Lifestyle

My Curves & Me: Lingerie with Practicality and Panache

April 25, 2012 · 2 comments

While truly great style is largely a result of the attitude inside, it also has to do with what’s underneath. Having lingerie of the proper size and fit to your shape can utterly transform the way you wear your clothes; because of this I think lingerie becomes a vital part of every woman’s wardrobe. The attention to this type of detail, though, can so easily be forgotten amongst the horde of styles, colors, prints, fabrics and shapes available. Studies have shown that as much as 80% of women aren’t wearing the right bra size, which is fathomable simply considering the vast choices we have and the misdirection of perspective on the actual purpose of our lingerie. It’s easy for women to be led by marketing that focuses on the sexual appeal of lingerie, but what about the genuine necessity of its role in our overall style palette? Appropriately-fitting lingerie can help your shape and your posture, making you look as good outside as it makes you feel on the inside. Of course, one of the many things we all learned from Bridget Jones is that life’s too short to wear unattractive lingerie, so striking that balance becomes fundamental in choosing the right undergarments.

The fully-underwired cami top and the Evie strapless bra by Panache.

After a long time spent in search of the right lingerie I finally found bras that worked well for me, only to discover now, a few years later, that they’ve been discontinued. So now I find myself back on the pursuit to find just the right pieces, which is why I’m excited for the launch of My Curves & Me, a new online boutique selling Panache lingerie. Expected to go live next month, My Curves & Me will not only host an online shop, but also a blog covering everything from relevant tips to the latest lingerie fads. The site will also include a members club (which you can sign up for before the launch) which will give shoppers access to discount codes, product previews and more. The best part – Panache prides itself on not only bringing women fashionable designs that look great, but they also strive for excellent support, fit and comfort. The best of both worlds!

Will you be giving the site a try? As a woman typically too modest or insecure to properly pursue the meticulous search for properly-fitting lingerie I’m especially excited for this outlet!

This article was sponsored by My Curves & Me. Content and opinions expressed in the article have not been affected by the compensation received.

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DIY Décor: Displaying a Personal Collection

April 19, 2012 · 8 comments

in Classics, Home Décor, Lifestyle

I hope you’ll all indulge me in sharing a bit of personal décor. Usually when I do posts like these I hope they’ll manage in some way to inspire new and creative ideas for other people, and while maybe this will, too…well, frankly, I just love this little corner of my space and thought it needed to have a moment on this little space.

Glossy 8x10s of (some of) my favorite classic Hollywood faces. I think I was about fifteen when I first began collecting them. What I love best about my collection is that each picture is a memory: I found Frank and Audrey in New York City, Jimmy Stuart and Grace Kelly in San Francisco. Ingrid Bergman came all the way from England (Ebay – I’m so silly, I still have the stamp). The ones I’ve bought from different cities act as postcards to myself, like pieces of the scrapbook of my life. Add in some simple drugstore-bought black frames and all the pieces come together. I decided to keep just the portrait pictures together, Brown Derby-style, and I’ve yet to decide what to do with my few scene pictures (Fred Astaire dancing on the ceiling and a few others). But even without being finished, I’m glad I have the space for these – I think they’re an integral part of the history of me, and being able to bring that into my décor makes for a sense of truly personal style.

Do you have a favorite collection you keep displayed? I’d love to know about it!

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10 Ways to Live Glamorously

April 12, 2012 · 6 comments

in Lifestyle

I doubt that words could truly describe how touched I was (and still am) by the comments on my last post (Lookbook: Learning to Be). I can’t say enough thank-yous to everyone who contributed to the conversation; I’m ever amazed by the way my thoughts can evoke a reaction from people that they find potent enough to put to text. Needless to say, blogging has been quite the adventure! Now, I don’t want to sound too proud for pointing this out, but a theme within the comments of that post and previously from folks who read this blog has been the idea that I have a particularly glamorous look. I’ll tell you right away that I’m always baffled by that concept because I never do feel like I evoke any noticeable glamour at all (as I’m sure everyone has gathered by now). We all really do see something different of ourselves. That’s something I’ve learned through being a fashion blogger.

Glamour is elusive. It’s very often in the eye of the beholder. That, I think, is the allure of some blogs, this idea of a person living a perfectly decadent life full of perfume and flowers and pretty shoes. And while that would be a lovely life, a life I do strive to make for myself in some ways, I also try to take a very real approach to a casually elegant lifestyle here. That’s what made me set to thinking about what sort of glamour I evoke, the glamour I try to incorporate into my life, and why it’s appealing. And for me, I think it’s appealing because it’s self-expression – and sometimes even self-realization. That’s always been an important thing to me. When I feel the most glamorous is when I’m feeling the most capable, the most confident, or the most in-tune with my own mind. So in that respect, I decided to make up this ten-point list for anyone – including myself – who ever finds themselves feeling in a particularly un-glamorous slump.

EXPRESS YOURSELF
Being who you are and seeing it reflected to yourself is glamorous.

BE CURIOUS
Learning new things can make you feel like life is glamorous.

INDULGE IN THE UNEXPECTED
Veering away from routine – a cocktail at breakfast, time spent in a garden – is glamorous.

TAKE CHANCES
Stepping into uncharted waters reminds you that, in their way, every little thing is glamorous.

KNOW YOUR OWN MIND
Being self-assured and creatively personal is glamorous.

GET INSPIRED
Finding glamour in the style of an icon and making it your own is glamorous.

FOCUS ON YOUR PASSIONS
Living a truly fulfilling life makes you feel like every moment is glamorous.

MAKE TIME FOR THE LITTLE THINGS
A dash of perfume, a piece of chocolate; a simple pleasure is glamorous.

IGNORE LIMITATIONS
Allowing yourself to be free and your dreams to be endless is glamorous.

DRESS TO IMPRESS YOURSELF
Surprising yourself is glamorous.

So here’s a challenge: look to yourself, to your life and style (beyond the exterior – look to your mind), and define your own idea of glamour based purely on the traits you find (and the list above, if desired). I bet you’ll start to feel a little more empowered, as I did when I was motivated to realize that glamour doesn’t adhere to a universal standard.

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