Glinda's Blog

Glinda's Guide to Fabulous Holiday Gifting

2008-12-04T05:37:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is coming upon us and I'm sure some of you are scrambling to find perfect fashionable and fun gifts. Well fear not! Glinda is here to help. I have scoured some of my favorite websites to bring some super cute and super original gifts.

www.FredFlare.com

This site is bursting with adorable items whether you are looking for perfect stocking stuffers, unique gifts or even something special to wear this holiday season.

Candy Cane Shot Glasses (set of 2) $8

Disney Treasure Chest Ring $48

Holly Golightly Sleep Mask $14

www.AlltheRageOnline.com

Ridiculously cute costume jewelry for great prices.

Garden Party Ring $20.00

Serenity Bangle $22.00

Vintage Chains $18.00

Emerald City Drops $21.00

www.PlumParty.com

Cute stuff for home or entertaining.

Garden in a Bag (Price Varies)

Slices of Cake Plates (set of 6) $21.00

Party Topics (set of 30) $5.50

www.UncommonGoods.com

Super cute stuff for home, office, stocking stuffers and jewelry. The best part? Most of their products are made from recycled materials.

I Am Not a Paper Cup $20.00

Record Bowls $25.00

Tulip Tree to Be $22.00

Other great stuff:

Shemergency Survival Kit $20.00

Solutions for all of lifes minor problems.

www.PerpetualKid.com

Jammed packed full of funny little items that are perfect stocking stuffers.

www.ShopFosters.com

Great site for home goods.

www.Flight001.com

Everything you could possibly need for traveling this holiday season. This site sells travel sizes of just about every product you could think of.

Have a Great Holiday Everyone!

Happy Shopping!

Be Fierce

2008-11-04T04:14:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought to yourself “gee I’m wearing a mini skirt and wobbling down the street in 3 inch stilettos. I bet I’m like perfect mugger/rapist bait.” Well, apparently the folks over at Self Defense Stilettos had the same thought. Or they are just produce some sort of weird fetish video, it’s too soon to tell.

All in all its an interesting concept. Teaching woman how to defend themselves in a real-life situation. Let’s face it, if you take a self defense class you are totally unprepared for a real world environment. When I took a self defense class I was wearing sweatpants and sneakers. I wasn’t rocking 4-inch wedges (my signature), carrying my heavy ass Marc Jacobs bag and wearing tight jeans. Granted, most of what I’ve learned in that self-defense class has fled my mind however, I like to believe at the right moment it will all come flooding back to me.

Anywho. So what I was saying is that this is an excellent concept. Self defense classes should be taught more realistically. After all what good is preparation if you can’t beat the hell out of a mugger and/or rapist while wearing your day to day attire.

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/self-defence-stiletto-style-self-protection-role-play

Discount Divas II

2008-10-19T18:12:00.000-07:00

What’s this noise? Fabulous accessories for nothing. Okay girls; get ready to clutch your pearls

Chasing Feathers Bangle 14.99

Ribbon Tie Gumball Necklace $4.99

Crescent Leaf Earrings $3.80

Jeweled Flower Ring $3.80

Things That Will Make Me Go Blind

2008-10-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

Apparently the lovely makeup developers at Lancome have never actually applied mascara. If my lovely readers are anything like me, applying mascara often involves stabbing yourself in and around the eye. Now, I’m not completely spastic. It’s not like every time I apply mascara I jam the wand into my eye. But, you know when its early in the morning and the caffeine levels have yet to spike the odds of me injuring my cornea greatly increase.

Well Lancome has gotten rid of that pesky I-only-stabbed-myself-in-the-eye-due-to-low-levels-of-caffeine. Now you can include reasons such as my-mascara-wand-is-vibrating-and-shaking-my-hand-and-I-feel-like-I-have-Parkinsons.

The new Lancome Oscillation mascara vibrates 7,000 times a minute. For a comparision your standard electric toothbrush does 9,000 oscillations a minute. Yeah let that sink in. Would you use your electric toothbrush to apply mascara? No you say? That sounds dangerous you say?

Exactly.

If you are interested in purchasing this cosmetics anomaly you can check it out here

Discount Divas - Part I

2008-10-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

All I can say is that I’m getting blown away by what is available at “discount” stores. Now, I’m no dummy. I’ve known for a long time that one that can sport Target or Old Navy on her back and still look pretty darn stylish. But it seems that everything is getting stepped up. WAY stepped up.
Can we talk about the following:

Target.com

Target.com
Um, EXCUSE ME TARGET? Who has started to design shoes for them? These shoes are insane. I could lick the brown Oxford Mary Janes. Granted, there are about a million more pairs of fabulous shoes at Target right now but these two pairs are right up my alley.
And hi, what’s this noise from Old Navy?

OldNavy.com
Are you aware that these come in six colors and are under 10 bucks.

Why are you still here? Did you not just read the above sentence?

Seriously what’s going on.

This is going to be explored further. Stay tuned folks.

Check Your Body Issues at the Door

2008-09-19T04:10:00.001-07:00

All of my life I have struggled with body image issues. I can remember being as young as 7 or 8 and feeling very self conscious about how I looked, especially in a bathing suit. Looking back I have often wondered where those ideas came from, especially since my television viewing as a child was strictly limited and I only read age-appropriate books. I don’t believe that my “media exposure” at that age was intense enough to form any body hating images. It wasn’t until I was perusing the book “You Have to Say I’m Pretty, You’re My Mother” by Stephanie Pierson & Phyllis Cohen that I had my little “A ha!” moment.

Growing up my mother was ferociously obsessed with her body. She was never happy about the way she looked and my father often made very disparaging remarks about her figure. My mom was never heavy when I was little but she was striving for perfection and I was witness to it all. My mom was always on a diet or taking diet drugs during my youth. I remember one of the cabinets in our house was filled with a food scale, diet pills, various supplements and powders. All things my mother took on a daily basis to be thin. Whatever messages I was not receiving from the media I was receiving them at home and receiving them loud and clear “thin is good. Fat is bad.”
As I’ve gotten older I have heard the stories from my mother and her sister about their mother and her weight obsessions. I have learned about trips to the doctors to receive diet pills at the tender age of 14. I am often reminded by my mom or my aunt that there were times in their life where their mother ha turned them into “speed” junkies since that was what diet pills were in their youth.

Parents pass down many genetic traits but there are also ingrained issues that can be passed down from generation to generation. In my family it is a negative self image. My aunt recently realized that in her head on a loop are my grandmother’s words “if you are thin you have everything. The only way to have everything is to be thin.” As a rebellion of sorts my aunt gained a significant amount of weight in her 30’s and 40’s. She now sees that in her own way she was trying to buck her mother’s influence but instead she just swung her eating disorder in the other direction.
One of the interesting things that Pierson & Cohen cover in their book is that often times when a mother has had body image issues her entire life she may try to “correct” those problems in her daughter. The authors believe that this is counterintuitive. By pushing a specific body image agenda mothers could unknowingly do more harm than good. That often the message girls get is to feel shame about their bodies and they still receive the same negative image of “thin is good, fat is bad.”

What is scary to me is that child psychologists now believe that a child’s body image is determined by age 6. This is really before there are media pressures and peer pressures. Body image is mostly determined by the parents. Think about the messages that children receive on a daily basis and obviously body shame is quickly becoming something that children learn from the high chair.
I would never say that women need to get over their body issues prior to having children but, what I am saying is that women have to mindful of what they are passing on to their children. So many women struggle with their body image and it seems like second nature to make comments like “that food is bad”, “I look fat”, “I need to lose weight”, ”If only I was thinner”, etc but, we have to be mindful because our daughters are listening. Children learn so much from their parents and eating habits and negative body image is something that is taught on a daily basis. If we could change the way we speak about our bodies we could change how a generation of young women feel about themselves. If women could talk about health as opposed to fat or thin it may make things easier. If the language was changed to stating that certain things were “healthy” or “unhealthy” it may be a better message. After all as adults we know that thin does not always mean healthy and that “fat” doesn’t always mean unhealthy.

