Wear It!

Skin Care Trial Results

Ok here is the low down on the skin care product trial. We are testing three product lines;            Mary Kay, Dermalogica and ROC. Each trial member is using an anti-aging specific cleanser, a daily moisturizer with SPF sun protection and a wrinkle target cream. The product cost for each system was under $160.00 for a three month supply and all products for the trial were selected and purchased by me personally. We will continue the trial and reveal all of the pictures February 1st, 2009.

Our Mary Kay consumer said that her skin texture was really smooth and her wrinkles seemed less pronounced but her face felt tight and dry even after using her daily moisturizer with spf. She admits to having missed a few days during the trial. This trial member is 46 years old and has lived in Arizona more than 10 years but is originally from Pennsylvania.

Our Dermalogica consumer said that people at work have been commenting on her skin, and she is addicted to her Intensive Eye Repair cream and Skin Recovery Complex. She reported a moist glow to her skin and a reduction in the depth of fine lines and pores, she has also noticed that her skin seems to have a more even pigment from forehead to cheeks. She was hoping that her products would smooth her skin's texture, and reduce her pores. She reports "I love it. I think it has helped both (texture and pores)." She has also noticed less undereye puffiness in the morning. She admits to missing two evenings during the trial so far. This trial member is 33 years old and is an Arizona native.

The ROC recipient loves it,  she is using it twice daily, religiously. She has reported that the retinol in the ROC line stings slightly but she likes the slight discomfort as proof of it working. She was hoping to even out discoloration on her cheeks, to see a reduction in the depth of the creases between her brows and of fine lines in general. She also says her skin is "very soft". This trial member is 59 years old, from Dallas Texas but she is currently living in the desert of west Texas.

Month two begins now and I will reveal the pictures at the end of the trial on February 1st, 2009.

LenaWalkerSmith

What not to buy and where not to buy it for your hobby.

Download karaoke-fingerlessgloves-rev.pdf YOUR HOBBY

Knitters, Sew Gals and Crafty types:

Everybody loves a free pattern! Check out this one for fingerless gloves from SWTC.

Everyone saves a skien or two of extra yarn for a rainy day or for quickie projects. Now is the time to stock up on favorite yarns that are on sale.  Knitting in front of a rented DVD is so  much cheaper than going to dinner and a movie so make it more fun by giving yourself a little instant gratification with small projects. Try out new yarns that excite your colorful sensibilities with one skein/ball projects like undies, headbands, glovelettes, and doggie sweaters. See my blogs on dressing for your body types for pattern ideas.

Use less than a skein by adding to something you already have. For instance try turning a tank top into cap sleeve top or crochet details to add to your knee length skirts. This black and cream top in the picture is a simple pattern with a little added fun at the shoulders, once again making use out of left overs and even flashy colors you might find on sale. Keep the theme of "on sale" and "small scale" and  you won't feel like you are missing out on new products and colors as you save your pennies. By picking out several patterns for fun small scale projects you will realize how many projects get completed and how little guilt you'll feel. Just as the savings from your entertainment and hobby budgets are adding up, so are the accessories...bringing us to our next point:

Accessories are fashion's gift for a doldrum wardrobe. Adding an accessory is like a shiny new buff on your old winter basics. Accessories that you can make with old stuff are even better. I keep costume jewelry of all kinds around, even broken pieces. When I get a neat scarf or sweater that I feel I didn't wear enough last year or maybe wore too much I add on just a tiny something to change the look or I try it with a new accessory like a new hat. See my boy in his new hat and old scarf?

Keeping up with current trends is one thing, making up your own is another.  Altered Couture magazine is a big inspiration to me and a few bucks spent on any magazine like it can keep your nose in that big box of useful stuff (junk) you hide in your closet instead of in a dressing room stall trying on this season's take on last season's basics. New schmew!

LenaWalkerSmith

Extensions, don't get ripped off!

 

Seeking Honest Answers About  Extensions:

Is it too late? Have you already gone to the chop shop? Don't lock yourself in the bathroom just yet. Save a hair cut gone wrong, or just revamp your inner vamp. Whether you just want a few to fix the failed bang trimming incident with partials or you want to be Rapunzel, you need to know what you are paying for and who to trust.

