Is it just me, or is the world going suck-in underwear crazy? Every time I put on the television or read a magazine, I am being confronted with a new range of body shapers. Even celebrities are jumping on the bandwagon, claiming them to be their red carpet glamour secrets.

Personally, although I love the idea of no bumps and lumps, I am also a huge fan of comfort. Hence my idea of feeling good and looking great doesn’t involve being sucked in, looking stiff and feeling claustrophobic.

Back in the days before Nancy Ganz shapewear, women wore control top stockings to create the perfect tummy tucker. They used the same concept, but with less suction. They always made you feel shapely and womanly without compromising on comfort.

But the modern day corset has nothing on the push-up bum bra. Yes, not only can you have your tummy pulled in, but your bottom can become pert and lifted at the same time. Truly bootylicious.

I was discussing with my friends the other day our favourite “feel good” outfits. That sure fire thing you can throw on and feel good in - regardless of the weather, where you are going or how you are feeling.

And for me…it’s a pair of good fitting jeans and a white t-shirt or top.

This outfit looks great on most people. And the best part is that it is so easy to accessorise. It seems I’m not alone in my opinions here. I just came across a fashion website that claimed it to be the best “No brainer outfit”. I couldn’t agree more!

So what’s so good about it? It’s two things.

1. We usually have a pair of jeans that we love and feel good in, regardless of our shape, size or age.
2. Your outfit is a blank canvas, so you can dress it up or dress it down according to your needs.

For day or casual wear:
Put on a nice pair of sandals, a belt, a few bracelets and maybe an oversized bag and you are ready to go.

For special occasions or dinner:
Throw on a pair of high heals, a beautiful bold necklace, grab a sparkly clutch bag and you are ready to shine.
 

I think everyone has experienced the frustration of clothing sizes. You know, where you see a great pair of jeans in your size, then walk into the fitting room to try them on then you find that you can’t even get them over your knees.

We immediately think, “It must have been that full fat mochachino latte that I just drank” without stopping to think how illogical that thought is. After all, I’m sure the clothes you were wearing still fit you!

Well, it seems we are not alone in our frustrations, and they are for a good reason. After conducting a review into the textile, clothing and footwear industry’s use of sizing, there has been a recommendation made for the urgent development of a new standard sizing to be introduced nationwide.

What a welcome relief that would be. But then again, we will also be dismissing the possibility of it working the other way around too!

Source

For years, fashion gurus have been telling us some basic fashion principles. Horizontal stripes make us look wider, and vertical stripes elongate the body. I must say, I haven't always agreed with them, and it seems I might have been right.

Researcher Dr Peter Thompson also had a feeling this may be the case, so he decided to take it to the people on the street to see what they thought. People were shown images like those shown above, which contained drawings of women of different shapes and sizes.

The results were fascinating. When they were shown the pictures of the bigger woman wearing horizontal stripes, they thought both of the women looked the same size.

But when they were shown the card of the women drawn at the exact same sizes, the viewers thought the woman in the horizontal stripes appeared thinner.

For those who are confused, Dr Thompson gives this advice:

'Wearing black is a good thing, that one works. We know that black circle on a white background looks smaller than a white circle on a black background.'

'So, yes, you do want to wear black - perhaps with a few horizontal stripes.'