I suppose that a lot of this imprinted body image has really come to light for me lately. I have been interested in learning what gave rise to my negative body image. Listening to my mother talk nowadays I see that the same things she struggled with when I was a small child are what she is struggling with as an adult. I know that none of it was purposeful, I would never say that. I know that my grandmother was a woman obsessed with looks and being as thin as possible. She pushed her body image agenda hard on her children. She would punish them for weight gains and reward them for weight loss. If I remember correctly I think that if my mother didn’t lose 20 pounds my grandmother was going to refuse to pay for her to go to college. Obviously, her actions were quite severe and my mother did always try to build me up. But, her words did fall on deaf ears since I was witnessing her do the opposite of what she was saying. While she may have told me that I was not heavy and that I was perfect just the way I was I would watch her strictly control her diet and complain about her body.

I do recommend the book “You Have to Say I’m Pretty, You’re My Mother” for just about anyone. I think its an interesting conversation about body image. I know that it has made me more aware of how I talk about myself. A few years ago I stopped using the word “fat” when I meant bad (i.e., “do I look fat?” what we always really mean is “do I look bad?”) and I found that my body image got better. I started looking at clothes are fitting well or fitting poorly not making me look thin or making me look fat. I digress, I think that the authors accomplished their goal, they certainly got me thinking about body image!

Weight Loss Help

2008-09-13T07:01:00.001-07:00

Is anyone struggling with their weight? Wondering what’s a healthy way to take it off that’s effective? Let me recommend Take Shape. It’s a program that’s safe and most importantly effective. There are no meetings and no measuring. No counting carbs and no starving. You eat. A lot. And the food is delicious. I had the luck of trying out a few of the items and I have to say I was surprised. The dutch chocolate shake taste like an actual shake. There is no gritty or medicinal aftertaste that you sometimes find with “diet” shakes. It was creamy and delicious and kept me full. The real treat was the chocolate mint bar. Hello! The Girl Scouts should be suing because it tastes EXACTLY like a thin mint.

With this program you eat 6 times a day. You eat 5 meals from Take Shape and 1 meal that they call “lean and green.” The cost of the program is incredibly reasonable, again I was surprised. For less than the cost of 5 weeks of groceries you can get 5 weeks of Take Shape meals. The cost equals to be about $9 a day.

What else is great is that the program is formulated so that even diabetics can safely take part of this program. In fact, the program is certified by the Low Glycemic Research Institute. They have a variety of shake choices that include shakes for coronary health, joint health, women’s health and new shakes packed full of anti-oxidants.

I’ve seen what this plan can do for people. It’s incredible. People experience quick weight loss with lasting results. Each person has a health coach that they can call on anytime they need support or help. The best part of this plan is that you don’t have to be in the same town or even the same state as your health coach! Coaching is primarily done over the phone or even over email – talk about easy!

If you would like more information on Take Shape please contact the fabulous Joan Mueller (who lost 40 pounds on this plan). She may be reached at pathtohealth@comcast.net or on her office phone 856-552-0972. She will be more than happy to answer any questions you have or explain the program. Or check out the website at www.PathToHealth.TSFL.com

Make Up Expiration Dates

2008-09-11T05:57:00.000-07:00

Just like everything else make-up expires. Below is an outline of typical expiration dates for cosmetics. Bear in mind that this is just a guideline and not hard and fast rules if your products start to separate, smell, change color, texture or consistency than chances are they need to be thrown out. To get the most shelf life out of your cosmetics keep the products closed tightly and store them in a cool, dry place. Never, EVER store your makeup in the bathroom all of the heat and humidity from the shower will speed bacteria growth and will cause color change.

As a rule of thumb if you have had an eye infection its best to just throw out all of the makeup you have used so you don’t re-infect your eye. The same goes for any lip infections it’s safer to just toss everything and start fresh. The only items that can be saved after an infection are lipstick, lip liners and pencil eye liners however you must cut roughly an inch off of the product in order for it to be safe to reuse.

Mascara 3-6 Months

Mascara will become flaky and will potentially begin to cause itching when it is going bad. I recommend not splurging on mascara because of the short shelf life. If you absolutely must spend the cash don’t hold onto the mascara past 6 months. Some retailers like Sephora are carrying smaller sizes of popular mascaras for a fraction of the cost so you won’t feel so guilty when you have to throw it away.

Concealer 12 months

However the expiration date changes to 3-6 months when it’s a concealer that has a wand applicator. The pumping of the wand will cause bacteria to get inside the tube and spoil the concealer faster. Your money is better spent on a compact, push up or squeeze tube style concealer.

Pencil Eye Liner 2-3 years

Pencils should be sharpened regularly and stored with their lids on.

Liquid Eye Liner 3-6 months

Just like mascara this will start to flake and dry out and will definitely be itchy on the eye when it starts to go bad.

Eye Shadow 3 years

Cream Eye Shadow 12-18 months

Blush/Bronzer 2 years

Cream Blush 12-18 months

Lip Liner 3 years

Lip liners should be kept sharp and stored with the lid on tightly.

Lipstick 2-4 years

If you store your lipstick in your fridge it will last much longer. If your lipstick starts to smell weird toss it.

Lip Gloss 18-24 months

Foundation – Depends on Formulation

Water-Based foundations will last 12 months (you will know if your foundation is water based if the first ingredient listed on the product is water)

Oil-Based foundations will last for 18 months (you will know if your foundation is oil-based if the first ingredient list on the product is oil).

Makeup sponges should be washed weekly and replaced monthly

Makeup brushes should be washed every 2-3 months with a gentle cleanser (I personally love Johnsons Baby Shampoo it leaves the brushes so soft).

If you use the applicators that come with drugstore cosmetics I would recommend changing them monthly. Drugstores carry replacement applicators for a few bucks.

Basic Beauty Tips

2008-09-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

The Basics:

I realized that maybe some of you coming to us are totally clueless about not just clothes but beauty as well. It only seemed to make sense to pull together a guide to make-up and beauty.

-Always start with a clean face. Find a cleanser that is gentle and is compatible with your skin type. Cleanse your face gently, never scrub or rub hard doing so will aggravate your skin. Never use plain soap to wash your face it will be much too drying.

-Choose a moisturizer that is compatible with your skin type. You will need a day cream that is a lighter formula that contains an SPF and for evening you will need a night cream that is richer and more protective.

-Eye cream!!! This is so important the skin under your eyes is very delicate and needs to be moisturized gently. Find an eye cream to suit your needs and apply it gently to your eye area in the morning and in the evening. You may find that you need a thicker formula for evening and a lighter one for the day. I really recommend that all women use eye cream as soon as they hit their 20’s its great protective care.

-If you don’t have sensitive skin you can safely treat your skin to a scrub on a weekly basis. This will help remove impurities and keep skin looking clear.

Foundation:

Choosing the right foundation:

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get good quality make up. Most drugstore brands are great and provide wonderful coverage.

-Test foundation on the jaw line and see how the foundation looks in natural light. Try on several different shades than walk outside and see how the foundations look in “real” light. The perfect foundation will blend into the jaw practically perfectly.

-Now there are several different types of foundation to choose from there are liquid, powder, mousse and you can even purchase “air-brush” style make-up at stores like Sephora. Your skin type and age will help you figure out which product is best to use. If you are totally lost you could get help at a store like Sephora (if you can afford the makeup). However regular ol pharmacies like CVS now have a Beauty Advisor on staff who can help you select skin care, foundation and make up.

