Body Conscious?

I watch a lot of fashion-theme TV shows where experts tell women about what to wear, what not, and why. I like that good information is being passed, but I wonder how much of it is really being heeded. When I look around my local area, what I see most is a dedication to 'comfort' and a 'throw it on/out the door' attitude. And I see a lot of Muffin Tops!! I have fallen into these traps myself and I realize that comfort for busy people is a key element to how they choose to dress. I say choose to dress because it is definitely a choice. While I was struggling to lose weight, a meeting leader at Weight Watchers once told our group to not wear any elastic waist pants when trying to reduce your waistline. Aside from that being good all-around weight loss advice (elastic waist pants are almost a free-pass to overeat) it was also sound fashion advice for everyone. Every day you get an opportunity to clothe your body in whatever you have available. Why not skip the elastic waists and reach for something that has structure and fits you well? I recently browsed the racks at a local Macy's and found several lightweight cotton trouser front pairs of shorts (appropriate length for my height and age) on sale for $19. I invested $40 and bought two pair. They were on a rack next to some lightweight cotton knit elastic waist capri pants. I tried on a pair of those too, and I will honestly tell you that not only did I look better in the structured lightweight cotton shorts, but I felt better too. My posture was better, I wasn't tugging at my shirt to cover the 'comfort' line (muffin top) of the elastic waist. I was also pleased to see that the more structured shorts gave me a slimmer look (no muffin top). I think that as we choose what we cover our assets with, we should remember that comfort is not always about 'throwing something on'. It is more about a way of feeling good about oneself and easing your way through the day without compromising that confidence.

Fast Fashion Fixes

Recently a friend called me desperate to get help with a stubborn zipper. She was on her way out to a function, and the zipper on her skirt would not glide past a certain point due to a misshapen tooth. I quickly told her what she could do in a pinch to fix the issue. The solution worked and she thanked me gratefully. It got me thinking that I would like to share some of the best quick fashion fixes I have learned and used while constructing and tailoring garments over the past 10 years. Most of these were acquired by working in the sewing room of several bridal shops, so I don't claim that I have come up with them on my own!

For zipper issues:
-if your zipper won't zip past a certain point (and the garment fits you properly) try running a dry bar of soap over the trouble spot all the way to the stopper (This pushes the teeth back into place while cleanly 'waxing' the coils/teeth for smooth operation)
- if you lost your zipper pull a safety pin, small twist tie or paper clip can get you through the day until you can have the pull replaced
-if your zipper splits you can remove your garment, lay it on a flat surface and press the zipper back together with a pencil eraser. Then run a dry bar of soap over the coils/teeth for smooth operation
-if your zipper is metal and gets stuck, instead of dry bar of soap, use a small directly applied spray of non-stick cooking spray on the teeth (be sure to spray a small amount, keep a towel handy and only spray the teeth!)

For button issues
-If you notice that you have a loose button, before you head out to work glop a tiny drop of clear nail-polish onto the top of the button (over the holes) which will keep the thread attached to the button until you have time to get it re-attached properly (hot glue also works for this). Let it dry thoroughly before you touch it again
-if your blouse gapes at the bust-point use two medium sized safety pins next to (one above and one below) the struggling button to hold the blouse closed until you can get your buttons moved or get a better fitting bra!
-If the button on your pants falls off during the day grab a twist tie (the paper-coated metal type from lunch bags) and peel the paper off. Thread the twist tie through the buttonholes, then through your garment. secure by twisting and knotting the tie ends on the inside waste band of your pants.

For makeup, deodorant or toothpaste stains
-on white natural fabrics (cotton, silk, etc) you can use ivory soap (a dry bar of it) or any pure white soap with no oils added to remove just about any satin (including blood!). Dry rub the stain with the soap and wipe in tiny circles with a slightly dampened white cloth to remove stain.
-if you spill powder makeup on your suit or dress, try patting the spots with a damp towel (not a paper towel) or rubbing the spot with a similar fabric (the inside of your suit, perhaps?) until the powder is removed
-for deodorant never try to remove it with water. Use a dry towel or cloth, rubbing in small circles until deodorant is removed
-toothpaste sometimes stubbornly re-appears even after you've washed it away with a damp cloth. A bristly brush will remove dried toothpaste from most fabrics

Another tip is to keep a baggie with a dryer sheet in it, and some baby wipes handy, since they work well on lint removal and makeup stains respectively.