First of all know what is being put in your hair. The two most common and popular techniques are beads and keratin.  In the bead technique small round hollow beads are squeezed on to bond the extension hair to your hair and generally have positive results, with little damage to your real hair and scalp as long as they are applied properly (more on that below). The stylist will use a set of pliers to squeeze them one by one releasing them from your hair when it is time for removal. The second very popular technique (and an ancient art dating back to ancient Egypt) is keratin, the very same protein that human hair is made of. If keratin is your choice be aware that the word "keratin" does not mean that keratin is all you will be getting. Read on...

Keratin is my preference because of it's translucency and innate flexibility.  The fact that each bond molds itself to the shape of your head makes them the most comfortable to wear and the hardest to see even on windy days. These bonds last for many months and should be guaranteed for 3-4 months by your stylist. Now here is the truth; keratin is often blended with artificial ingredients to make it cheaper for the manufacturer, but these additional ingredients ruin the above mentioned benefits, so ask for 100% natural keratin manufactured by such companies as Chenice in Beverly Hills who supply salons all over the country and can help you to locate one in your area (contact me when in Phoenix). Here is how to know if you are getting the real deal:

If you can't remove them by yourself using just your finger tips to snap and crumble them then the product is a polymer or nylon blended with keratin and is therefore only removable by solvents like rubbing alcohol or acetone! This is NOT ok. No one should put something in your hair that cannot be removed by you! Ask for 100% polymer and nylon free keratin, this is very important down the road when it is time to remove them. Acetone is dangerous, think about what it does to your fingernails, and rubbing alcohol is like pouring chlorine on your hair, so drying that your real hair will become brittle.

All extensions thin your real hair if worn constantly and so should periodically be taken out or the style and pattern of them changed every third month.

The cost of extensions can be easily controlled by seeking out an honest stylist who actually specializes in the service, they are more likely to buy hair and keratin in bulk and pass those savings on to you. Extensions should never be purchased from a hair dresser who sells in "bundles", this is a rip off that only makes money for the manufacturer. Only inexperienced stylists would throw their profits away by selling pre-tipped or bundled hair from a brand name supplier. A real professional makes a profit not from your one time service but from your continued business over time, beware a stylist who needs to charge you the same amount for extensions that she pays in rent. Think about it.

To find a real professional in the art of extensions first find a salon that specializes in all ethnicities. A stylist who can sew in tracks and weaves knows a thing or two about extensions of all kinds and will charge much more reasonably than someone who only knows one technique. If your hair has a natural curl or wave to it go for hand sewn tracks.

  Tracks are about half the cost of regular keratin or bead bond extensions and are a great way of trying out the look first as they only last about half the time. However, if your hair is stick straight and fine as mist, you'll want all natural keratin because tracks won't stay well in your texture and beads may slip over time.

Whether you choose beads or keratin your extension stylist should use only 100% human hair and should fully remove all prior extensions before applying new ones (they are charging you for new hair, shouldn't you get new hair?)

Make a list of questions then call and speak to the stylist directly. If she or he does not sound like an expert you would trust your life with, try again. If you feel you are getting the hard sell or over charged, you are. Trust your instincts.

Now you are all set for the next three months. You'll be amazed at the speed at which your real hair gets longer because you won't see it or style it as much, when the extensions come out, that bad hair cut will be grown out (or do it one more time). A good shape up to make your real hair cute again and voila! Good nutrition and drinking tons of extra water will speed up the growing process, so stay healthy, poor nutrition puts the body on hold!

LenaWalkerSmith

OOps! Botched hair cut? Extensions and other solutions

              Bad hair cuts happen even if you don't try to save money on a trim from a chain salon employing recent beauty school graduates. However, even in the best salons communication errors can occur. Don't worry, I am here to guide you through this. First of all hair grows 1/4-1/2 inch monthly, trimming it doesn't make it grow faster. Trimming it does remove split ends before they travel up the hair shaft and trims can balance the shape of the hair as it grows out making it look as though it is growing out nicely.