Applying Foundation:

I have a personal belief that using brushes provides the best coverage but there are others who swear by make up sponges and others who swear that using their fingers gives the best coverage. Clearly the sort of foundation you are using is going to dictate what product would be the best to apply the foundation with though when I used to wear liquid foundation I always used a foundation brush.

-Apply foundation to your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin with a makeup sponge, brush or fingers.

-Blend the foundation in light upward strokes towards your hairline. Blend well at the jaw line to avoid a makeup line.

Concealer

If you have blemishes or dark under eye circles DO NOT cake on foundation to cover them instead utilize a concealer. Concealer can be used under or over foundation or on its own. It is a heavier makeup and a little goes a long way.

Choosing Concealer:

There are a few different formulas of concealers available there are solids, liquids and powders. Again the formulation is going to depend on your personal preference. I also do not believe that your concealer must be the same formulation as your foundation. For example I use powder foundation but typically use a solid concealer.

When choosing a concealer chose a shade lighter than your foundation this will help hide darker spots.

Applying Concealer:

-If you are applying concealer under your eyes use a gentle patting motion again you may use a makeup sponge or a brush – I would not recommend using your fingers when applying concealer.

-If you are trying to cover a blemish apply the concealer to the blemish than press with a makeup sponge.

Powder:

Dusting powder over your face will help set your foundation and concealer all day long.

Choosing Powder:

You can choose a translucent powder or select a shade that is a few shades lighter than your foundation.

Applying Powder:

-Simply dip a large powder brush into the powder, shake off excess and apply all over face

To control oil all day invest in either oil blotting papers or oil control powder (this powder is typically blue). Using these oil control products is better than applying more makeup. If you have a buildup of oil on your face and you keep applying powder throughout the day your skin will look cakey. However the oil blotting powders and papers will remove the oil and refresh the makeup.

Okay so now we know how to create a clean canvas so what about everything else on your face, you know your eyes, cheeks and lips? Well let’s cover those next.

Eyes:

Eye makeup is a matter of trial and error and how you apply your makeup is going to depend on your personal style and taste. If you need help choosing eye shadows and eye liners don’t be afraid to try that beauty advisor at the drugstore or get help from the nice folks at stores like Sephora and Ulta.

Eye Makeup:

-Apply a light shade from your eyelid to your brow bone

-Accentuate your eyes by applying a medium shade to the crease of your eye, be sure to blend. Also the darker the shade the more dramatic the look.

-Apply a thin (or thick whatever you want) line of eyeliner along the lash line to accentuate your eyes

-Finish with a few coats of mascara (black mascara looks great with all eye colors). Never pump the wand inside of the mascara tube it will cause air to get inside which will dry out your mascara

Eyebrows:

If you have never had a professional eyebrow waxing I highly recommend that you splurge. At most places you can get an eyebrow shaping for anywhere from $5-$15 it is well worth the cost. What the waxer will do is shape your eyebrows and get them to be the proper shape for your face. Your eyebrows really shape your face and getting them cleaned up makes a huge difference.

Now you could of course continue to have them waxed but if that’s not your thing use their shaping as a guide for you to tweeze. However I think that you may get addicted to the waxing. I never thought I would be the person who would go get her eyebrows waxed but I’m hooked. I can never get them to look as good as the girl who does the for me.

Eyebrow Makeup

If you have sparse eyebrows gently fill in with either an eyebrow pencil or eyebrow powder. Blend the pencil or powder with a mascara brush (you can purchase them at a drugstore) then set with eyebrowshaping gel (it looks like clear mascara).

Cheeks:

Again there are several formulations of blush available there are powders, liquids, stains, mousse, and creams. The formula you choose will depend on your skin type and how much control you want to have over the product. I personally feel too spastic to use stains, liquid or cream blushes. I always feel like I put too much on or put it on wrong so I personally stick to powders. But feel free to explore wearing makeup is supposed to be fun.

Choosing Blush:

Besides blush there are highlighters and luminizers that can be used in conjunction with blush. If you are new to blush it best to start with the basics than move into playing around. You can get help in selecting the right color with help from that handy Beauty Advisor at CVS or from the fine folks at Sephora and Ulta.

Applying Blush:

- Regardless of what formulation of blush you choose you will apply blush to the apples of your cheeks. In order to find your apples smile the part that looks like the side of an apple is the apple of your cheek. You will apply blush at the apple than blend out

-If you want try using a highlighter, luminizer or contour shade you would apply that in the following fashion: highlighters/luminizers should be applied along the top of the cheek bone. What this will do is accentuate the cheekbone and make it seem more prominent and make your face look slimmer. If you want to apply a contouring shade (which would be darker – close to a bronzer shade) you would apply it underneath the apple of the cheek. This will contour the face and will make the face look slimmer and more defined.

-Blend the whole thing well. Remember cheek color is supposed to accentuate not overpower.

Lips:

Choosing Lip Color

There are many formulations of lip color there are lipsticks, lip gloss, lip stains, sheer lipstick, matte lipstick, tinted lip balms, whew there is a lot. Coverage choice here is really up to you and how much of a lipstick kind of gal you are and your age. I personally believe that anyone under 40 should steer clear of lipstick/lip liner type of look. I think it looks too harsh. Younger girls look better with a sheer lipstick, a lip gloss, lip stains or tinted balms. Women over 40 can opt for whatever floats their bloat and works for their style.

I think a good way to select a lip color is to find one that is just a little darker than your natural lip color. This will create a little pop of color and will accentuate your mouth. However you should feel free to experiment and try darker shades or whatever floats your boat. I think by now you know where to go if you need help selecting shades.

Applying Lip Liner

- Begin by applying lip liner at the center of your upper lip. Follow you natural lip line. Extending beyond your lip line is a little too “blow up doll” looking.

-For the bottom lip start by applying the liner at the center of your bottom lip line and spread out.

-When choosing a lip liner select a shade the same color as your lipstick or a shade that is close to your lip color for a more natural look.

Applying Lip Color

-Start in the center of your lip and fan out to the sides, Rub lips together and re apply.

-Remember to keep your daytime lip color light for evening you can of course vamp it up and go a few shades darker.

News That Rocks

2008-09-02T08:40:00.001-07:00

Just to show how much power purchasers do in fact have I wanted to let you guys know about this little tidbit:

“TOO SKINNY FOR MY CATALOGUE: Simons department store has pulled its back-to-school catalogue from seven stores in Quebec after complaints the models in the book were too thin. The family owned company, which dates back to the 1840s, received more than 200 complaints from consumers denouncing the rail-thin models wearing the Simons Twik brand. The 36-page catalogue with a print run of over 450,000 copies produced in-house, was also inserted in English and French newspapers last week. Company president Peter Simons, speaking in front of his flagship store in Quebec City, explained he was on vacation and didn’t see the catalogue until complaints began to roll in. He said the images were “unsuitable” and don’t match his company’s values.” From www.wwd.com

This to me is absolutely amazing. Only 200 complaints got the catalog pulled. Maybe the fashion industry will start to listen and actually hear what consumers are saying. This gives me great hope for the “Show Our Beauty” campaign.

More Exciting News!

2008-08-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

Typically when we do presentations we offer Glinda's Fit School. This tends to be the document that gets everyone excited. It has been overwhelmingly popular. Attendees have asked how friends and family can get a hold of their own fit school. We can now tell them, right here!

The document has been "stepped up" from our typical Fit School document from presentations. We have crammed even more useful information inside!

Included in this document are:

Rules of Proper Fit

Best Items Based on Body Type

Jean Fit

Clothing Maintenance Tips

Shopping Tips

Internet & Discount Shopping Tips

Outlet Shopping Tips

Secondhand Store Shopping Tips

Closet Organization Tips

What Every Woman Should Have in Her Closet

How to Dress 10 Pounds Thinner

This document should help get every woman looking and feeling her best. I always say there are no hard and fast rules but these are some great guidelines to get you started on looking your best ever!

