Truly Styled

Coming clean...

I worked in a tanning salon in high school.  I loved it!  People would come in for 30-45 sometimes 60 minute sessions.  They'd put their headphones on, slide their goggles on and off they'd go for the perfect tan.  Living in Wisconsin made it a pretty busy place.  I got to tan for free, lucky me.  30-45 minutes basking in light to get the year round tan.  I also did it in college so I basically was orange through the winter and tan during the summer.  I thought I was so hot!

Fast forward 20 years and the effects of tanning didn't really pay off.  I have broken capillaries on my cheeks, sun spots all over my already freckly face and other irreversible damage.  But when you are in your teens you don't care about long term effects, right?  Just live in the moment! 

I have to come clean to you all today.  I visited a tanning salon yesterday for the first time since college.  Something I vowed I'd never do again.  I have worked too hard to reverse the sun damage.  But let me start my excuses with what an absolutely horrible winter it's been in Chicago.  All of you who live here can attest that the lack of sun exposure we've had and continue to have almost into June is unbearable.  We are all going a bit crazy.  My other excuse is that I have a trip coming up which requires a swimsuit and this body needs some sort of color that self-tanner just isn't doing it.

So, my plan was to do a 10 minute tan in the booth (so much better than the 30-60 minute tans I used to do, the excuses are still going) and then do a mystic tan.  I have to admit that the 10 minutes was amazing!!!  At first all I thought about was the damage I was doing to my face, what I'd have to do and spend to repair it.  Then, I just relaxed.  The feel of the warmth, and the feeling of pretend sun was invigorating!  I have to admit that.  I kept telling myself it was only 10 minutes and this face hasn't seen sun since last Sept.  How bad could it be?

Then off to the Mystic Tan.  What a weird experience.  I was terrified of getting orange with horrible streaks running down my legs.  The whole experience took 14 seconds.  I felt like I was in a car wash.  It was sticky and weird but didn't smell and was painless.  I was instructed to rub off with a towel and not to miss one piece on my body( leaving the mystic goop on you is what can make the streaks and uneven look).  The tan settled in over the day (you are not allowed to enter water for 4 hours).  I don't look orange, it actually looks like I may have just returned from a beach vacation (oh the little lies we live). 

I'm not sure how long this will last.  They say 5ish days.  We'll see.  I may or may not do it again.  I'll keep you posted.  I feel better and it was easier yet more expensive than a self tanner and I don't feel like I smell like self tanner (I should ask my 5 year old, she is brutally honest).

So, still feeling a bit guilty about the tanning bed but I'll get over it.  I won't go a lot and promise not to become addicted (like the guy who checked me into the spa, he needs to back off a bit).  I feel better and sometimes it's the little things that can accomplish that, even if it's for a bit.

PS.  I did wear sunscreen....

The Other Woman

I don't even know her name, which makes me sad.  I feel like I may be seeing her more than my husband.  She has a small space with a view of the street.  She watches TV in a language I can't understand.  I actually don't think we've ever spoken, this other woman in my life. 

She is my tailor.  She makes everything I buy look like it was made for me.  I am 5'3 with muscular legs, so needless to say most everything I buy needs to be tailored.  Every short, skirt, dress or pant I buy needs to be taken up in length and most everything taken in at the waist.  It can be expensive, but there is nothing more worth it that having your clothes fit you well.  I don't care if it's from Target or the most expensive boutique in your town.  If it's a party dress or a pair of workout pants.  If it doesn't fit right in some areas but fits in you well in your trouble areas, then you must get it tailored. 

Here's a story some of you may relate to.  My sister, who is built like I am, used to call me almost in tears every time she would go jean or pant shopping.  She'd say "Nothing fits!  I am leaving another store with a white tee and no pants".  Over time I've told her again and again the importance of a good tailor.  She would ignore me and just keep saying that nothing fits her.  She finally took my advice (always hard from an older sister I guess) and found a pair of jeans that fit her thighs and made her feel great.  They were, however, too long and too big in the waist.  She took them to a tailor and had them altered and said that she is now mad that she waited that long to have things fitted for her body.

