Ra ra ra! Sis boom BRA! 02/01/2010
Bosom Week has arrived! I've been looking forward to this series of posts for a while and am anxious to exchange information on a feminine issue we all face. Like many women before me, I embarked upon a quest to find the perfect bra. Not that there is only one perfect bra manufactured out there somewhere, but the perfect bra for me. I am still on that quest and I want to share with you what I've discovered so far. Like me, you will probably already know some of this, but hopefully you'll learn something new. Today, we're going to examine the reasons WHY women need a good bra, and part of what that entails.
 That's not a happy breast on that left side. Down and out is not a good description on any terms. - Proper support helps preserve breast fullness and firmness while preventing back pain and poor posture. - Proper shaping helps more than just the look of the breast. As you can see on the "before" side, the breast has sagged low on the ribcage - encroaching on the smallest part of the woman's body. Any woman will look better if she can keep the area from the bottom of her breasts to her waist as long and lean as possible. This is a crucial style tip! The only difference in the two halves of the above picture is an ill-fitting bra vs a well-fitting bra. She looks 20 lbs thinner and significantly taller in the "after" half. In the next post in this series we'll go in-depth into how a bra should fit to properly shape and support your bosom buddies.
I love the video clips from Cold Comfort Farm I presented at the beginning of this post. The fact that it was just as crucial in Elfine's makeover to get her "a bit of uplift" as it was to get her educated. Once you learn what to look for in a great bra, it'll be easy to weed out the sagging from the supportive. You won't waste money on bras that just sit in your drawer and you'll look much leaner, shapelier, and more youthful under your clothes. Please share your experiences and advice! How did you find your great bras? Or are you still struggling against the sag?  Throughout this series I'll be posting links to other useful or humorous bra-related sites. Here are today's: 1. An absolutely hysterical and informative look at breaking out of the Bra Matrix! 2. A rant against the fitters!  Coco & her LBD Q - "You and many others have mentioned the necessity for a "little black dress" but why? And how do I keep it my style? They all seem to be so "little!" A: Excellent questions both! To which I offer the following answers and examples. First, the Why. Everyone needs in their closet the "instant elegant outfit." Something you can put on and never have to question how nice you look. Because this outfit must be appropriate for all occasions it has to be a versatile. Versatile is easiest when it's in the form of a neutral base that can be accessorized a million different ways. Black is universally flattering - every woman in the world can wear it in some way or another and look lovely. It's the perfect backdrop to anything you'd like to do with it. And no, it doesn't have to be "little".  Coco Chanel created the LBD (little black dress) around 1926, officially premiering it in Vogue that year. Her design was only "little" in the sense of "simple". It was actually very modest - calf length, long sleeved and trim fitting but not skin tight, with virtually no embellishment. Until that point, all-black clothing was mainly reserved for funerals and periods of mourning. It tended to be long and stuffy. Her simple design, dubbed "Chanel's Ford" because it was versatile and intended for every woman, like the Model T for every driver, was simultaneously a revolution and instant classic. It's nearly impossible to find pictures of Coco wearing the dress, but I found the one above that someone took with a stuffed monkey. Second, the Personalization. In answer to your other question, I offer the many examples below. (Click the images to enlarge.) The LBD you choose should a) speak to your social life and b) reflect your personal taste. For example, if your social life consists of lots of fancy dinner parties with your husband's company and clients AND you like a dash of retro, you might choose something like the dress on the far right below. If your social engagements tend to be more casual (dinner here and there, a movie, but maybe the ballet occasionally) and you like something sleek you might choose one of the short sleeved options below, or the wrap dress on the right. You can find everything from a vintage party dress to something very avant garde. Embellished to the hilt or a blank canvas. Personally, I think Coco had it right. The more simple the dress, the more versatile it is. You can throw a colored cardigan over a simple jersey LBD, add some flats and head out to run errands. Swap the cardigan for sparkly accessories and the flats for heels and you're good to go for date night. I have two in my closet. A simple matte jersey wrap dress that