This jam packed 20 page guide is available for the first time to everyone for the low price of $25.

Get it here

Glinda Met Mary Kay

2008-08-26T05:21:00.001-07:00

Cleary not the actual Mary Kay, but a beautiful, wonderful and extremely talented Mary Kay rep.

Yes, Glinda experienced a Mary Kay makeover.

I have to say that I was extremely impressed. A few years ago a girlfriend of mine sold Mary Kay and all of us were invited to her home for a Mary Kay party. She had her mentor run the party since it was her first one. There was a heavy pressure in the air to purchase and become a Mary Kay rep. To say I was extremely turned off is an understatement. I wasn’t impressed with the approach and I wasn’t impressed with the rep. She was all about flaunting the lifestyle that Mary Kay allowed her to live.

My experience the other day was dramatically different.

The makeover was fun and it was really informative. I already know a lot about makeup and skincare but I was shown how beneficial a Mary Kay consultation could be to someone who may be struggling with makeup. It was all about teaching you the right way to care for your skin and the right way to apply makeup. Sure, tons of fashion magazines try to teach you how to care for your skin or how to apply makeup but its different when you have someone sitting with you and showing you the steps. It was a great opportunity to sit down with someone who is basically a makeup artist.

If anyone out there is struggling with applying makeup I highly recommend you take advantage of Mary Kay’s free consultation. You will walk away with a wealth of information and a personalized look.

Mary Kay has certainly kept up with the times. They, like most cosmetic brands, are up on the latest trends in makeup. Believe it or not but you can get high quality mineral makeup from Mary Kay. All of you devoted mineral makeup wearers out there should definitely take notice. I would say that Mary Kay is giving department store and prestige cosmetic lines a run for their money.

As the motto goes “everyone does deserve a little pampering once in a while!”

If you are interested in learning more about what’s new at Mary Kay or scheduling a consultation with a rep, contact my fabulous rep Stacy Nally-Aguilar at snally@marykay.com

Dior at CVS? Say What?

2008-08-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

Imagine a world where you don’t have to schlep out to your local Sephora or Ulta store when you are running low on precious beauty supplies. Imagine a world where you would go to CVS in order to grab a new Dior Show Mascara or pick up your favorite Benefit eyeliner. Imagine refilling a prescription, buying dish soap and high end cosmetics all in one place. I’m quite excited for this new world.

This world is fast approaches ladies.

No longer will “drugstore beauty queen” be a stigma (is it a stigma? It sounds good but I don’t know how true that is – hmmm maybe not a stigma but just considered unhip? Let’s go with that and move on). It turns out CVS is getting ready to launch its Beauty 360 concept. Basically this will be a store within a store. They will have cosmetologists and licensed aestheticians on hand to help you with all your beauty needs.

It gets better. CVS is considering offering manicures and hand massages in order to draw people into the Beauty 360 “store.” Um, as if women EVEN need another reason to go to CVS or purchase high end cosmetics, right? Those who love their Maybelline and Revlon, fear not. CVS has made a point of saying that they will NOT stop selling the typical “drugstore brands” in order to push the high end cosmetics. This should keep everyone happy, right?

I don’t know about you but I think this is pretty exciting news. CVS is planning on launching 500-1,000 Beauty 360 stores over the next year. Hopefully the stores will be successful and we can all count on having a Beauty 360 store right around the corner.

Show Our beauty: A Challenge to Women's Magazine

2008-08-22T06:51:00.001-07:00

The most amazing thing is out on the interwebs. I guess you could call it a petition. Basically the purpose of this campaign is to push one women's magazine to publish at least one issue without re-touching.

Magazines exist outside of reality, they reside in hyper-reality. It's slick, its glossy and its 100% not real. Women of all ages get sucked into the perfect images and photoshopped figures of those features in the magazines. The idea behind the campaign is to "fight the bad body image hysteria that is sweeping the country."

Will it work? Who knows. Do I think its worthwhile to spend 5 seconds and sign? Yes.

Sign the Petition here

Also if you have a moment take a look at this website that devotes itself to showing photoshopped images vs. the real images

Exciting Glinda News!

2008-08-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Wisdom of Glinda is so excited to announce that we have expanded our services!

We now are offering a full range of personal services!

We are offering stylist services, closet consultation, and personal consultations.

If you live outside of the South Jersey/Philadelphia area, don’t fret!

We have also added some exciting e-styling services!

Our e-styling services include outfit assessment, e-shopping/styling and personal consultation.

So check us out and see what Glinda can do for you!

Beauty Steals & Splurges

2008-08-13T10:02:00.001-07:00

We have complied the below list from lists from prominent beauty editors. These are basically the tried and true products that consistently win “best of” awards. We wanted to give you a good list of both and we tried to find splurges that weren’t too expensive (though some are). We also tried to give you a steal and a splurge in every category however some products were just not available in a steal.

We do have a note about higher end cosmetics. While the price tag may seem high you have to look at what you are getting. A higher end cosmetic is higher end due to the fact that it has a higher level of pigmentation in the product which means that a small amount of the product will satisfy. Higher end products do tend to be less waxy, brittle or hard and tend to go on smoother. This doesn’t mean that you can’t find good products at the drugstore it just means that it may take some more experimentation.

We have tried to include prices for all the products however prices for drugstore brands may vary based on location.

Moisturizers/ Eye Creams

Steals:

Olay Complete UV Defense Moisturizer ($11)

Cetaphil ($12)

Eucerin Protective Moisture Lotion with SPF 30 ($8)

Biore Shine Control Lotion ($6)

Splurges:

Philosophy Hope in a Jar ($15-$60)

Kinerase intensive Eye Cream ($59)

Cosmedicine Honest Face ($35)

Foundation

Steals:

Rimmel Lasting Finish Transfer Resistant Make-Up ($8)

L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup ($11)

Splurges:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer ($42)

Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup ($18-$25)

Concealer

Steals:

Rimmel Recover Anti-Fatigue Concealer ($5.50)

Max Factor Erace Concealer ($5)

Splurges

MAC Studio Touch Up Stick ($14)

Laura Mercier Customizable Concealer Kit ($28)

Benefit Galactic Shield ($20)

Benefit Boi-Ing Concealer ($18)

Prescriptives Site Unseen Concealer ($22)

Powders/Bronzers

Steals:

L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable powder ($10)

Cover Girl Clean Pressed powder ($4)

Cover Girl Cheekers Bronzer ($4)

Splurges

Benefit Boxed Powders ($28)

Laura Mercier Loose Translucent Powder ($34)

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer ($48)

Sephora Brand Compact Powder ($14)

Blush

Steals:

L’Oreal Cashmere Perfect Blush ($10.50)

L’Oreal True Match Blush ($11)

Splurges:

NARS Blush ($25)

Benefit Boxed Powders ($28)

Stila Convertible Color Cream Blush ($22)

Eye Shadows

Steals:

Lumene Delight Duo Eye Shadow ($7.50)

L’Oreal HIP Eye Shadow ($9)

Rimmel London Cream Eye Shadow ($4)

Maybelline Expert Eyes Trio Kit ($6)

Splurges:

MAC Eye Shadow ($13.50)

Dior 5 Colour Palette ($54)

Smashbox Eye Shadow Trio ($28)

Stila Eye Shadow ($23)

NARS Cream Shadow ($21)

Eye Liner

Steals:

Sephora Brand Slim Eye pencil ($1-$4)

Cover Girl Line Exact Eye Liner ($6)

L’Oreal Lineur Intense Brush Tip Liquid Eye Liner ($8)

Splurges:

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner ($19)

MAC Kohl Eye Liner ($14)

Mascara

Steals:

Maybelline Define a Lash Mascara ($8)

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara ($5)

