Contour by Color

It's amazing how much emphasis we place on the shape of our bodies as women. Whether it's Hollywood, BodyWorks gym, or even our brothers and sisters, it seems that we are constantly on the old medieval stretching rack trying to be formed into some better person's shape just so that we can feel acceptable.

When I was younger, my mother always told me to enjoy being super thin...about size 0 thin! I hated not having curves and it always seemed that the clothes we purchased were made for someone else even if they were the correct size. Designers apparently are only acquainted with people with hourglass shapes!

Since having our sweet boy, I'm a bit fluffier and now may have a bit too much curve...unfortunately, it still isn't hourglass by any measure!

Funny story, one of our youth mentioned the other day that I dance and bounce around a bit more while I'm singing since I've had Ethan. I had to admit that I didn't bounce more...I just have more fluff to bounce when I'm trying to keep time with the music. I thought it was quite funny although it could have been disastrous if I weren't happy just being me!

So, how do you cope with not being contoured the way you want to be? There are many tools in the arsenal I call my closet but one of the most, shall we say, deceptive or effective is color! Color can create the illusion of a shape even when it isn't there or even when there's a bit too much of it.

That's why women who want to appear slimmer do not wear horizontal stripes as they make one look wider. Those with less than a sleek, svelt shape might shy away from even vertical stripes too. Imagine someone taking out a pencil and making squiggly lines on every imperfection you have! Yeah, that's how I feel about it too! No thanks!

However, color can make you appear smaller in certain areas and fuller in others. For instance, I still have a bit of a ballet dancer's figure despite the extra poundage. With small shoulders, narrow hips, and a waist that's not too small thanks to a recent pregnancy, I might look more like a box if I wore a solid colored top. The beauty of the black sweater I'm wearing today, however, is that the very open top and buttoned bottom give a triangular shape that gives that extra bit of curve. Pair that with the knee-length, A-line skirt that swishes when I walk, and you have a feminine, curvy-looking outfit that is modest while also appearing attractive.

Here are some tips for using color to define your shape:

• Dark colors make things seem smaller
• Tans or nudes blend with skin and give a seamless look
• Extremely tight clothing can highlight flaws as can stripes 
• Extremely loose clothing can make you look like a tent
• Take a moment to notice the shapes created by the layering of your clothes

Take a chance! Play with the placement of colors this week to play up your assets in a modest, tasteful way! Why not use your clothing as a tool to make you feel better about yourself and dress for success!

The War of Tulle and Roses

Soft and feminine are looks that are seldom seen in today's world. Ever since women adorned large jackets with enormous, football-worthy shoulder pads in an effort to garner equality with men in the workplace, we ladies have been venturing farther and farther from the very things that make us attractive to the men we love. From mismatched compilations of stained and faded rags to hyper-masculine jackets and boots, one wonders what there is to cuddle up to any more.

Woman, the creation, is a masterpiece. We are the second being of reason to be created after man and we were created as a compliment to him. We were not constructed to rival him but to shore up his imperfections with our unique gift of womanhood.

For instance, my husband is fantastic with our son, teaching him to test his limits. When he has a minor fall, my husband teaches him to brush it off and get back in the game. When he recently fractured his leg on a slide, my husband was the first to take him--with daddy, of course--down another one even with the cast on so that Ethan would not fear slides but rather overcome them. My son giggles every time now.

I'm the more sensitive, motherly type. My son falls and I'm instantly running to his rescue. The other day, my husband suggested I give him some space to cry it out but then we decided that my "mothering" was okay. Daddies are here to teach our kids to pick themselves back up; mothers are here to hold us when we're sick and hurting and need that extra embrace.

I'm soft. I'm a woman...and you know what? That's okay. God made me that way. I am His masterpiece, not only created in His image but also created in such a way that appeals to my husband. And that's not something I care to lose just to get ahead in a career.

Today's marketplace has really grown in that employers seldom consider your outfit or gender to be indicative of your abilities. A dress works just as well as a power pantsuit if you are a hard worker!

This week, try something feminine. This look is comprised of a soft tulle skirt with rosebud heels from our wedding. I paired them with a cream blouse adorned in pastel roses over a gold tank top with soft cream ruffles. Cinch in that waist with a gold belt to keep it all proportioned and we've got a bit of feminine charm going on this week!

Would I suggest this look for working in the garden or cooking dinner? I should say not! But for an evening out or joining your sweetheart at church, I think it's just perfect! What element of femininity have you included this week?