Does size matter?

Ewww! Get your mind out of the gutter...I'm talking about clothes here! More importantly, swimsuits. My swimsuits are ALWAYS bigger than my regular clothes. In fact, the one I bought last year, the bottoms were 2 sizes bigger than my clothes, and the top was 3 sizes bigger (which seems bass ackwards, but I was nursing at the time...so I can't fill that top out this year!). Anyway, my point is, always bring a few sizes in the fitting room with you, and do not worry about which one fits you better. Who sees the size on the tag? Nobody but you! And if it what the tag says upsets you, take advice from one of my favorite stylists, Clinton Kelly, and just cut the tag out! This goes for clothes too. What is important is how it fits. If it fits poorly, you are going to be drawing the wrong kind of attention to yourself. Clinton says, "A 4 sounds great and a 2 is like a dream...Each label will fit you differently, and you will drive yourself crazy if you declare you will never wear anything above an 8."

So in answer to the question, "Does size matter?" No and yes. No, it doesn't matter what size you are. Yes, it matters that you get the size that fits you properly.

"Tan fat is prettier than white fat"

Don't you love it! I got that off a billboard in Mobile once. It was advertising a tanning bed. It is so true. Don't you just feel prettier when you have a tan? While I did frequent the tanning bed in my younger (and more idiotic) days, I avoid it now like the plague. But, if you are trying on swimsuits, I recommend having some color to you. Just wear your swimsuit from last year a few times to the pool (or your backyard) and get a little tan (after first applying sunscreen). Going into a fitting room (with those awful, fluorescent lights shining on glorious cellulite...speaking from experience) is much less painful with a tan.

Another option is the self tanner. I like the kind you use for a daily moisturizer (Jergens, Dove, and even Target makes a version of this). You put it on just like lotion daily. You will start seeing results after just a few days. And after a week, it looks great! I like the Jergens, personally, because it doesn't smell so bad. The way I apply it, is to put it on right after you get out of the shower or bath while your skin is still damp. This helps the lotion really absorb into the skin, and it helps you get it more even all over (thanks Mom for this pointer). It really doesn't look orange like most tanners, and mixed with a little tan from the real sun, it doesn't look 1/2 bad!

Dreaded swimsuit season

As promised, I'm going to give a few swimsuit pointers. I am not an expert in this subject, but am going to apply some of the same rules that I use when dressing clients in regular clothing. However, I'm not giving you all my rules because nobody would hire me if I give away all my secrets! I'll give a few pointers for each "problem area." If I leave anything out, let me know in the comment area, and I'll do my best to help!

1) Wide Hips-Just like in regular clothing, stay away from busy patterns on the bottom. Go for a dark solid bottom, and a printed top to draw attention up. This would also work well for big booty girls. See picture for example. I'm not saying this exact swimsuit...just giving you the idea.

2)Big Ta-tas-For all of you who complain about the ta-tas, just remember, that there are people who pay good money to have what you have! If you don't want to show them off (thank you) you will want to look for a suit with some support. Go for a wide band at the bottom of your top (same thing with a one piece...look for the band under the bustline) and good thick strap to "keep the girls locked and loaded" as Clinton and Stacy would say. You could do opposite of the hips/butt look and do a solid top, and print bottom to draw attention away from the twin towers.

3) Small Ta-tas-If you are president of the itty bitty titty committee, look for a top like the suit below. Lots of detail on the top adds volume. Be sure you have some padding. The horizontal stripe is good, ruching between the girls is good, also bandeau tops with the ring in the middle is darling. A word to the wise, I saw FOUR red and white striped bikinis at the pool Sunday (same exact swimsuit, bandeau w/ the ring). Cute suit, but loses its appeal when everyone and their momma has it on.

4) Pudgy tummy (or rolls as Lin would call them)-Same as with dresses and tops, go for ruching or a wrap. This will mask the "rolls." You have to be really careful with rolls and one pieces. Sometimes the shiny fabrics accentuate them. You really need to make sure you have something going on in the midsection to mask them. Tankinis work too. But be sure you opt for the longer, flowing tops as opposed to the shorter, tight ones. They can squeeze your middle out and make you look like a stuffed sausage.

Hope this helps! To be continued...

Ciao for now!

No Beditos!