Max Factor Lash Perfection ($7)

Cover Girl Lash Exact ($8)

Splurges:

Dior Show Mascara ($24)

Clinque High Definition Mascara ($14)

Lip Color

Steals:

Maybelline Shiny-Licious Lip Gloss ($6)

Cover Girl TruShine Lip color ($6)

L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick ($8.50)

L’Oreal Infalliable Lip Color ($12)

Revlon Moisturous Lip Color ($8)

L’Oreal Juicy Lip Gloss ($7.50)

Splurges:

NARS Lipstick ($24)

Benefit Rush Hour ($20)

NARS Lip Gloss ($24)

Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick ($30)

Chanel Glossimer Lip Gloss ($25)

Vincent Longo Lipstain Lipstick ($23)

Cheek Stain

There are no steals in this category

Splurges:

Benefit Benetint ($28)

Tarte Cheek Stain ($28)

Primers

There are no steals in this category

Splurges:

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($42)

Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer ($16)

Benefit “That Gal” Face Brightening Primer ($27)

Sephora Smoothing Primer ($18)

Highlights and Luminizers

There are no steals in this category

Splurges:

Benefit Moon Beam ($24)

Stila All Over Shimmering Luminizers ($22)

The New Female Ideal?

2008-08-06T06:40:00.000-07:00

According to a recent British study men prefer a curvier, healthier woman. Their ideal? A size 10. This begs the question, why are we so out of touch with reality? Women long to fit into a tiny size meanwhile men find a woman with some meat on her bones more appealing than a tiny skeleton with bones protruding everywhere. I myself have heard this sentiment repeated from male friends and boyfriends. I think I always thought that they were being kind since they didn’t want me to feel badly about my body.

This study isn’t the first. I know I have heard this “official” data several times in my life. So again this begs the question, why are we so out of touch with reality? Why do magazines and tv shows shove down our throats the fact that we aren’t worthwhile if we aren’t a teeny tiny size. Why do magazines continually tell us that we need to lose weight? Where has the idea of body acceptance gone? I believe the fashion and magazine industry wants to keep us on a perpetual treadmill never able to reach what they have deemed the ultimate figure. Women resort to starvation, plastic surgery and severe dieting in order to shrink their frames.

My question to them is has it really helped you feel better? Do you feel happier? Are you getting more dates? My guess is no. No one likes a cranky, starved woman with the body of a twelve year old boy. Women are supposed to have curves. We are supposed to have breasts, butts and hips. Yes we are supposed to have a little pooch on our bellies because our bodies are built to support life. Everything we have is for a biologically purpose which is why when you starve yourself to a size 0 you stop your period. Biology knows that you are screwing your body out of its purpose. The fat and width of our bodies is purposeful. I think if women remembered that fact they may embrace who they are. I personally am sick and tired of being told to be thinner.

This study found that women are blatantly dissatisfied with their bodies in every way shape and form. All the women studied wished they were thinner, had smaller waists and thighs and hips. The men studied felt that their women were perfect they way they were and all prefer some meat. Are women ready to buy into this more healthy way of thinking? Are we ready to accept that our bodies are “right” the way they are?

It seems to me that studies like this get buried and that it’s not something that is reported in a mainstream way. I recognize that these kinds of studies don’t support the traditional viewpoint which may very well be why they are not widely publicized. I just feel so frustrated. I believe that if stories like this were reported on with some consistency maybe women would be more apt to believe them. Instead they get treated as a one off type of story, an anomaly of sorts. Kind of like “hey wow this crazy study says women don’t need to starve themselves. Isn’t that funny?”

Think about what it does to us as a group that so many women feel terrible about themselves based on how celebrities look. This is so silly. It’s a celebrity’s job to be thin. The average woman is busy with her life and doesn’t have the amount of time to devote to her appearance that a celebrity does. We have jobs, families, social lives and we do it all on our own. Sure, celebrities have children but they also have a team of nannies, secretaries, housekeepers, etc to insure that they have all the free time in the work to devote to themselves. Keep that in mind the next time you are beating yourself up over your inability to shrink yourself to some abnormal size.

Pants Fit Clinic

2008-07-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

One clothing item that seems to stress women out more than most are pants; there are so many fits, styles and cuts that it can make your head spin. I have compiled a handy-dandy how to that should assist any women struggling with the right fit. Please note that this pants clinic also applies to purchasing jeans.

Strategies for buying pants for any body style

- You need to fit the widest part of your body. Your pants should never pull in the front or around the thighs. If there is pulling going up one size chances are that you will lose all pulling. If the waist or legs or whatever is too big but it fits the largest part of your body get them and get them tailored.

- Look for pants with stretch this will help the fabric contract and expand with the curves of your body.

-Look for pants that are cut for your shape. Many stores are now making pants for straight bodies, average bodies and curvy bodies. This definitely helps you get the correct fit and hug all the right curves.

-Unless you are thirteen no embellishments. I will give you one caveat if you are buying a dressier pair of jeans you could be okay if there is a little bling on the back pockets.

-No pleats go for flat front styles only. The old standard was that pleats made you look thinner but all they do is place extra fabric around your tummy – do you really want that?

- Look for the right rise for your body. Too low you may end up with the dreaded muffin top and too high you may end up with that great “mom jean” look. A medium rise will flatter most bodies.

- Heels always will make your pants look more flattering. They will boost up your rear and make the lines look better.

- When you try on pants sit, squat, and bend over. See how the pants really will fit as your body moves.

- All cuts of pants can work on all body types. Skinny pants can balance your proportions especially if you are wearing a more blousy top. Stovepipe legs can make your legs look leaner if they come in close at the thigh and fall down flat. However a tapered pant will often fit largely at the top and get very narrow towards the bottom and is rarely flattering on anyone.

Sizing Annoyances

2008-07-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

One of the things I have come to realize is that all the help in the world is useless when someone hates their body. Women have so much pressure placed on them to be perfect and be exceptional that it has negative effects on how they feel. I hate that this is the society that we live in. I hate that women cannot celebrate who they are regardless of size. If you are fat you are worthless, you are unattractive and you are invisible. Heavy woman want to hide and often do so by dressing badly. Self-love doesn’t happen by accident or overnight. Women must learn to buck societal constraints and accept who they are in the moment. We may never be perfect, we may never be a size two but that has nothing to do with who we are.

I want women to feel beautiful and feel good. It frustrates me beyond belief to see women beating themselves up over the number on the scale or the number in their clothes. Why is it that we live in a country of abundance and yet everyone feels the need to starve themselves? Why is beauty tied into how far your bones stick out?

We live in a society where female clothing sizes fluctuate on an annual basis; sizes are never “true” or “real”. I doubt that men have the same issue. If a man is a size 34 he is a size 34 everywhere he goes, year in and year out. Men don’t have the same fashion industry mind fuck that women do. The way the industry is designed is to keep as oppressed, keep as constantly striving and always falling short. We may try our entire lives to be a size 6 only to find the next year that we are now a size 10 all due to stores deciding to change their sizing. We can never win. I wish I knew why this was done. I have so many people ask me why and I have no answer. The best I can guess is that it’s too easy to keep sizing the same. When sample sizes are a triple zero than everything is getting cut from that. It all goes back to the idea of models being a healthy weight. I’m at the point in my life where I just hate everything involved with sizing. It makes me so damn mad. I’m tired of listening to women bemoan their size and feel as though their self worth is tied to some tiny number in their clothing. I wish that it was not this way but it seems that it’s not changing anytime soon.

I find myself hitting a wall constantly when I talk to a group of women about clothes. It’s so hard to get through to women that the numbers will always change and you could make yourself crazy trying to keep up with the same size year to year. My best piece of advice is to remember that it doesn’t matter what size you are. Your self-worth should never be tied into a number. Being a size 6 doesn’t make you more valuable, beautiful or valid than being a size 16. Comfort in your skin can’t be dealt to you by a size that’s something you have to figure out on your own. If you can’t or won’t accept your beauty a size is going to make no difference in how you feel about yourself.