Don't drink gelatin, do take biotin supplements (ask your doctor first) from the vitamin aisle and drink tons of WATER. Water water water. In the mean time you can hide a bad cut  with cute hats, creative clip placement and head bands. Or extensions, but we'll get to that in a minute.

Knitters: Do yourself a favor if you are a knitter and make an ascot/headband, it's an eveningish project that uses about one skein of yarn, the Lana and Clark ascot pattern in the Vickie Howell collection is available on her website. See how to wear it two ways by watching a great video of the two of us (Vickie and I) in San Jose, California just click on this: ascot  and go to the last two or three minutes of the video.

Sewing Divas: Make a couple of cute head bands out of colorful silk ties from boyfriends past. Wrap the tie around your head to see where to add about three to four inches of elastic to either side to form a loop that won't slide off during the day, but don't cut off the ends of the tie, those will look cute tied behind your head. People will notice your ingenuity not your lame locks.

Non Crafty Types: The trick with a bad hair cut is to ignore it until it has grown enough for a good hair dresser to find the best shape. Hiding it with headbands, hats and hair clips gives you something else to do while it grows other than staring in the mirror through teary eyes.

Extensions: If you just can't stand to look in the mirror one more time and need instant gratification you can always get extensions. WARNING! Extensions are all over the place these days and it seems that just about every hair dresser in every salon swears that this is his or her specialty! This is a skill like any other and takes years to master not a weekend course and prepackaged supplies!! Once you are in the chair, look around, if you recognize a brand name on the extension supplies from an advertisement you saw in a magazine -RUN AWAY! I'll tell you why on my next installation called simply Extensions. Know what questions to ask, what to expect and what to demand! Read next week's blog.

9 am every Monday morning.

LenaWalkerSmith

Acne and wool? Winter wear woes.

 So ladies and boys, here is a common winter wardrobe question; winter acne. How to avoid it and is it caused by wearing wool?
           Acne aside, irritated bumps on the skin surface after wearing a certain kind of fabric is usually a sign of either heat rash or an allergy.  Some people are allergic to wool and that is that. Luckily there are all kinds of other choices for warm winter knits these days. If you are possibly allergic and still insist on wearing wool like people who insist on eating shell fish regardless as to how swollen their tongues and eyelids will get then you should try a wool blended with some other fiber and never go commando under your knitwear.

             Body Acne:

For those who aren't sure or are not allergic, acne is caused by clogged hair follicles and pores.  Body acne happens for a couple of reasons; for instance when friction caused by clothing against the skin surface exfoliates dead skin cells and then rubs them back into your pores and follicles mixed with sweat such as under the elastic band of your pants, or under the bra straps on your shoulders.  If the wool sweater you are wearing is under a purse strap or rubbing into the skin of your back such as in an office chair at work then the skin will eventually respond in those areas with irritation and possibly acne. This is gross and damages the garment too. Try to wear a light weight camisole or short sleeve tee underneath and exfoliate in the shower regularly.  For shoulders and chest try a fine granual body scrub like Skin Prep Scrub by Dermalogica or Apricot Scrub by St. Ives (not for your face) and moisturize these areas before donning your winter wardrobe.
            Exfoliating and moisturizing can be done all year round to avoid acne from stress, hormones and friction (like too tight jogging shorts that are your inspiration to keep on jogging). This is preventative and will help dramatically reduce unexpected pimples under your warmest layers. Make it a part of your shower routine and please don't wear wool if you think you are allergic to it, you'll continue the itchy wool stereotype we try so hard to break! 
LenaWalkerSmith           P.S. To speak with an expert click on this link: Elena

Acne and a 4 Step Mini Facial how to guide!

Acne is common and to some extent preventable. Simple things can be done to quell your skin's deepest needs without going broke, but please remember only an aesthetician can really analyze your skin for cleansing and anti aging products and only a dermatologist can address serious issues like skin moles or changes in skin health.
           I am a trained aesthetician but have struggled with acne forever. In the past, as a model and actress it was really important to have consistently good skin.  I was constantly trying new products to help the break outs but not really learning to prevent them.

