Under Where?

When it comes to all our "underwear", another important "under" comes to thought- "Under-estimated".

Just because something is not conspicuous, does not mean it is to be passed over. After all, you would not wrap a dirty old sock in a pretty Christmas gift box, would you?

My grandmother taught my mother, who then taught me that a woman should always wear good underwear when going out, in case of a mishap, and God forbid a doctor were to see your holey granny drawers. The preoccupation of decent undies has even been expressed, despite however crudely, by Vybz Cartel in his song "No dutty panty" where he says:

"No dutty panty, No dutty panty

Mek da drawers deh, is not fi yuh auntie.

If yuh na Christian , Drawers nuh fi holey."

Spanx shapewear

Granny and Vybz may only have this one thing in common; that one must take pride in their undergarments- for whatever reason. Someone might have to unexpectedly see them... whether it be the surgeon who saves your life, or a gentleman caller. (In this case, one who loves him some cake soap) 

There are other reasons your undies are important. They are foundation garments. The cut, fit, fabric and quality affect how your clothes will fit over them. Something that skims the body and flows over your limbs as you move, will be best suited for a smooth undergarment like a full slip, or shapewear shorts- not a thong. A thong is pretty much useless and provides no support. It is best suited for very fitted pants like stretch denim jeans. In this case, the pants themselves hold you firmly, and the miniscule fabric of the thong covers the essentials from discomfort. The right underwear choice can help make you look slimmer or more shapely, but tucking or accentuating what needs to be.

Before and After Spanx
http://www.themagicknickershop.co.uk/before-after-pics
for more pics

In Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible, a whole chapter is devoted to underwear. To refer to even more dancehall lyrics about female undergarments, (I tend to do this... I quoted Buju Banton in my thesis! Got an A so it's cool) Busy Signal says that going "pantyless" provides "easy access". Classy. Tim Gunn would probably choke if he were to hear this. Tim addresses the "anti panty" sentiment, saying: 

"Wearing underwear is part of practising good hygiene, and that's part of why the pround underwearless recall to me the proud unwashed."

I'm going to have to agree with him. This "easy access" business is just nasty. I do not want to think that i'm sitting on a chair that was previously rubbed up on by some naked sweaty poonks. VOMIT!

It's not just about panties though. Your bra is also important. I recommend you get a bra fitting to ensure that you have a flattering fit (providing lift and comfort) that would help your clothing to drape properly on your body. A well-fitting bra can also make you look like you dropped a few pounds, and will eliminate any evident "back fat" or unsightly creases.

 It's pretty trendy to have exposed bras right now. Remember, once something is exposed, it becomes more than just underwear. Please make sure that it is something worthy of being seen! Also, be aware of that very fine line between tacky and tasteful.

Tacky

Tasteful

Other important "unders" are items like undershirts, or camisoles. Wear when necessary, like at work under a sheer blouse. I saw pics that a woman posted of herself on Facebook of her all "stylish" for work. She wore a chiffon blouse with her friggin leopard print bra showing through!!! Unless it is the beach, a fete or a motel- no one needs to see that. I am expecting that she was fired.

So next time you are getting dressed, consider your foundation garments just as important as any other accessory that you put on. Just like your jewellery or shoes, the choice you make with your underwear will affect your overall presentation.

So fresh and so clean!

I washed my own car the other day! Small accomplishment, I know, but I never do it myself. I always have it done for me, and mostly not often enough. The satisfaction it gave me to drive around in a beautifully gleaming car that I cleaned myself was unexpected. I wanted it to be seen! Normally I park and run far away from it before anyone can see! I'm always embarrassed about having passengers and I'm always apologizing for the condition of my grey-ing doors. It's a funny sight to see me dressed up to the stars, stepping out of a dust-covered vehicle with empty water bottles piled into the cup holders.

Photo courtesy stylemanila.com

Cleanliness is closer to godliness they say. I say, cleanliness is closer to fabulousness- being fab is pretty divine anyway. I've been going the extra mile to polish and clean everything that compliments my appearance. It really has had an impact on my confidence! The other day I put on my favourite go-to navy Nine west strappy slingbacks. Those shoes probably wince when they see me approach them because I'm telling you, they have been worn a lot! I observed some dirt stuck to the heel so went to clean it off. Then I decided to continue wiping the rest of the shoe (with my Aldo "Clean" leather/suede conditioner). They looked brand new. I swear I think I heard them thank me! It's not that they looked awful before, but A little elbow grease had them looking more expensive and more beautiful! The colour shone more and the texture was more apparent. That whole evening at the Bridal Shower I attended, I stared at them and hoped everyone else was staring too! Normally I treat them like another old pair of shoes- but this day I was acting like it was the first time I had ever worn them!

