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posted by Gretchen on
July 13, 2009
stylist tip: summer shape-up
Ladies, can we please get rid of lumpy and bumpy? Jiggle and wiggle? The junk moving around in the trunk? Please?!
Warm weather often reveals too much information when it comes to what little lies beneath summer clothing. At the airport the other day, I spied a woman wearing a thong under a knit dress – how could I possible know this? Let’s just say no one needed X-ray vision when this size eight walked by. It looked like two small bulldogs fighting under a blanket.
As a huge advocate of wearing pantyhose, even in the summer, I realize what I’m really supporting is the use of shapewear (pun intended.) It’s important to smooth out lumps and lose some of that wiggle, particularly in a professional setting. Just as cleavage can be distracting, so can the unintended Macarena many under-dressed women perform as they exit the client meeting or leave the restaurant.
If the mere suggestion of wearing hosiery puts you in orbit, forget the hose. But I beg of you, don’t overlook wearing some kind of foundation garment.
Shapewear is essential to proper fit and can make you look a size smaller in seconds. I’ve found that it also lends a level of confidence to women of all sizes, knowing that while baby’s got back, it’s all buckled in.
- For moderate compression hosiery, try Power Panties by Spanx (top-left) $30
- When more control is needed sans hose, try Wacoal’s Body Accent Long Leg Brief (bottom-left) $60
Gretchen, LOL at all the analogies and descriptions.
I normally love this blog and have been a reader since day 1 practically,.
However, I’m actually offended by this post, to the point where I may stop reading. specifically this line:
” I spied a woman wearing a thong under a knit dress – how could I possible know this? Let’s just say no one needed X-ray vision when this size eight walked by.”
This blog, as far as I’ve noticed thus far, has been about dressing all shapes and sizes to look their best, and not judging them for their size. However, this comment about a women who at an 8 is too fat for a thong, which is how you made it sound, is not in the spirit of uplifting all women to look and feel their best.
That comment was way out of line. I’m a size 2/4 and I felt awful reading that! I can’t imagine what all those women who are a size 8 or larger felt when their read your snide remark. If I wanted to hear snide and catty remarks about a women’s size or weight I would listen to Janice Dickinson. I come here to get fashion tips and ideas, not to hear more girl on girl body bashing. Think before your criticize someone’s size. Their VPL sure, go ahead, but even Tori Spelling can have a VPL, size is not the issue.
Hi Hollyn –
You are right, we are about dressing ALL shapes and sizes and we want you to look great. I can understand how one can be offended and I can assure you that the comment was made as an example that size is no issue when it comes to VPL.
Believe me, a size 8 to us is tiny (i’m a 10!) As Editor, I should have noticed that our attempts at humor can fall flat with the written word. Thank you so much for commenting and I hope you keep reading!
Hi Hollyn,
Perhaps I should have stuck with my original title, “Do Fries Go With That Shake?”
My intention was to focus on what I see everywhere – women of all sizes who would look better, not to mention their clothing would fit more nicely – with a foundation garment of some kind under light-weight, summer clothing. This could be the control top to pantyhose, a brief panty with more substance (as opposed to a thong), or something like a Spanx Power Pantie.
The reference to a size 8 was simply to illustrate that even this small woman would have done herself a favor by wearing more under her knit dress. For the record, I am a size 12.
Gretchen is right on the money – size 2 or 12 or 22, it doesn’t matter. We all jiggle if we don’t wear the proper undergarments. I LOVED the “macarena” line – nothing is more unprofessional than to walk through the office or leave a meeting with the babies wrestling under a blanket. That cool grand you spent on that sheik black power suit with the appropriately snug skirt goes right in the trash can – because those wrestling babies draw everyone’s eyes right to your unsupported rear. Again, it doesn’t matter if you’re a 2 or a 22 – unless you’re an ultramarathoner, you jiggle. Save it for the beach or the club. During the day, don that Spanx.
Long-legged briefs are also great under skirts while traveling or at outside events. I’m always more comfortable (and therefore confident!) knowing I’m properly contained. Thanks!
Gretchen — Thanks for the explanation. I think the main issue is that we live in a society where many celebs torture themselves to stay under a size 2 and where clothing lines start at size 00. The “perfect” size 6 or size 8 of yesteryear is now supposedly a size 0 or 2. Today it is unclear what is meant when someone references a size 8 because, while a size 8 is not at all overweight and is well under the average size in the US, we are constantly fed messages that tell us we should be much smaller. I completely agree that even smaller women can show too much jiggle or even cottage cheesy cellulite through summer weight clothes. In the pre-Spanx era (PSE?), I used to wear tight work-out shorts (’80s aerobics style) under stuff so that no one could see the dimples on my then size 4 butt (not even close now!) and so that my butt would stay on the same beat as my walk
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Hi Gretchen,
I have to say I was a bit taken aback by the tone of the posting as well. I guess I like to believe that if someone wants to let their jiggle wiggle, who am I to be offended? Maybe that is beside the point given that as a reader of your blog, I obviously do care about my personal jiggle.
I like Spanx. They have provided a cheaper alternative to buying new suits when my size whatever fluctuates in the upper regions. My real dilemma is how in the world am I supposed to wear them in the midst of a DC summer riding our lovely Metro system and walking 12 blocks without falling out from a heat stroke? I’ve tried it and it was a truly miserable experience.
So my question is if anyone has produced a Spanx-like garment that actually breathes, or is this even possible? Until then, I will be wearing lots of black and backing my way out of meetings.
Hollyn,
I have to say, I didn’t at all interpret Gretchen’s remarks that way….it seemed to me that she was merely trying to say, as the other readers have commented, that everyone can benefit from shapewear…and if not, at least be aware of any potential undergarment issues. In fact, I think that her mentioning a “size 8″ made those of us who are larger feel better that everyone can have a bad undergarment day.
Given your comment about reading this column and it’s focus on not caring about body type and size, I was surprised to see you posted your size…..
You can imagine that simply reading that made many of us larger women feel badly…..
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for hanging in there with me! Spanx are great, but you’re right – in hot and humid weather, they can be a bit uncomfortable. Perhaps bringing them with you and putting them on once you get to work is the answer. Give it a try and let us know how you make out.
Gretchen
Hi Karen,
We’re on the same page – and I love that you made your own Spanx way back when (PSE)!
Gretchen