gets the most use, and a fancier, layered chiffon dress for really special events. If you noticed, I offered up only modest options. And I wanted to showcase a few below from Shabby Apple. For being a small boutique shop, their selection of LBD's is nicely varied to fit many tastes. And all are modest without you having to modify. So yes, whether it sweeps the floor in satin drama... or kisses the ground with bohemian relaxation, you need one of these dresses. Take your time. (You didn't have it yesterday so you don't need it tomorrow.) Enjoy the process. (Your perfect LBD match is out there!) Buy the best you can afford. (This is most definitely an investment item!) And once you have it - WEAR IT! Wear it often, wear it well. Dress Your Man 10/05/2009
Christmas is just around the corner and many women like to give their better halves a wardrobe refresher or two as gifts. I was chatting with a friend a few days ago on this very subject. Her husband is in "desperate need" of some new clothes and she wasn't sure what to get him. Just like our own wardrobe's, men can also easily find themselves in a fashion rut, wearing the same unflattering pieces day in and day out. Luckily, there are also great style tips and tricks for men so I rounded up some of the best current advice and hope this will help you with gift giving or simply giving a confident answer the next time your hubby says he's not sure what to wear.  Jos. A. Bank A single-breasted two or three button suit is better than a double-breasted suit. Double-breasted suits can make your man look wider and shorter than he actually is. While I prefer the look of a three-button suit for dressier occasions, GQ touts the benefits a two-button suit - it'll give you a slimmer, more streamlined look and will better show off your shirt and tie.  Cox of Malvern Suits should fit snuggly, not baggy. Tailoring is as important for men as it is for women. Just like most women are wearing the wrong bra size, most men are wearing the wrong suit size, choosing a suit that's too large.
 Nordstrom Jackets and coats shouldn't be baggy either. Slim fitting, tailored coats - from your basic leather jacket to a long rain trench or winter wool - will make him look trimmer and younger. Avoid too many "manly" details, like heavy buckles or thick zippers.  A sport coat will instantly elevate your man's style. So much more stylish and versatile than the ubiquitous fleece jacket, it'll take him through fall, into spring and any event where a suit would be too dressy. Add a winter scarf and he can avoid a bulky parka, looking instead dashing and debonair. (The scarf at right is worn continental style. You can also wear it open and hanging straight. Or any other number of ways!)  Nordstrom A gray v-neck sweater adds miles to wardrobe basics. GQ says it goes great with a dark suit and fall colors as well as jeans and lighter colors in spring. Buy the best one you can afford and try to pamper your man with a cashmere blend.  Johnston Murphy Men's dress shoes are investment items. A nice pair can last a lifetime, literally! Some mainstream brands offer lifetime repair and resoling, a luxury almost nonexistent in the female shoe universe. A classic, quality pair will dress up any outfit and remain timeless.  Tateossian - cufflinks.com Cuff links are crucial. If your man doesn't own a pair, get him a set to match his style and a proper white shirt to go with them. And don't reserve them for the times he dresses up with a tie. GQ says wearing them without a tie will give your man a "rakish yet elegant flair." How sexy is that!  Invite-Only Discount Shopping Sites 08/26/2009
I've been getting some questions about "invite only" shopping sites. Mainly, "What are they?" They're a fairly recent addition to the shopping world, essentially extensions of the age-old "secret sample sales" that happen in fashion districts in New York and LA (Milan, London, Paris, etc.) The websites offer a variety of designer (both big name and up-and-coming) clothing, shoes and accessories. A couple of them offer men's and children's clothing, and some, like Rue La La and Hautelook, even offer perfume, makeup (like Stila!) and home decor sales. Items are usually offered at better than 50% off. I'm currently stalking ideeli for a particular pair of 85% off heels to pop up in my size. Another nice aspect is these are not super-model sizes. There's usually a broad range, instead of just 0's and 2's. These are good sites for scoring deals on those investment items. Want a tiny taste of what's available today? How about the fabulous wrap dress below from Gomatta Girls for $45 instead of $395?!? Also comes in black, white, and a pale blue floral.  Or either of these two Anne Klein dresses from ideeli for $92 instead of $168! Love them!   To get free access to any or all of the sites, simply click on the logos or links below.      And remember - moderation in all things. Don't get sucked into obsessively checking the sites everyday. This is just another way of casting a wide search net when fishing for wardrobe additions. All the sites give you the option to sign-up for email alerts or their RSS feeds. The email will preview what's going on or coming up and you can decide if it's something you want to check out or not. Enjoy! Do you run the shopping gauntlet? 08/03/2009