Well dames and dolls I have taken care of business and these days my face looks clear most of the time because I use a brand name micro-exfoliant with benzol peroxide, 2.5% and I keep my skin moisturized and yes I still wear my sunscreen 7 days a week. The trick I learned was that my exfoliant choices were always too rough (the grains were too large) and did not provide the medicine to cure the pimples. What you should look for is a micro-exfoliant. Micro-exfoliants are so tiny that the grains are almost too small to see with your eyes. The treatment that I use has suspended micro-exfoliant  in a benzol peroxide solution. I can't recommend a specific brand for you, only suggest that you look into the products available by reading the label for "active ingredients" which will list ingredients like benzol peroxide and the percentage used. Please, by all means visit an aesthetician! The solution that I found seems to do the trick for me but not without an occasional facial.
         

    The reason why is that only thorough deep cleansing gets rid of the oil (sebum) in your facial pores and follicles (peach fuzz). So regular steam and deep cleansing treatments provided by an aesthetician can almost completely remove this nasty stuff and make the other acne treatments much more effective, thus saving money and concealor in the long run.

 It boils down to this folks; If I trust my aesthetician Elena with my face, my money maker, my brand stamp to the world shouldn't you try one, too?

Here is the mini facial guide approved by myself and Elena:

            Steps to giving yourself a mini facial, and please remember this is not a replacement for a real facial, just an in between maintenance step:

1) Before you begin use a makeup remover or PreCleanse solution from Dermalogica to massage into your face and neck in little circles with your fingertips all over your oily hot spots, nose, around the nose, forehead, brow t'ween, chin and jawline. This really does the trick and should not be left out!

2) You'll need clean hand towels or wash cloths and a bowl of steamy hot water. There are two ways to do this; either dip hand towels into the steamy water and test them on your wrist or neck first, we do not want to burn skin, keep it steamy not boiling. Lean way back in a chair or on your bed, now lay the hand towels around your face avoiding your nostrils and eyelids in a complete cirlce but don't leave out the tip of your nose. Leave the towels on until they cool to the touch.

Second option; take a large towel just like you do when you have a cold and create a tent around your face while leaning over the bowl. Seal yourself in there for about five minutes or until the water begins to cool and quits steaming.

3) Now you are ready to cleanse and exfoliate. Do not use a rough granual exfoliant, this is key. You actually do more damage than good when you either exfoliate too often or with an overly rough product. Look for a micro-exfoliant. Ask your aesthetician if you are unsure which to use. Remember she sells these products so will be familiar with what will work for your special skin type, but beware the hard sell, a good aesthetician won't over sell the product, it's her knowledge and service you are there to buy.

Begin by using small amounts (nickel sized should do) of exfoliant in circles in your oily hot spots and move outward with your fingertips. Don't strip the paint, just massage the skin evenly.

4) Rinse completely with cool water and use a moisturizing toner to shrink your pores back down. You opened them up with the steam and now need to close them to keep dirt and sebum out. Toner and cool water do this for you. A very important step!

Now stop touching your beautiful face with your dirty, acidy, oily fingers!

Don't forget a little moisturizer with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide to protect your freshly revealed skin when you go outside.Just so you know, aestheticians usually give deep discounts when you buy several future facials at once, so now you know what to ask for for your birthday; a pretty face! If you live any where near Phoenix, try Elena .

LenaWalkerSmith

Breasts and Politics, or Knit-It-Yourself Feminism Kit!