Why Wizard of Oz?

2008-07-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

People often ask me about the choice to utilize characters from the Wizard of Oz. They wonder what a children’s story has to do with fashion or style. People are curious about what were we thinking. I have never thought of the Wizard of Oz as a children’s story or a simple book. I see it is an incredible story of survival, self discovery and courage. I find the book to be much more inspiring than the movie. In the book Dorothy is a small child and is faced with an incredible journey. What I found amazing is that often in life if we think about a circumstance we may say “oh I have no clue how I would survive”. Once you are in a negative circumstance you get to see what you are made of and that sometimes when we are faced with a mountain we can climb it with no problems.

Dorothy faces so many dangerous situations and sails through them all with the help of guiding forces. During the course of her journey she sees that the obstacles are nothing compared to the outcome. When you really want something you should pursue it with a fervor and passion that may seem almost unreasonable to others. You have to be so focused on your desired outcome that the obstacles seem small.

Glinda the Good Witch of the North personified the “hands off” approach of learning. She sent Dorothy on her trip seemingly alone. Unbeknownst to Dorothy she was under Glinda’s watchful gaze all the while. Glinda knew that it was imperative for Dorothy to go down her own path of survival, self discovery and courage. As Glinda said about Dorothy, “she had to learn for herself”. Glinda knew Dorothy had everything she needed inside of her. Dorothy just needed to see that she had the power all along.

Too often you see makeover shows they throw someone in a dress, slap on some makeup and declare success. I guarantee you that if you checked in with any of those people 6 months down the road they are right back to where they started. In order for change to stick and be real you have to get to the source. You have to discover for yourself why you make the choices that you do and decide that you want to change.

Glinda knew that experiences are what breeds self-reliance. Glinda was imbued with the wisdom of the ages and could have simply sent Dorothy home but Glinda knew that the journey was more important than any quick fix. As Glinda said about Dorothy “she had to learn for herself”. Glinda knew that Dorothy had an immense amount of personal power and had she simply sent her home Dorothy would have never discovered who she was and what she was capable of. After failing to find a way out of the Land of Oz Dorothy finally breaks down and asks who could possible help her, this is when she journeys to Glinda. Glinda provides her with the how to return to her own land. She never accompanies her on her journey, she simply promises to keep her safe and sends her on her way.

This is the promise that I provide to you. Glinda told Dorothy “You must walk. It is a long journey, through a country that is sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible. However, I will use all the magic arts I know of to keep you from harm.” This program will walk you through some things that may be scary but you will come out the other side changed and renewed. You will see your strength. You will know that you are in control.

Only the Emperor Gets a Pass

2008-07-02T11:32:00.001-07:00

The one thing that we all have in common is that every day we get up and get dressed. Some of us make a devastatingly conscious decision about what goes on our bodies and some of us just throw on whatever is not stained and is comfy. Then there are those in between who spend plenty of minutes standing in front of the closet going “great, this again”. The never ending cliché of a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. One may wonder, how does that even happen? Well, it’s like having a pantry full of food and nothing in the stew pot. If you don’t know how to cook, all the groceries in the world won’t make dinner.

So back to the daily dilemma, there you are standing in your bathrobe just staring into your closet, praying that something, anything will pop out as wearable. Most women feel trapped by what is in their closet and I know from personal experience when getting dressed is stressful or a disappointment it begins to feel pointless. That’s when it just breaks down to the world of yoga pants and t-shirts. I personally believe that getting dressed should not only be easy but exciting every day. You should wake up and look forward to what is waiting for you in your closet. Everything in your closet should make you happy, make you feel like you look great and most of all make it easy every morning to get out the door and get out looking AND feeling great.

As the title says only the emperor gets a pass on walking around with no clothes. You have to make a decision everyday and it’s hard to get or to understand that how we look is how people will treat us. You may not get attention at work because of what you wear; you may not get attention by anyone ever because of how you look. If you think I’m full of it you need to take a long hard look at yourself and your wardrobe and take a wide eyed look at those around you. I notice how I get treated in comparison to others who do not dress the same. I’ve had people presume that I am more competent in my job, have more money, have a higher social status or have more perceived power simply based on how I dress. I do not wear designer labels or super expensive clothes I just pull myself together and walk out the door with my shoulders back and my head held high. I can tell that I often intimidate women when I’m out in public that my perceived power from other women makes them move mountains for me.

I want every woman to feel the way I feel every day. Imagine what we could accomplish as a group if every woman felt good about who she is and felt confident in her body and her dress. The results would be unimaginable. Too often in life woman hold themselves back because they do not feel good enough, pretty enough or valid enough to pursue what’s really important. I don’t want to validate you – I want you to validate you. You are worthwhile and you are an amazing woman you just may be buried underneath some self doubt and some bad clothes. Let’s shake it off and let go of those bad feelings and find the real potential underneath. The truth is undeniable that as woman our self image is tied up in body image. Dressing should not be a means to end (i.e., not being naked) it should be a means to express yourself and show who you really are or can be. When we don’t feel good about ourselves we want to hide in our clothes and use them almost as a barrier to the world. We figure if we look sloppy or dowdy that no one will pay attention and we can blend in to the background. The truth is that when we dress a mess we call more attention to ourselves. As Coco Chanel said “dress shabbily, they notice the dress. Dress impeccably they notice the woman”. Don’t you just want that to apply to you?

Everyone IS Beautiful

2008-06-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer that EVERY woman can look beautiful. I feel so sad for the women I see who don't even try, because they think it is a lost cause. IT'S NOT! It's all about the right hair, make-up, clothes, and attitude. Mostly, it is about attitude. If you act confident, it adds to your beauty. Every woman has things about her body that she hates or feels is bad. Think of a woman that you think has it going on, chances are that woman feels bad about something and is constantly trying to de-emphasize some part of her body.

It may seem like I have it all together to anyone who knows me or maybe that’s what every one of you believes. But I can tell you that I am self conscious of my stomach. No matter how thin I get I always feel that my stomach is too wide and that my waist is not narrow enough. A few years ago I decided that I was going to let go of that insecurity because there are so many other things to worry about than my waist. I decided to make peace with my body and say “hey this is how it is not much I can do outside of surgery to change it” and I have to tell you that it was the most freeing moment of my life. You have to change the way that you think and that can only come from the inside.

It is so imperative to focus on the strengths of your figure. Don’t say “nothing is good” because that’s crazy every woman has at least one part of her body that she loves. Fixate on that thing you love. If you really feel that nothing is good ask friends what they think is great about your figure. I am sure you will be shocked to hear what they have to say. I used to hate my wide shoulders until a friend told me that she felt that my broad shoulders gave me a presence and she felt that the presence made me seem taller. I was so surprised. In an instant my shoulders went from a liability to an asset. I now feel proud of them. Same thing goes for my arms I used to think I had horrible, huge arms and again I had a friend tell me that she thought I had great arms and that she wished her arms looked like mine. Again totally shocked. Here were two things that I really didn’t like and wished I could change and here are two people who I trusted telling me that they were envious!

It sounds very silly but when you accentuate the positive you really do eliminate the negative. The bad stuff doesn’t seem so bad and the good stuff starts to seem great. The first step to feeling great is to feel comfortable in your skin and confident with who you are. Think about how great it would be to pass a mirror and not pass judgment on yourself. That’s what I want you to do every time you pass a mirror say “I look great!” pretty soon it will become an ingrained habit and every time you look in a mirror you will instantly think “I look great!”

