution would jump over to the men's corner...i mean really...isn't it all about looking your best?

the misconception for a long time was that shapewear (for women) was only worn by those who were...well...a little over the weight they would like to be...but truth be told...women that are size 2's swear by there spanx...it isn't about your size...it is about shaping...creating a smooth supportive surface for your clothes to look their best on you...

so...yesterday...in the ny times...an article caught my eye...men's 'shapewear' is a retail hit...seems online sales are a bit higher...as men are still a little shy about the purchase...but i for one...am thrilled to hear that men...just like women...are looking to look their best...

so men...if you are interested...you can find your very own spanx for men at neiman marcus...and this month...they will also be offered at nordstrom, saks fifth ave & bloomingdales...or you can go directly to freshpair.com

photo credit: deidre schoo for the new york times

bulletproof...

the effects are remarkable...no dieting...no exercise...no liposuction...just an amazing combination of lycra and good tailoring...and we can nip, tuck, and smooth with the best of the scalpel-wielding plastic surgeons...things that used to jiggle or flop or bulge just don't anymore...

we can look back at the women of crete - who bound their middles in iron to achieve twelve-inch waists (quite a shame...i must say) with pity as we pull on our stretchy polyester sausage-casings...so...if you've always wanted a bustline like gina lollobrigida...or hips like a ballet dancer...or a stomach that's as flat as a pool table...body-sculpting underwear will get you close...if not all the way there...

look for dress slips that slim your hips and your tummy...panties that uplift your buttocks...shorts that hide your hips...thighs...and underwear lines under tight-fitting pants and skirts...

it's about making the best of what you have...and who knows? once you've stuffed and sculpted and shaped to your heart's content on the inside...maybe you'll feel confident enough to try a new style on the outside...

so what is your favorite body shaper?