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 Lollipops your time has come.
    I always say a foundation bra is your most important purchase. There is a reason that good bras are expensive. The technology that goes into the construction of a bra would blow the mind of any NASA rocket scientist. Bras have been evolving, especially for the last fifty years, from men obsessed with rocket ships to women who refuse to push anything up beyond it's own comfort zone. Yes, a battle of the boobs has been brewing under the surface of American Society for generations.                                                                                                                                        
Contrary to popular belief among the latte sipping, needle whirling, young women of today, making a political statement with your breasts was not something started by the baby boomer generation. Breasts and politics have met on many occasions throughout history, usually resulting in tabloid fodder. In American history the real battle began the day women started the long and arduous process of removing their corsets so that they could run faster to the voting booth. This strip act changed American society and just how it supported it's "gentler sex", forever.
    Flappers wiggled and giggled their way into immodest cloth bras that held back some of their colder points but really didn't offer any support to their political uprising, in fact the opposite! By the time women started seeing bras as a useful tool against gravity, men and their phallic rockets of the fifties took boobs and pointed them in the direction they thought was right. Soon after, once again, women refusing to be led around by their chests instead of their minds began burning the reins and harnesses they thought were symbolically responsible for these follies. Thanks for keeping the flame, but let's not forget gravity and her mighty grip.
    This time ladies, let's get it right. Breasts are not to be taken lightly. They should be taken seriously and given the comfort and respect that any political dignitary in any society would expect! Cleavage and support are two different things. That being said, let's discuss why making your own bra instead of burning your bra is the new way of taking control of your destiny and of gravity, and isn't that really what the boys have been after all these generations? Destiny and defying gravity?
    For my busty knitters, try this free pattern that I found on  craftster.org . What a neat community web page! It is hard enough finding a good bra in the mall when a Lollipop (busty on top, smaller on bottom) needs one, much less a pattern for one this cute! While lounging in your hand knit panties and hand knit chemise you'll need a matching bra! I say go broke buying out all the Love or Tofutsies left in stock at Soysilk.com instead of the acrylic yarn the pattern designer suggests.
(sweaty boobs, yuck, enough with the petroleum derived acrylic already).
If you don't knit, you can still be a feminist, go to a local seamstress' shop (when in Phoenix call Denise Creations) I brought her my bras and a pattern that I picked out from a catalog in the fabric store for a beautiful merri-widow, a couple of fittings later and some added padding to balance my hips with my tiny bust and I feel like I could run an empire!
Lena Walker Smith.com

    The bra pictured below is just right to start a revolution.  I love this pattern from a British designer who dubbed herself: Theasparagusfreak, this pattern is your "Knit-It-Yourself Feminism Kit".

Find this and more fun patterns here:

     http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?action=search2                  

why not?

« Last Edit: April 18, 2005 01:11:35 PM by theasparagusfreak » While writing this blog I found an amazing educational site that all women and fashionistas should peruse. Get a load of the interesting facts and info. about women's fashion history, and see more interesting pictures of the infamous 1950's cone bras such as the one pictured above. Don't be afraid to lend this enlightened site some support, too! http://www.fashion-era.com/bras_after_1950.htm

FOR HAIR; The "OMG what have I done to save a buck" Section:

Hair Is Precious, and not to be taken lightly.

Regular salon color touch ups and cut/shape ups save money in the long run. Don't go to the local chain salon for a quick fix-it-up cut to save cash because one bad cut can lead to more cash spent down the line. Ask your hair dresser if she or he is running a special in the near future, or if you can get a discount for sending in a new client. Most stylists will work hard to keep you as a customer and they know that recessions can reduce business so don't be afraid to be direct about your need to save money.

How hard can it be right, you aren't looking for a whole new style just a little trim around the edges. Here is the down and dirty on chain salons; they generally hire inexperienced cosmetology graduates, not tried and true pros. New stylists out of school need health insurance, low rent and experience and this is what they get working in a chain salon. If you are wild and open to new looks, go for it. If you are specific about your look and want what you want then the experience is not likely to go your way. Don't hate them because they need practice, but one mistake in a chain salon leads to a fix up some where else costing more of your hard earned cash. Get a good cut the first time, and keep your current stylist employed.

Color:

Ever tried to save money by trying a box color at the grocery store? Then wound up green and paid $130 bucks to remove the leafy hue and to make the roots match the ends again right? Yeah so have I. Back in those days I didn't know that one can't use an artificial color to change another artificial color. This means that if some one has dyed her hair, even if it was two years ago and then tries to dye her hair another color, the hair will be two different colors, one color at the roots and one where ever the old color was. In the hair biz we call this "hot roots" and it is an expensive corrective color service I have done alot of and especially in past times of financial wariness. Ask for advice from your stylist, don't go it alone.