If you don't know of a great tailor than ask around your neighborhood.  You will want someone that can put the original hem back on the jean. 

Most clothing are not meant to fit off the rack for our figures.  Don't be discouraged.  Find the right fit in your toughest area and know that the rest can be fitted for you!  You will never look back, I promise.

HOT things for summer...

A few must haves for summer...

1.  A white pant.  It can be a jean, capri, dress pant, whatever, just get a white pant.  Looks great with everything.  It also can be very slimming if it's the right fit for your figure.  If the pockets in the front bother you and draw too much attention to your hips, just have them removed.  But think carefully before you do that.  Make sure you won't want to use the pockets, ever.

2.  Ankle Strap Sandal (see blog entry about sandals).  I prefer a metallic sandal because it goes with everything.  If you are petite or have heavy calves be careful with the ankle strap.  I would recommend a t-strap instead.

3.  A cotton summer dress.  This can be dressed down with casual flip flops or dressed up with a wedge and some bangles.   A great beach cover up as an alternative to the board shorts some women wear (please get rid of those).

4.  Cuffed shorts.  These are a cross between a bermuda short (big last year and still appropriate for this year) and the short short (that really  should be kept to the teens).  I found a few super cute pairs at Target.  One had a floral print on them and the other was a really dark wash jean short, almost trouser like, with pleats (sounds awful, but super cute!).  This short hides bigger thighs while drawing attention to your calves.  A super cute short!

I hate capri's

I do.  I think they look horrible on every figure.  Now, having said that, there is a time and a place for them.  Summer hits and the big question is "I don't want to wear pants, I hate my legs in shorts and I'm not a fan of skirts.  What do I do?"  You'll have to get a capri.  But here's the good news ladies.  I have found a capri that has looked good on almost every one of my clients.  It's the cafe capri from JCrew.  They come in many different colors which takes it from boring khaki to more interesting.  It's a straight leg fit with a wide-band at the waist which flatters most figures.  It looks as cute as a capri can.  For those us who struggle with our height, I'd recommend getting them hemmed to a couple of inches above your ankle.

If anyone out there has found another great capri (no cargo pockets allowed), let me know.  I'm all about finding the right capri (although I will always hate them).

I've gotten my spring pedicure, now what?

It's sandal time so get those feet ready!!  There's nothing better than sitting in a comfy chair and letting someone get those ugly, winter feet ready for sandal weather.  Once that's complete then what?  Here's what's hot this season...
1.  The jeweled sandal.  Super cute and comfy, you can find them in metallic, brown or any color with as little or as many jewels as you like.  Perfect with a pair of shorts or a cute summer dress.  Flat is trendier than a heel with jewels.  Just make sure that the jewels are in scale with your size.

2.  Flat Sandals.  Similar to above but without the jewels.  My favorite are those that are in a metallic finish or pure silver or gold.  If you do this make sure your feet are summer ready and that your toes or heels aren't hanging off either end of the shoe.

3.  The Gladiator.  You'll find these everywhere but look with caution.  Gladiator sandals are like the Egyptian sandals Cleopatra wore in the movie.   A lot of straps that go up the foot to the ankle.  This is going to be a very trendy item for the year (my prediction).  I also think this is a hard look to wear, especially if you are petite.  If you are, look for a shoe with more of a t-strap than the whole strappy thing.

A great site to check out is www.piperlime.com.  They always list the season's hottest shoes and the site is incredibly easy to use.  You can look by style, price, color,  and they have a great selection of bags too. 

Now, go get the pedicure ladies!  You must not be caught trying on sandals with scanky feet.  It's a bad look.