I think that women must create their own standard of beauty as it is applicable to THEM. You have to say that YOU are the only standard for yourself no one else. You wouldn’t let someone else shape or mold your opinions, values or morals, right? Why is how you feel about yourself any different? Who gets to dictate how much you love yourself or how good you feel about your body? Are you going to let a fashion magazine, a television show or someone else tell you how to feel? You have to decide that you are the only who gets to decide how you feel. You own your feelings in every other aspect of your life so why not about your appearance and body? You must change your perception and decide that enough is enough and that you are going to love yourself regardless of the scale, dress size or what anyone else thinks.

Every woman is beautiful and every woman can be as beautiful as she wants. It’s a matter of adjusting the outside to match the inside. When we take time to care for ourselves and focus on ourselves, even if its just for 15 minutes in the morning when you do your hair and makeup, we feel better about ourselves. Its imperative for women to nurture themselves and give themselves love. So often women give and give and give but never give to themselves. You are the most important thing in your life and I want you to remember that always. I want you to feel beautiful and I want you to feel good every day.

Really? No One Has It?

2008-06-11T08:04:00.001-07:00

Okay, but what about television shows and magazines? They seem like they know everything, what’s wrong with them?

In my opinion the television makeover shows are great fun but what I think is bad is that the person being made over is pretty much humiliated. On some of those shows they show people at their absolute worst and then pour salt on the wound. They then trash the person’s entire wardrobe and tear them down to build them back up, none of that is supportive to who they are as individual. Which brings me to my next point, the purpose of makeover shows is to be entertaining not informative so the information given is often lacking and occasionally cryptic. You won’t get help unless you have the same body type, skin color, same age and same problem as the person being made over.

The truth is that if you are a total jeans and t-shirt person you are not going to leave a makeover show and continue to wear pencil skirts and halter dresses. Those clothes will hang in your closet and you’ll go back to old faithful. The truth is that in order to support who are and elevate you to the next level it should be about exploring who someone is and introducing them to something new. For example, you’re a jeans and t-shirt person well what about a wide leg trouser jean (for those with booty and thighs, skinny minnys try a cigarette jean) with a cashmere t-shirt? That’s a whole new fancy-pants look that’s still jeans and a t-shirt. Do you get how that steps it up? Even something like a super dark wash jean, heels, and a super soft t-shirt in a super rich color is crazy sophisticated and can look quite glamorous and dressed up with cool accessories and a polished, structured purse. I could honestly care less if your entire wardrobe is “jeans and t-shirts” as long as it’s the gammit of jeans and t-shirts.

And seriously, if you thought television and magazines had all the answers you would not be here, right? And if you thought your jeans and t-shirt (or whatever) look was seriously rocking you would not be here either. I don’t want to set your closet on fire and force you to start fresh with some look that isn’t really you. I don’t want to poke fun at the embarrassments in your closets and smack you on the nose with a rolled up newspaper I want to help you to figure out how to rock your bod and look as good as possible as many days out of the year as possible.

Listen, no one knows everything. Read that again. Now let me repeat it in case you didn’t go back and re-read it….NO ONE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT FASHION. NO ONE. Okay? I’m about to let you on a really big secret. The fashion industry wants you to be confused. They want you to never figure out your own style, and they most certainly don’t want you to build a closet that is filled with clothes you love. Come on, if you were actually happy with all the clothes in your closet you would not be out in the stores buying the newest trend which, totally sucks for the fashion industry. They want you to be so damn confused that you will blindly buy the ugliest crap; I mean seriously they are selling us neon colors and maxi dresses. Seriously? People are snapping this stuff off the shelves and it’s not because it looks so good on people, it looks good on no one. Yes, really, no one. Most trendy pieces aren’t meant to look great and feel great. They are meant to make you feel like you got something going on because, you’re dressed like all the other people who cannot figure it out.

But hey, it’s okay. Fashion intervention is here. I want to totally come clean with you guys here, as I previously said I don’t know everything. I make mistakes and there are days I look bad. There are days where I feel like I gained 50 pounds over night and nothing looks good or fits. I’ve been there we all have. No one is unique in their morning experiences. I want you to think of the most glamorous, well dressed woman you know….okay now picture her flying into a frenzy in the morning because she’s bloated and can’t zip up her pants and freaking out over nothing to wear – trust me it happens. Also trust that the super well dressed lady you thought about didn’t make it happen by accident and she also doesn’t have some ancient knowledge that you are lacking. Chances are she’s trying just as hard as you. The difference is that she has figured out what’s right for her and sticks with it regardless of trends. This is really the way to build a wardrobe, build a style and be well dressed.

Really? No one has it?

What I want you to realize is that nobody has all the answers, I know I don’t. Everyone makes mistakes, no one rocks it perfect every day. I know I don’t. Look at celebrities, you realize that those people do not dress themselves right? They pay someone thousands and thousands of the dollars to dress them and they still look a super hot mess all the time. No one has all the answers, please let that sink in. You will make mistakes, you will throw together a truly ugly outfit and its okay. You gotta stumble before you walk baby! I do not want anyone to feel like a failure if their lightbulb does not click on immediately. To be honest chances are that it will not, it will take some time for everything to sink in and make sense and seem applicable.

Even designers are clueless. Do not rely on those lunatics to show you how to dress. Some of them do great basic pieces (like a great trouser or awesome coat) but if you want to venture out I would not trust them to be your guide. I’m not just talking about big name fashion designers I’m also talking about the people who design for Target and regular stores at the mall. What you have to see is that most designers create their line to give themselves a wardrobe and hey it’s great they love a muumuu and flats but most of us don’t want to look that stupid.

Stop! Back Away From the Disney

2008-06-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

There are a few things that occasionally confound me and make smoke pour from my ears. One of those things is the way that some heavy women dress. I know the choices are limited and it can be difficult to dress well, cute and fashionable from the stores that are available to you. I fully sympathize. I think we all know my feelings when it comes to designers.

I’m not talking about those of you who try and try hard. I’m not talking about the women who suffer on a constant basis trying to look cute and stylin. What I’m referring to is Disney.

What is this all about? WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT? Why is it that every time I’m at the mall, work, the grocery store, wherever and I see a heavy woman she is rockin some Disney apparel. I don’t see why that would be the choice. Like I said I get that fashion choices are limited and that it sucks but, how do you go from “hey there is nothing in this store that I think is cute so I think I’ll just stroll over to the local…uhhh where the hell is this crap sold?.....where ever this crap is sold…….and purchase an insane amount of Disney apparel. Just pile it on. The more the better. Give me some tshirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and jean jackets. Oh Lord the jean jackets.

What’s worse is that the items in question are often several sizes too large for the woman wearing them. Look, I get it. We live in a society that treats heavy woman like they are invisible so it may seem like “why bother no one is going to give me a second glance anyway” but, the truth is that the more you debase yourself in ridiculous clothing the more attention you are pouring on yourself. Every woman deserves to look great regardless of size. I am the first one to say that heavier women get the major shaft in the fashion department but the truth is that there is no reason to give up. Sure the local mall may disappoint but there are SO many places online that specialize in plus-size apparel that is boutique-like, fashion forward and gorgeous.

It seems to me that all women, regardless of size, don’t want to put the work in. I’m here to tell you it is so worth it. When you start to make an investment in yourself and take that time to focus on you it is incredible what happens. Every woman deserves to feel beautiful. I doubt that wearing ridiculous clothing in a huge size makes anyone feel good. It is not supportive of who you are. I doubt you want the world to look at you like you are a sloppy person. Size does not dictate worth. You are still a valid and fabulous person regardless of what the scale says

You also have a figure! Oh for goodness sake some heavy women have the most incredible hourglass figures on the planet and they hide. It’s important to embrace who you are and feel positive about your body. The first important step for anyone is to see that your body is yours and that it’s up to you to decide that it is good. Start by focusing on the positive, find something you really love about your body and every time you look in the mirror say “Man I have a kick ass ______”. Everyone has things they don’t like about their body and everyone has insecurities but it’s the decision to learn how to work with your body that makes a difference.