Products:

           Save money with regular hair trims and shape ups because once that great cut you got over the summer starts growing out, you'll start reaching for root lifter and hair spray and volumizing shampoos and eventually a rubber band to quell the flat frizzy doldrums. More money spent on hair styling products and residue bearing shampoos all add up to no cash to pay for a good hair cut which is all you really needed in the first place. A clarifying shampoo and a great hair cut is all a head of hair will ever need. The clarifier removes heavy residue from styling products and shampoos so hair is light and fluffy at the roots requiring less frequent shampoos, thus less cash spent buying more product. A good cut makes the most out of your texture and should require very little work to style. Say no to expensive styling products!!

Need a new stylist? Terrifying I know!

If your particular texture is tricky to begin with, look for other women with similar hair and ask around for a good stylist. Be a double agent and visit a few salons near by and shop their stylists. You wouldn't buy a bra before trying it on, why trust your hair without a little window shopping first? Here's how:

Stop into a salon and peruse the product shelves while secretly scanning the stylists for similar hair to yours. Watch for customers with hair like yours and see if the stylist does a good job. Get a manicure or ask for a conditioning treatment (usually under $30) just so you can watch the stylists, then make your move and schedule ahead of time for the stylist you think might be best with your hair. Warning; some salons think of clients (you) as their property. They may try and schedule you for a stylist that they need to fill time for, you asked for Anne, they suggest Jo. Insist on the one you wanted in the first place, if she isn't available on the day you asked for try to get her direct number. Usually, if you are flexible you should be able to see the stylist of your choosing, be wary of a salon that tries to herd you in this way, you are not livestock.

LenaWalkerSmith

What Ever Shape You Are, Read This Before You Try Anything On!

Fabrics, and Necklines for Lollipops, Apples and the occasional Hourglass. Curvy on top, busty, stacked, what ever you call it, this blog is for you. Get your needles whirling if you knit and if you don't hire a knitter! If you just don't do crafsty, read this any way to check out the info. on how to choose tops and sweaters because it will make sense whether you are choosing  hand-knit pieces or a polyester (yuck) turtleneck at Macy's. Read on...

I must now discuss chests, bosoms, and over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders. Hour glasses, Lollipops and Apples this is for you. Celery you will be discussed as well so read on for some good advice any way.

Yarn is really important! No seriously. I realize that allergies to wool and physical need of mohair can lead to very specific choices for the busty and non busty alike. Whether you knit, sew or shop my plea is that you also consider that the drape of the fabric you choose should be the first thought when planning a top to wear. Do you want to flatter your body or create a visual roller co aster? Some people like it hot, some might get queasy. It's so your thing but this week’s blog is about picking a yarn or fabric that will drape over your shape nicely and enhance your attributes and surely that can't be all bad.

The first case in point: a bra-less tank top looks good only on ladies with a very small bra cup size and chest width, who has no other curves,i.e. Celery. For those with breasts a good bra is the first step. Get fitted for one in your local department store because in my profession, nine times out of ten, no matter her age, a woman is wearing the wrong bra size when she comes into my office. A woman’s breasts can change size slightly just during the month so imagine how a few pounds over the years (up or down) can also affect a woman’s cup size?  Step one "get a good foundation bra". For ladies of the fruitier variety (curvier), when picking a pattern for a tank top go with a style with wide enough straps to hide your bra straps and to not slip off of your shoulders. Pretty bra straps you don't mind showing off ought to either match the top or need to be obviously styled to clash  so as not to give the impression that you were already late when you began to dress this morning. If you are gonna do the clash method, add jewery the same color or shoes or even tights to insist you did NOT hit snooze 7 times this morning!

Necklines are the very most important part of the design of any top whether it is a sleeveless tank or a winter sweater. Choose a wide open neck line for a curvy chest because styles such as a halter top that wraps up around the neck in the center of the chest would make the breasts below look too big compared to the head and shoulders, think pendulums. Not good. Instead go with a wide, open neckline. This looks great on a curvy chest because the breasts look balanced by the width of the neck and shoulders revealed above them. A little skin revealed is nice, it catches the light, just remember that cleavage is not necessary before 5pm so think outside the bra. And about the yarn…

Yarn? Well that depends, if you are shopping winter looks, do you want maximum sex appeal or comfort and machine washable fiber? Maximum sex appeal would be perfectly achieved by any yarn that is shiny or drapey and clings to your bosom such as silk, soy and bamboo blends (again this is more for the small chests with very little shape to drape). However for everyday wear or for a little modesty like hiding your bra lines go with a thicker or heavier weight fabric. If you knit you may like Soysilk's corn blend A-MAIZing, or a wool like Saphira that floats on the skin but isn't too heavy to layer and has a drape that hides bras and extra little bumps more evenly than the really fine gauge yarns.