The Key to the Perfect Outfit

There are a few essentials that I recommend to every client.  For example, a great pair of black pants, the perfect white blouse, a pair of black pumps.  But none of that will matter if you are wearing the wrong size bra or have horrible undergarments.  I actually recommend that my clients get professionally fitted for a bra before I meet with them.  Here's a little secret.  Victoria Secret doesn't count as a professional bra fitting.  My experience has been that you have a good chance of getting a high school student that was handed a tape measure and told to hit the floor.  My personal experience has been great at Nordstrom's.  I've also been told that Intimacy in Chicago is great too.  Most of you may have already heard on one of Oprah's episodes that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra.  My experience with my clients is dead on with that.  So, any cute shirt you get won't be all that cute if you are wearing a bra that your boobs are spilling over or if your back fat is showing through.  Get the perfect bra!!

The bra is not the only thing you will need for the perfect outfit.  Your undergarments are important too.  You are not allowed to show your pantie lines to the world.  There are too many great panties out there that are seamless or my recommendation is to try a thong.  They are not what you think.  You can't feel them if they are good.  Nordstrom has a great selection.  There will also be times you will need a body slimmer.  Depending what you are trying to slim down depends on the type of body slimmer you will need.  Most women will need one to smooth out tush and thighs.  If you would like your tummy smoothed out as well, get the Spanx that goes over the hips and tummy.  You can tuck it in under your bra to insure that it doesn't roll down.  I don't care how thin you are, there will come a time when you will need a seamless look and you won't want to leave the house with a line showing.  Have one ready.  You could also try Target's brand called Asset.  I found them to be reasonably priced and comfortable.

No more nursing bras and blousy underwear ladies.  Get fitted!!!

Busting a few myths...

 

1.  "Wearing white pants or shoes before memorial day?  Can I do it?"  I get asked this a lot.  I remember hearing this from my mom sometime around Easter when we were planning the  Easter outfit that most likely was going to need a winter coat to go with it.  She said I couldn't get white shoes because we couldn't wear them before Memorial Day.  I know this "rule" goes way back but ladies (and gentlemen), it no longer applies to us!!!  Break out the white jeans/pants (see previous blog about the best white jean) now!  It's a  great way to feel springy and surprisingly white pants can be slimming.  And, white shoes?   They're OK too.

2.  "My bag and shoes must match".  Wrong!!!  It actually will age you.  Mix it up a bit.  Try a yellow wedge with a white purse.  A metallic shoe will go with everything and that goes for a metallic bag too.  And, don't get bogged down with the belt thing either.  Your belt no longer has to match your shoes.  So, just think, much less stress when finding the right accessory, yippee!!

3.  "If I wear baggy clothes I will hide my fat".  False!!!  Wearing clothes that are too big for you will actually make you look bigger, I swear!!  I have seen so many women, I would guess 75% of my clients, who are in clothes that are in a size or two too big for them.  Does anyone remember the Benetton sweater?  The one we wore that fit over our butt?  We thought we were so clever and trendy by wearing it because not only would we look cute but no one would notice our big butt.  We weren't fooling anyone, not only did we not look cute (re-visit some old photos) we also looked bigger than we were.  So, check yourself out in the mirror again.  Are your clothes trying to hide something?  If your answer is yes, you are most likely failing.  Try again.

 

Becoming the Best Possible Me

I just returned from a Christian Women's retreat and it was so much more than I could have imagined.  We discussed many things but one section in particular made me think of my work as a personal wardrobe consultant/stylist.  The title of this session was "Becoming the Best Possible Me".  The speaker was Leslie Vernick and she was really amazing!  The questions she asked was "Am I the best possible version of myself?  Am I working as hard on my inside as my outside?" 

This discussion was centered around God and was I really dependent on God and was my ultimate goal to please him.  After I had time to think about all this and what it meant to me I started thinking about my clients.  Those women I have worked with that were tired of looking in the mirror and seeing someone they no longer recognized or even liked much any more.  The ones who hated their new bodies after having beautiful babies.  The ones who were hiding themselves behind clothes that were way too big because they were ashamed of their womanly shape.  These women knew something had to change and asked me to help them.  Help them find a bit of themselves again.  Help them feel more comfortable in the mirror when they would see their reflection, maybe even like what they saw. 