Hiding under tents and yards of material just makes you look bigger and worse. Women often believe that if they wear a big sack that they will look smaller in comparison to the clothing item. What they don’t realize is that the eye will see that your body fills out the fabric even if it doesn’t. Heavier woman should never be afraid to wear fitted items. This does not mean skin tight and cutting off circulation and exposing every aspect of your body. It means wearing something that skims the body and shows your shape. Wearing sweat pants and oversized shirts are not an option anymore. Wearing your huge Tigger sweatshirt is also no longer an option.

Can we all sit down here and make a decision that Disney wear is only for children and has no place on a grown woman? Can we all agree that looking your best and making the most of your shape is worth the time and effort and that finding the right clothes is worth the effort? PLEASE. I am begging on my knees. I would rather see a woman in an actual sack than huge Disney attire.

Comfort Can Be Pretty

2008-05-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

So often women fight against fashion and style because they like to be comfortable. Good for you, do you want a cookie? Guess what? Everyone likes to be comfortable, everyone. Every person on this earth wants to be comfortable when they get dressed. No one gets in the morning and goes oh man, I cannot wait to put on some constrictive, tight, binding clothes. Yes! Corset time, tie it tighter dammit I don’t want to feel remotely comfortable. While we’re at it why don’t I just put on a straitjacket and stripper heels. Oh, delicious restraint and discomfort. Please dear God get me out of this disgusting comfort of my pajamas. I’m wrapping myself head to toe in an ace bandage until I lose circulation, God willing I’ll lose a toe today.

Do you get it?

Again, you are not special for wanting to be comfortable and it does not excuse you from actually getting dressed in the morning. The next time I see someone out and about during the day in pajama bottoms and t-shirt (who is not a college student going to a 9am class) or some ratty ass sweats I will run you over with my car. Seriously, I’ll do it. No fashionable jury in the world would convict me. Look, if I have to get up and get dressed in traditional clothes every day so do you. If you want to wear “comfy” clothes every day become a doctor or nurse and wear scrubs all day, the rest of you need something else. And no, you can’t wear all scrubs all day I did not just okay them for the entire populace.

Okay, so you’re into this comfort thing that you believe the rest of the world hates so, what to do? Well, the answer to that depends on what you do all day. If you happen to work from home (in any capacity not just Mommy’s stay home anymore there is a whole new culture of folks working out of their homes doing all kinds of jobs) clearly your dress code is less strict. However, that does not give you a pass to dress like a hobo (by the way there is no hobo pass except for actual hobos). I will actually give you people your sweats but in something that isn’t disgusting and that you wouldn’t feel shame running an errand in. May I suggest yoga pants, fitted t-shirt and fitted zip up hoodie? That is a cute look that totally says “fashionable lady on the go”, however do not, do not go matchy matchy the days of the terry cloth head to toe sweat outfit is dead. You need to do a yoga pant in soft cotton in a basic color (navy, grey, black, brown) then a complementary top and a complementary hoodie if needed. Again this is a comfortable outfit that will bring no shame on a Target run.

Okay so what about you folks who go to a regular office every day? Have you met regular pants? You do know that you can find pretty much anything and everything in 100% cotton nowadays, right? I personally only like to wear cotton clothes because they are comfortable I believe cotton could make a ball gown super comfy, but that’s just me. So back to you, you look for fabrics that are cotton with stretch that is going to be really comfortable because it’s going to fit like sweats but still be tailored and look polished. I would say go for the same thing with your tops look for all cotton tops with some stretch. What makes sweats et al so comfortable is that they move with your body and are not restrictive. You will find the exact same thing with stretch cotton clothing. You will be shocked at how comfortable a dress can be when its stretch cotton, believe me.

What I think turns people off from “real” clothes is the idea of fake fibers and no stretch. Man made fiber like polyester is not comfortable and tends to make people sweat or just not feel good. Any natural fabric (wool, linen, cotton, silk) will feel comfortable against your skin and will not feel restrictive. The idea is to elevate what you already love which is why I’m suggesting starting with cotton clothing since that is closest to sweats.

I think that shopping for comfort has come a long way. You can find all sorts of things that are going to fit well, be fitted and feel comfortable. Like I said avoid unnatural fibers and rigid fabric and you will feel like a new woman.

There has been a revolution in the comfy clothing and shoe world. Designers get that women want to be comfortable while still appearing stylish and chic. Shoe companies make comfortable foot loving shoes that look well, hot. You can get sky high wedges, boots and all sorts of fun things that will treat your feet lovely and look gorgeous.

Designers are choosing empire waists with light, flowy fabrics over drop waists and skin tight fits. Wide leg pants are bashing down skinny legged pants. The more American women demand to be listened to the more designed will actually start to listen.

Who is really in charge in this relationship to begin with? Huh? If we don’t buy or embrace all styles they will have to do better. We are the consumers and should dictate trends not a bunch of anorexic, snooty fashionistas. Those idiots will wear anything anyway they are in no way shape or form objective. They would wear over the knee boots with a tulle skirt and a stuffed monkey as a hat. Their opinion no longer matters. It’s the rest of us going “A stuffed monkey hat? Really?”. We get the vote.

Seriously? No One Wants Some Pie?

2008-05-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

What has been the accepted norm is that girls under size 6 get the choicest pieces of apparel while the rest of us flounder. People who make clothes need to accept that women come in all shapes and sizes and heavy women don’t want to disappear they want to dress well just like anyone else. What’s worse is that the clothes they make in larger sizes are just an expanded version of a size zero sample – bastards. They never have consideration for body shape they basically give a size 12 a giant size 0 and gals wonder why clothes look so bad on.

I think what they do is deplorable. Models should eat and all be at least a size 8. I think if designers had any talent they would love to dress curves. It’s easy to make something look good on a hanger but on a real woman THAT is a sign of a real gift. It’s just a big joke. In this country of abundance people starve themselves, why? In other countries people would kill for the availability of food we have. We really only accept one standard of beauty because it has been shoved down our throats. If all of sudden designers started making larger sizes proportioned right and began using models that looked like real woman we would all change our mind about what is beautiful. Fashion and style are not unobtainable anymore. Practically every woman can look fashionable and sophisticated without a high price tag. This idea that fashion is not for the masses is antiquated and frankly stupid.

Hot designers now design for Target for God’s sake. That’s high fashion for everyone. It’s time we saw all of that reflected. I’m personally starving for real women. I want to hear magazines tout the latest celebrity fad, eating real food and not dieting! Headline reads “Paris Hilton Gained 20lbs…That’s HOT. Read How She Did It Inside!” or how about “Cupcakes! The New Fad Sweeping Hollywood!”. How awesome would that be?

We are a nation obsessed with eating disorders. We are obsessed with overeaters, under eaters, those losing weight, those gaining weight. Jesus, whatever happened to just loving yourself and occasionally having a piece of cake and feeling okay with it?

No one here wants to change you or modify you or force you to fit into some neat little niche. Look if you don’t like something but Glinda says it’s great for you that’s fine its totally okay. You are allowed to make decisions and choices here. This is a place where we can full suspend reality for a little while and pretend that real women drive the retail world (oh wait that’s real isn’t it) that most of the time when you walk into a store you are hard pressed to find a size over 8 (oh wait that’s real too) and that plus size stores are popping up all over and that most major retailers are adding plus sized clothes to their stores too (oh wait that’s real too). Its time that we all had a voice and decided that we have had enough with what everyone expects of us or thinks of us. Its important that we stand up and say I shop, I am not a size 0 and I deserve to be counted. And seriously, who wants pie? Its bakery fresh. That’s what I thought.