A woman once told me, "I hate to shop. It's like running the gauntlet and always getting destroyed." She didn't have any real personal style and her daily outfits consisted of whatever she could cobble together from a very muddled wardrobe. No real surprise, considering the wardrobe consisted of random pieces she'd grabbed when she or someone else had forced her to go shopping. A few days later I saw an episode of this hilarious Japanese show (highlighted below) and it struck me that for many women who hate shopping, it must feel just like running this gauntlet and coming out the other side feeling crushed!  The woman called me her "Shopping Therapist" but I prefer something a little sexier. Maybe continue the Asian theme with Style Samurai. Ever since, it's been fun categorizing the skills of those I'm shopping for, or with, in terms of karate ranks. Newbies with no idea what to buy or where? White Belts. Shoppers who've confidently shopped before but are stuck in a style rut? Green Belts. Skilled shoppers looking for inspiration or to discover different stores/sites? Black Belts. While Image Interpreters is all about the WHOLE image of a modern modest woman, shopping is a huge factor. So we're glad to announce our new shopping section is complete!  The Shopping Section will highlight the best stores and sites we find. Simply click the little pink shopping bags in the sidebar! We'll keep it fresh with tons of information about the stores/sites, what they offer, price range, what they're best for, what to avoid, etc. Fall fashion already? Hurray! 07/17/2009
I have a schizophrenic relationship with fall. I'm a September baby so I get to celebrate, but it's also the season of Halloween, my least favorite holiday. (I'm just not good at coming up with the creative costumes!) I love the fall leaves and cooler temperatures but it also signals the coming of winter, my arch nemesis of seasons. But I also love fall for the fashions! This is usually a very EASY style season for modest dressers. And the fall fashions are here! Many of the clothes debuting now are considered "pre-fall." When exactly is "pre" fall, you ask? Good question. I believe it falls somewhere between midnight and 8 am between August 31 and September 1. But only in certain counties and time zones. And only if the temperature is below 90 that day. Point being, pre-fall and fall clothing can hold some great finds for you! The clothes are lighter weight, very close to summer weight, but with longer sleeve and skirt lengths, higher necklines, etc. Very wearable for spring & summer, and not heavy like true winter clothing. Modest dressers get mileage out of fall clothing more than any other season. Fall is the absolute best season to score those Investment Items - the perfect black trousers, skirt suits, wrap dresses, jeans, etc. And remember! It is infinitely easier to shorten than to lengthen, which is nigh on impossible. That means, if you find a dress, shirt, skirt, etc. that would you would love for summer/spring if the sleeves were a little shorter, get it and run it over to a tailor! It's very likely they can easily transform a long sleeve to a 3/4 or shorter and still keep the item looking great. And hemlines are a cinch to shorten. Also hitting with the fall fashions are the start of the summer sales. Still with plenty of time to wear the clothes this year, as well as many springs & summers to come. Click on the sale links below to check out the offerings!   So tell me - what is YOUR favorite season to shop? And where? Shoe Shy? 07/06/2009
Why don't modest dressers have the most fabulous shoes? Compared to much of the rest of the world, our outfits from neck to knee are relatively tame. So why aren't our shoes making bigger statements? Why, my sisters, do I see so many boring, bland, gag-me-with-a-shoehorn, frump-a-dump shoes on you!?! Let's discuss the possible explanations.  To give you a little inspiration, here are some beauties from my own collection.  Fun shoes also make you look taller by drawing the eye all the way down to your toes. Keep the eye moving between statement shoes and fabulous earrings and they'll also view everything in the middle as wonderful.  Take the first step and slip on a pair of shoes you think are outside your comfort zone. Wear them confidently and I guarantee you'll get nothing but compliments. Or jealous glances from those still too afraid to let their feet do more than just the walking! And here are some to dream about and emulate! | AuthorJesslyn Weaver   ArchivesMarch 2010 CategoriesAll Snag a stylish button!
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