But you know what?  It doesn't end with the clothes.  We don't buy a book just because the cover is good do we?  No, we buy a book because the content is good.  The cover may entice us a bit at the start but if the content is no good neither is the book.  It's what is inside that really counts.  I will say that my experience has been that once we get these woman seeing themselves as the beautiful women that they are they change.  They are more comfortable, less shy, more excited to go out with their spouses or on dates, not embarrassed at school functions or work related events.  But it can't end there.  Even with the new clothes and a bit of the new attitude that can come with them sometimes that's not enough to snuff out the old thoughts and old nature.  That takes work.  It's one whole package.  Being whole inside and out.

I've always said clothes should not define us but they can make us feel a bit better.  But do we want to settle for "a bit" better?  No!  Change your inner voices.  Spend time meditating on God's word about how much he loves you and cares for you, take extra time to read, exercise, be with good friends who lift us up not tear us down.  Become the best possible you both inside and out!  It's work but it's worth it in the long run.  Be a great read, not just a good book cover.

More on workout attire...

I'm always on the hunt for cute but practical workout wear.  I can't tell you how many times I have seen the skirts for running and thought, are you kidding?  It looks like you are going to play tennis (which is fine if you are going to play tennis of course).  Well, I couldn't wait any longer.  I have bought a skirt to run in.  Goes against a lot of things I've thought.  Skirts are not for running and they are certainly not for strength training, right?  Well, maybe it's time to think again. 

For a busy mom who has been known to flee the gym after a workout in a mad dash to hit as many errands as I can before I pick up my daughter, I hate to run them feeling frumpy.  I've done the Nike Perfect Fit pant (which is perfect by the way!  Love them!!! No cellulite to be seen anywhere in these pants.  Amazing!!) and I do love them but it does get a bit boring.  The weather is getting a bit nicer here in Chicago so shorts are getting easier to get by in but I never feel great in them.  So, the skirt has me thinking...

I buy a black pair from Target (not sure I want to make the investment so I start reasonable at $19.99), and of course they are black.  I wear them to the gym and feel great getting there, walking in and even running.  I guess you could say I felt cute (as you cute as you can feel running on a treadmill).  But, then I get off the treadmill to hit the weights and I feel like I should have a tennis racket in my hand instead of a dumbbell. 

I'm not going to give up on them. They are too cute.  Also, being way too close to turning 40,  my mini-skirt days are over so this is one way to revisit them.  So, if you try them let me know what you think.  I'm still  on the fence.  I'll keep you posted (no pun intended).

Having a personal shopper for a day

I had a personal shopper for one day and what fun was that!!!  Seriously, I knew there was a reason I have been super busy.  There had to be a need for it, right?  Having experienced a bit of it myself now I know why.  It is so much fun to shop with someone who knows your body, knows what could look good on you and bring it all to you and then gush over how great you look!  I should charge more : ).

My mom's friend, who we really call an aunt she is so close to us, lives in Carmel, CA and we went for a visit.  We spent two days shopping and I have to say at first I really didn't feel like it.  I shop approximately 3 days a week so I could've been happy sitting in an outdoor cafe with wine frankly.  But there was something appealing to just browsing and looking for myself.  After helping everyone else find cute things I was finding I couldn't pull the trigger on anything.  I didn't really "need" anything, so I was happy to just look.  Then we went into Anthropologie and that store is sooo cute I couldn't resist to pull a few things for myself.  Well, while I was trying on my items, my aunt had been browsing the store and came into the dressing room with dresses for both my sister and I to try on.  They were so cute!!!  Both dresses fit perfectly (although of course I will need to shorten mine!), were comfortable and there is something great about having someone along to give you encouragement and make you just feel pretty! 

So, for those of you who think you don't need someone along to shop, try again!  Bring a friend you trust or find someone who knows your style, figure and is just plain fun and give it a try!  I wish she lived closer, I'd have her shop with me all the time!