The Runway

Hmm, notice any similarities? Yeah, if that isn't a turn-off to be a model...

Ever wonder why runway models look so glum and don't have any curves? The people in high fashion want them looking truly like "walking hangers." They said curves get it in the way. We aren't supposed to notice the model, just the clothes. And apparently smiling gets in the way too...

Look how happy they are!

And in this fashion show, the models were made to look eyeless and blind. That's right-- they sealed the models' eyes shut.

Yikes. Creepy, eh? Yeah, that's the "glamour" of being a model. Gag.

Well, I don't want to dwell on glumness and scariness, so...um... here are some pictures that will brighten you up :)

A feel better tip!

If you have clothes that don't fit anymore and are "waiting to lose weight to fit back into them," give them to the second-hand store! You are beautiful and don't need a constant reminder that you aren't how you used to be. Besides, if you do lose some weight, it will be a great excuse to go shopping!! 

Remember, get outside and move--do physical activity not because you "have to," it's because it makes you feel so good. And that's our goal-- making you feel great about yourself and giving you confidence :) 

Money-saving fashion tips

• You can find most staple clothes at stores such as Walmart, Target and Old Navy. Make a b-line to the section that has nicer clothes
  
• You don't have to buy everything at once. Start with what you need-- if it's summer, get capris or shorts. Start with one or two items a time. I'm letting you know about wardrobe staples so that you can feel good in your beautiful body. I'm not an advocate for having to spend tons of money to look good. Or rather, what the world perceives as "the ideal." 
  
• Shoe buying tip: find a great pair of shoes at a store and before you buy them, look them up online and compare prices. Good places are Zappos.com and Onlineshoes.com. 
  
• Check out places like department stores, Kohls, or Ross for good purses. 
  
• Skip brand names for the sake of having brand names. I don't fancy being a walking billboard. Why pay to advertise for someone else? 
  
• For staple clothes, skip the second-hand store. You can look there for unique vintage jewelry. I say this because when you buy something new, it has a longer wear life and they look better (boo on fading clothing!). 
• DO NOT buy clothes just because it's on sale or cheap. 
• When you go clothes shopping, go with a purpose. Say "Ok, today I need to buy a pair of black capris." Make sure you have a set budget. Good quality staples will cost a fair amount, but it will be worth it in the long run. 

Target: short necks

~How to rock short necks and make them look long & willowy~

What not to do:

• Wear big necklaces/ chokers

See how these make necks look fatter and shorter? Instead, opt for long thin necklaces and lariats (one long strand, usually with a loop at each end, and some items hanging from the loops). These will help give you the appearance of a long willowy neck. 

Good lariat example:

Bad lariat for short necks:

See how this would cover a short neck? We want the neck exposed. 

• High collared tops
  

These cover up the neck and make it look like your head is just sitting on your shoulders. Not what we want!  Again, we want the neck exposed. V-neck shirts are fabulous for solving this situation! 

 

When more skin is showing underneath the neck, it elongates it. (V-necks are a flattering choice for almost anyone!)

• Turtlenecks & round necklines
  

 

These shorten necks. Looking for a good sweater to replace that turtleneck? Try a pullover V-neck sweater or a v-neck cardigan! 

• Big round earrings 
  

Even celebs make fashion mistakes. Actually, they make them quite often...

Anyway, see how big hoop/ round earrings make Hilary's neck look short? Chandelier, dangly, or long drop earrings emphasize a short neck, so steer clear of those. Also avoid intricate earrings. Try looking for nice, sparkly studs or earrings with a small drop pendant.  

Leverback earrings (so these will drop just below the earlobe). They are thin and delicate-- which is what we want! 

You're Beautiful!!

Did you know that only 2% of women have that uber-tall, ultra-thin model form? The media would have us think otherwise. What's sad is that 92% of women want to change at least one aspect of their appearance. People want to be thinner, have bigger breasts, have thicker or straight or curly hair, be taller, etc. But I'm here to tell you that you are gorgeous. You are beautiful. This blog is dedicated to helping you feel your best-- dressing your beautiful body and showing off your wonderful assets-- every girl has them! If you want to know what your assets are, email me and I'll make you a long, honest list! I truly will! 