What? That's right, I said "No Beditos!" We have a family friend who makes up words all of the time. He has no idea he is doing it. He thinks he is using the real word, and acts like it is totally in context and correct English. So one day instead of Speedos, he said Beditos. So yes, I agree with Jill, "No Beditos!" I don't care how fast they make you swim, or how hot you think you are, don't wear 'em. They are nasty, and nobody, I mean nobody wants to see your junk! Can I get an Amen! I'll post more about swimsuits later, but I'm way too tired tonight...from being at the pool today...so I have lots of opinions about swimsuits after "observing" some things today. Ya'll have a good holiday tomorrow. Enjoy your family, and eat some BBQ!

Career Milestone

Well, I have to share with you all something amazing that has happened in my career over the last few days. Tadd let me clean out his closet! I know this doesn't seem like a big deal to you all, but to me IT'S HUGE! It is hard to have a career with a very supportive husband, who tells you how fabulous you are, and talented, and great at what you do, but won't listen to a word you say. It makes all of those words seem like they mean nothing if he doesn't trust me. And not that he's a bad dresser...he's not at all. But he his a hoarder, and he had some stuff that needed to be cleaned out. I convinced him of this when I went to get a belt off our top shelf in our closet, and a pile of his clothes fell on my head. So we got rid of: one garbage bag stuffed to the rim for Goodwill, another garbage bag of suits, dress shirts, ties, etc. for consignment, and a smaller bag of stuff to sell at Plato's Closet. Not to shabby! I'm so proud of him! And we both feel better walking into that tiny closet without worrying if we will come out alive!

Steve and Barry's

Hello all! Yesterday, a couple of my friends and I decided to take advantage of the last full day of school, and go shopping. We knew that this summer, it would be next to impossible to take those much needed days of retail therapy. We went to Hickory Hollow Mall in Antioch. Yes, it is a little scary, and not Cool Springs Galleria, but it was well worth it! We went there so that we could check out Sarah Jessica Parker's line, Bitten at Steve and Barry's. We walked in the door, and there was a huge sign that said "Rethink shopping: Everything in the store $8.98 or less." What? I know, right? That's crazy talk! So we shopped! The Bitten line is cute, and as you can see from the website that the collection has a full size range from XS-XXL in tops, 0-22 in bottoms, and 5-11 in shoes. We wanted to find lots of stuff but didn't. Unfortunately, my friend has a booty, and I have hips, and the shorts just weren't fitting us right (and shorts was what we were really seeking). The line is really cute (nothing to crazy, but basics are great). So we took a peek at Dear, Amanda Byne's line. Her line is a little more trendy, and has some really cute stuff. I walked out of there with a pair of white jeans (a spring must have) and a cute top for...you guessed it...$8.98 each. Not too shabby! These lines can only by found at Steve and Barry's, and aren't sold online. There are several other celebs who sell their lines exclusively there (Venus Williams, Laird Hamilton, Ben Wallace, etc.). So if you want to complete your spring wardrobe for pennies, locate a Steve and Barry's...but hurry, this special is for a limited time only. Happy Shopping!

Presentation vs. Perception-Part 2

I was walking downtown at a festival with my sister-in-law when she said, "Holly, let's go into this store so you can tell me if I should buy this wrap or not." I said, "Kelley, we are not going in that store, it's an old lady store, and you aren't an old lady." Then I looked down and saw that she was wearing a fanny pack (note: just because it is "Coach" doesn't mean it's cool), and agreed that we could go in the store. (Another note: I'm not making fun of my sweet sis-in-law behind her back...I told her to her face not to wear a fanny pack). Anyway, we walked in the "old lady" store, and I immediately saw about five things that I LOVED for myself. So I walked back outside to look at the store that gave me the impression that it was an "old lady" store. I have lived her over 4 years and have NEVER walked into that store for that reason. I realized rather quickly that it was the way the window was dressed. So I offered the owner of the store a few friendly suggestions of how she could make the window look better to draw more people in. Some of my suggestions were less mannequins in the window, better lighting, new or newly painted trim, and some nicely draped fabric behind the clothing (instead of the pegboard behind it). She gladly welcomed my suggestions, but said since she doesn't own the building, she wasn't willing to put money into it to make it look better. WOW! I couldn't believe that a business owner wasn't willing to invest literally a few hundred dollars to double her traffic.

I think so many people have this same problem with their bodies. They don't want to spend the money to make themselves look nicer. It's not worth it to them. We aren't talking like $5000 like on "What not to Wear." We are talking about a few hundred dollars. We don't own our bodies, right? They are on lease to us by our Maker. Shouldn't we take care of them both inside and out, and present them well?