Look how happy she is with a little shampoo! lol

My point is, when we take care of our clothes, shoes, bags or even cars, it inspires an accomplished feeling that resonates with our overall self presentation. "Should I wash my hair today?" YES! "Only two toes are exposed in these shoes, should I nail polish?" YES!! "My friend is just coming over to collect something, do I really have to sweep?" YES!!! " Do I have to dry clean this dress every time I wear it?" uh..YES!! Always present yourself in a tidy and sparkling way. Trust me it makes a huge difference! You are going to want to be near to people because you are confident that you smell great. You won't mind them seeing your legs (or underarms- God knows this is a touchy topic) because you're always freshy waxed and spotless. You will have nothing to feel insecure about when everything is perfectly pampered.

Face Forward

Cosquel : Gaudy, overdone, garish. www.izatrini.com defines it as "Tacky- looking"
As a style observer, "cosquel" is one of my go-to words, as so many women in Trinidad love their head-to-toe matching bright colours. Rhinestones are a Trini girl's best friend.

However, today I'm not here to write about Chanel's magical words of advice : "When accessorizing, always  take off the last thing you put on" but instead the opposite- I'm talking about something that many women don't bother to put on at all- MAKEUP!

Sometimes we get distracted by all the print and bling that we ignore the other major style crime that is being created by neglecting the first thing people notice about us- our face! To those of you who have witnessed the magic of Spanx, think of it this way- makeup does for the face, what shapewear does for the body. It adds that extra oomph that completes your look. It is the foundation of a more polished presentation. It helps accentuate all the good stuff while downplaying the things that make you self conscious about your looks. I think it is a huge injustice to a fab outfit if you just go out barefaced and lipstick-less. It's like being barefooted in a suit.

So I can imagine u saying "I don't like the way makeup feels", "I have problem skin and makeup irritates it", "I like to look natural" bla bla bla. I'm not saying to walk around looking like Christina Aguilera. I'm just saying to apply enough foundation to even out your skin tone, and colour to highlight your natural assets.
I you're still not convinced about foundations, there are some sheer alternatives (tried and tested by yours truly) that work really well. Try tinted moisturisers or tinted BB Creams.

I got my Garnier BB Cream at SuperPharm, Trincity.
Pennywise has a wider variety of brands though.

I've been using this Garnier BB Cream (Beauty Balm) under my MAC Mineralize Skin Finish powder for a clean and fresh day look. It looks so natural yet definitely gives a better overall tone to my complexion. The BB cream also has a long list of skin enhancing benefits such as SPF and dark spot correction.

MAC Mineralize Skin finish can be bought
at any of the MAC branches in Trinidad. I got
mine at West Mall

I've gotten this tinted lip balm at SuperPharm before

If you don't like wearing makeup your daily routine can consist of BB Cream, powder, a peach blush (I like Peach Twist by MAC) mascara and tinted lip balm (try Burt's Bees) Wont take you more than 5 minutes, and you will no longer look like you're a hobo who stole someone's clothes on their way to work.

Tinted moisturisers have a bit more coverage than the BB Creams. You can get the same result by mixing in some foundation into your preferred moisturiser. It's best to use on with a good SPF protector. This is a great choice if you have dry skin, or spend the whole day in an air-conditioned office. My favourite tinted moisturiser is Hyrdra Life by Dior. With a sheer powder on top, it makes your skin look flawless.

Jennifer Lopez is a great celebrity to look at for makeup
inspiration. She always looks young, fresh and glowing.

So I'm hoping you try this out and all the compliments you get like "Did you do something new?" or "You look so refreshed today" have you excited to push this makeup experiment a little further. Trini women love them some black eyeliner. I'm guessing it comes from our heavy Indian influence. While black eyeliner looks beautiful, sometimes it can be a bit much for the daytime. If you have fairer skin, go with colours that are more bronze or copper. I love wearing plum or eggplant smudged liners during the day. Darker complexions look great with chocolate browns, navy and deep emerald. If you insist on the black, don't draw on the lower lashline, but just along the top to make lashes appear fuller. Curl lashes with an eyelash curler before applying one coat of mascara.

The last step to a basic face is to colour your lips. Anyone who knows me knows that I am borderline obsessed with red lipstick. Most of my lipsticks are red and I would wear the brightest shade to simply run a bank errand! Lipstick draws attention to your mouth and therefore to what you are saying. Avoid them looking chapped or uneven in colour. My favourite lipstick right now is Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle. It is the perfect nude and is so creamy and soft like a balm, but with perfect opaque coverage. My lips tend to get very dry, so this lipstick is a miracle for me.
                             

                                     

Remember, we are recognized most easily by our faces.Do you want when people cannot remember your name that they say "The really drab looking girl with the dark circles under her eyes" Nightmare! Taking 5 to 10 minutues out of your morning routine to spend on the face you put forward to the world, shows that you give a shit about yourself and the image you portray. You already have a great canvas, so do it some justice with a daily masterpiece.