My blog for Apple Shapes covers how to wear silks and bamboo blend yarns and fabrics on a curvier figure. In the mean time for lighter weight yarns and fabrics that you want to wear year round I suggest sewing in a liner or wearing a camisole or tee shirt underneath your knit-wear and you will smooth out most drape issues and add seasons to your wardrobe. For cold weather gals, avoid super bulky yarns in your sweaters, which will add real inches to your curves instead of smoothing over them and enhancing their shape.

Until Next Week…

Lena Walker Smith

Basic Shapes to Wear for Apple Shapes, Busty or Not!

Apples both well endowed and otherwise…

you know I love you so I have some great summer suggestions for fun clothes that are versatile enough to get several seasons of use, adding countless options to your closet! In the blog about fabric and how it drapes across you (What Ever Shape You Are...)  I suggested staying away from bamboo and silk blends for tops if you are busty or have tummy area issues, but this blog is about how to get enjoyment out of these fibers and fabrics and still feel comfortable. Bamboo and silk blends are so soft and feel so good in hot weather. Try an open weave, sleeveless look like those pictured in this blog over your usual summer tanks and you’ll feel the cool texture of these yarns and fabrics on your skin. I am suggesting shapes that will visually skim over any tummy troubles that most summer-wear points and giggles at. The model to the left is a petite Apple shape with a short torso and full bust.
          The triangular shape of the poncho pictured is popular decade after decade because the triangle shape is slimming. The eye follows the shape to its narrowing point and it creates the illusion of  lengthening the figure.

I suggest a pattern that is open and airy because this look that can go from casual to dressy depending on the fabric it is made of. If you are a knitter, make one for every season because this kind of  look doesn’t have to be heavy or bulky. Also this is a fun way to mix up color combinations, the open knit reveals the color underneath so be creative and try a brighter color underneath. Go punk rock and wear stripes under a hot pink one!

    For a larger bust on an Apple Shape (not that the girl in this picture is an apple or busty) the Blue Bayou vest is a beautiful way to elongate the apple shape and to divide and separate a well-endowed chest. The long open front creates a straight line in the midst of the Apple’s namesake area slimming it (tummy area). The open area over the breasts doesn’t visually bind them in. Instead the open shape comes to another triangle shape at the tie and divides the chest into three smaller shapes instead of one large bosom.

 

                                                                                                                                                              Another version of this look, which is great for a small bust on an Apple shape is this style of vest (SWTC's Twize Tweed Vest). The difference between the two is subtle, the tie is in a different place.On a large bust when the vest comes together above or across the breasts like this one, the vest becomes distorted or stretched out by the curves that hide underneath.  When worn by an Apple Shape with a small chest the shape is perfect and may even exaggerate the curves a bit, plus this style of vest keeps it’s intended shape and still slims the tummy area!

Fabric: In Bamboo blends, silk, or any delicate knits all of these tops will feel good season to season depending on what they are layered with. The fabulous texture of silk, soy silk and bamboo blends are so yummy 'for any knitter, but if you don't knit just look for these shapes when you are out shopping next. Be creative with your summer wardrobe; shapes like the upside down triangle. Keep your eyes peeled for open weave hand knit wear and know tricks like finding garments designed with lines straight up and down your middle! All tools toward an Apple shape's perfect wardrobe. Feed the craving for cool textures in hot weather and lengthen your shape at the same time!

Sew, Knit and Shop on girlfriends but leave out the bras and knickers, as lingerie is a subject I am eager to get to next....ever thought of making your own thong, or bra? Me either, but now I want to!
Until next week,

LenaWalkerSmith  ps The patterns seen on this blog are all available at Soysilk.com