How to feel good about yourself:

• NEVER read fashion/ beauty magazines. These are littered with gossip and claims that you need to lose weight, have great abs, diets you have to go on, etc. Some of the worst parts are ads: featuring thin, tall, and superficial models, making you think that you have to be just like them to have worth. Talking about superficial-- guess what? They are more than airbrushed. Take a look at this excerpt from a Newsweek article:
  

"Thanks to technology, often not even the models themselves can compare to their portfolios. Increasingly, photos for print are enhanced and perfected to an astonishing degree.  Not only are moles, acne and subtle facial hair erased from already pretty faces, but retouchers are routinely asked by editors and advertisers to enlarge eyes, trim normal-size ears, fill in hairlines, straighten teeth and lengthen the already-narrow necks, waists and legs of 18-year-old beauties. "We're always stretching the models' legs and slimming their thighs," says a photo retoucher who works for a high-end Manhattan agency. In some cases, hands, feet or even legs are replaced in photos when the subject's parts don't add up to a perfect whole. "Sometimes I feel a little like Frankenstein," says the retoucher, who would only speak anonymously because of the potential for professional backlash. The irony, she adds, is that the models and actresses pictured have usually have already been through hours of hair styling and makeup--including body makeup--to remove the slightest blemish. Yes, you heard that right, even after all of that, a 5-foot-10, 110-pound model still does not have legs that are long or skinny enough to suit advertisers and fashion editrixes."

Yikes. Check out the short clip that Dove put out entitled "Evolution." http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6915842737034217262&ei=QsMjSuPnMYr-qAOVkpGcCg&q=dove+evolution&hl=en

And it's not just print that is troubling-- so are billboards, music, TV, and movies. Just for an example-- take Keira Knightley in the first Pirates movie. Her hair for her first scene took 12 hours to do. This included major extensions, dyeing, highlighting, curling, color touch-ups, etc. And that's not including makeup time or costume. And in the final scene, do you know her breasts were make-uped in? Yes, a professional breast makeup artist was called in to create her bosom. It took hours to get shading and everything right to make her look voluptuous. All that to get a "natural beauty" look. 

So what can we do to combat this media bombardment? Simply don't read those magazines or pay heed to the ridiculous media or give in to what they are claiming you have to be. Instead, pick up a good book and read it. Examples: a Jane Austen, Harry Potter, books you read when you were a kid, etc.

Here are some more tips!

• Take a good long bath and when you get out, slather your body down with your favorite smell-good lotion (I love Bath and Body Works' White Tea and Ginger body cream!)  

• Write down compliments you get from people in a notebook. When you're feeling down, look at the list. Also, when people give you compliments, say "thank you" without discounting it. 

• Accept your genetic body type. Bone structure, weight, and height are strongly determined by your genes. Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes. 

• Dance to your favorite song, take a nap, ask for a hug, take time just for you to meditate-- just breathing and clearing your mind. This will help you de-stress. 

• Enjoy ways to live healthier-- sleep 8 hours a day, drink lots of water, take deep breaths, take walks/ do yoga/ swim/ bike, etc. This isn't because you have to, it's because it makes you feel so great. Your body deserves to be treated well! 

• Listen to the songs "Video" and "Private Party" by Indie Arie

• Don't compare yourself to others. Other people have their own problems, their own insecurities, even if they aren't readily apparent

• Whenever you say something negative about your body, stop and acknowledge that this will not support you feeling good about yourself. Then you apologize to your body and say two loving/ appreciative things about your body

• Act completely comfortable in your body, even if you aren't feeling it yet. How would you walk, what would you wear, what kind of self talk would you be speaking, what kind of eye contact would you make with strangers, how would you speak to people? Do this. Change your behavior and soon your feelings will match up.  

• Stand up straight! Good posture keeps your body looking its best! 

You are beautiful and loved by so many people. Your body is amazing-- 

embrace it and treat it well.