Aloha, Lovecat!
In my last post, I reviewed the most awesome slip which would work for hiding muffin top, VPL and VBL (visible panty lines and visible bra lines) under most of your clothes.
Here is the rest of the outfit, which I wore with the slip as a layering piece. I tell you my sure-fire essentials for how to dress your flaws strategically.
Architecture of an Outfit: Dress your flaws – Sheer asymmetrical tunic, SNUG Camisole slip, blue tights and leopard wedge heels
Outfit of the Day: Asymmetrical tunic, SNUG Camisoles tank slip, serious gold neck candy by HRH Collection (www.shopwithhrh.com) and blue tights.
I said it in my last post, but I’ll say it again. I, more often than not, do not feel comfortable in my own skin. I’m plagued by insecurities about my body, my age, my appearance. Yes, I know, my petite stature and my ethnicity tell you I’m, like, 18. And, sure, my pictures make me look all vain or poised or confident or totally absorbed in the moment of posing, but pictures are under my control, and I only post what I’m happy with, or I don’t post at all. (You’ll notice, I often take a “leave of absence” from posting regularly here.) So a picture can fool a viewer/reader into thinking everything is all hunky-dory. Or it can make you think I’ve got it together. Or it can leave you with a slew of other thoughts about me I’d prefer not to think about.
Anyway, in any photo of me on this site, chances are I’m sucking it in or dressing in such a way that hides the imperfections I’m so keen to keep hidden.
The point is: It’s easy to hide things you hate about yourself to provide the appearance of grace, poise and put-togetherness if you have the right tools.
I love the flow of this tunic.
Delicate + hardcore = balance. Just my kind of OTT type of accessorizing style.
Essential things for looking put together:
- Good posture
Nothing ruins a good outfit more than a slumped, hunched over back. [This is why I have to contend with thousands of fangirls out there that Mary-Kate Olsen is not the wunderkind of style everyone thinks she is. She schleps around with the most heinous posture. STAND UP STRAIGHT, MK, YOU OWN THE WORLD. Sheesh!] Standing up straight gives an air of confidence, grace, poise and a certain je ne sais quoi. It makes you wonder, “What’s her secret?” - Confidence
If you don’t think you can pull off an outfit, you won’t be likely to walk out the door with it on. Or you’ll cower and hunch over when you’re walking (bad posture, see above), and it’ll make your outfit look droopy, a little worse for wear. If you think you can’t pull something off, you won’t. And it’ll be evident in the way you move, the way you walk–your body language will tell everyone everywhere that the outfit was too good for you, and that it is wearing you, not you wearing it (among other things). Make sense? - A smile
Nothing says success and perfection and beauty and all-is-right-with-my-world-ness like a smile.
Audrey said, “The most pretty girls are happy ones,” and I can’t agree more. A smile conveys confidence, satisfaction and contentment with one’s life and sphere of life. If you’re happy with yourself, then you feel good. And that good feeling will communicate itself into every aspect of you-ness: from the clothes, to your posture, to your mindset, to your work, to your relationships. A very A+ thing. - Good Undergarments
Vogue, Glamour and a host of other magazines always say it. Good underwear — a good bra, a good panty, Spanx, a slip — is the foundation of a good outfit.We all have body issues. Sadly, Muffin Top happens to good people. In fact, Muffin Top happens to every body (mine included!). No body is perfect. You can think so, but even the most amazing star bloggers with perfect style and the perfect photographer boyfriend have strategic dressing styles and photoshop on their side to hide their flaws.
Hide side arm/sideboob flab with a bra that fits. Muffin top or pouche? Wear Spanx. Shape wear shirts hide back flab, arm flab, rolls. A good slip or camisole will disguise bra and panty lines and smooth down shirt tails under a tight skirt. I swear by slips–full and half.
- Know your body type
Dressing for your body shape will help you highlight your best features and hide your not so best. I can’t tell you what to do on that note, but watching What Not to Wear and consulting a ton of style guides out there can help guide you in the right direction for finding what fits your body, and then from there, what fits your style.
For more reading on hiding body flaws, I highly recommend this slideshow on Hiding your Body Flaws by Oprah Magazine. (Yes, REALLY.)
I love how well these HRH Collection chains (The Original Cuff Necklace) layer on top of collars. It adds a nice punch of shine without costing OR weighing a ton.
OUTFIT ARCHITECTURE / DETAILS
Destrucked asymmetrical sheer tunic blouse. SNUG Bra friendly tank slip. J. Crew blue tights. Aldo leopard wedge heels. HRH Collection “Original Cuff” gold chain necklace. Bamboo Sky gold spiked bracelet. JewelMint gold “Birdcage Bangle“. Kate Spade “Ooh La La” necklace. Jewelmint XO Rings (discontinued).
You know you love me. XOXO – Mae Girl.
Alternatives / Where
TOP: Lush asymmetrical sleeveless shirt || Asymmetrical hem sleeveless blouse (yellow), Zappos.
SLIP/DRESS: BCBG Black ribbed tank dress.
TIGHTS: Wolford Blue tights.
SHOES: Matiko Leopard wedge sandals (almost exact same).
NECKLACE: Kate Spade gold Ooh La La Necklace (exact). || SIMILAR: “I do necklace, Kate Spade. SIMILAR: Dorothy Perkins “Ooh la la necklace.
NECKLACE: Gold chain necklace. || Max & Chloe Classic gold chain necklace.
BRACELET: Gold cone spike bracelet. || Double spike gold bracelet.
RINGS: Alphabet stackable gold ring.
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Feeling a bit silly and totally contrived in front of the camera – Husby’s shooting and making faces at me and saying, “Why don’t you pull those stupid ‘blogger poses’ you always do?” No faster way to feel dumb. 
What else do I do to make it seem like I “got it together”? I just pile on accessories over simple, comfortable outfits, and add a pop of color. It makes me feel youthful, fun, free-spirited AND luxurious.
Even if I really feel silly, contrived or just flat out meh about my outfit, my body or whatever else is going on in my life, at least I won’t look like I am. And that, my friend, makes all the difference in the world.
Me ke aloha ~ With love, Xx
Mae
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