A few fit tips

• Clothing is meant to skim or slightly hug your body. It is not meant to act as a tent.

• Foundation garments such as undershirts, bras, underwear, shape wear etc. must fit close to the body without causing a "muffin top"� effect. Otherwise, the clothing you layer on top will look sloppy and will be uncomfortable.

• Stretchy clothes need to be slightly stretched when wearing them. They are not meant to act as a sausage casing.

• In lieu of trying to hide perceived figure flaws with ill-fitting clothing, spend time highlighting your best traits. It is far more effective.

Not your granny's girdle

There are a wide array of shape wear options which will make your figure look more smooth and sleek when wearing summer weight apparel.

Modern shape wear is a must-have for everyone, male, female, thin and not so thin. New technology in textiles has created breathable comfortable shape wear that makes an impact in all of the right places - when worn correctly.

The top three fit ailments for men

1. Shoulder seam-itis

Men purchase dress shirts to fit neck and sleeve length, often overlooking correct chest and shoulder measurements. The shirt must be properly fitted across the chest and shoulders so that the seams line up with your actual shoulders, rather than your biceps. Conversely, men who have large shoulders with small waistlines must have the mid-section altered to fit correctly. A poor fitting shirt looks cheap, even if it was expensive.

2. Fabric overabundis

Pants are meant to show that you have a butt. They are not meant to act as a tent. Men's pants should also show that they have legs. Otherwise, please just wear a well fitted skirt. You will not appear any sillier wearing a skirt than wearing pants that are droopy and tent like. So either wear skirts, or please have your pants fitted correctly.

3. Hemline shortis-a-dorkis

For the most flattering look, make sure that the hem of your pants, or cuff falls to or slightly past the joint where the heel of your shoe and the leather from your shoe meet. If you have a narrow or more pegged pant leg, please do the same with the realization that the pant hem will ride up as you walk. This is a more European look. If you are sporting the European flair, I recommend that your shoes be VERY nice or handmade and in excellent condition.

The top three fit ailments for women

1. Underarmus gigantus

When your clothing fits poorly in the region between your bust line and underarm, the entire look is compromised. For a longer and leaner appearance, make certain that the blouse, blazer or dress you are wearing fits close to the arm pit. This helps define the smallest areas at your rib cage and arms. Fabric should fit closely but not tight enough to cause pull marks across your arms or chest.

2. Sleeve-pushupitis

Your sleeves should come to the break of your wrist. If you push up your sleeves because they are too long, you still look sloppy. Simply have the sleeves altered to the correct length. You will instantly look taller and thinner. This is particularly important if you are under 5'7"�.

3. Hemline inappropriatus or frumpusdumpus -

Skirts and Pants

Skirts

Your skirt or dress hem should fall at the narrowest part of your knee. For each person, the place on the knee will vary depending on what is the most flattering for your body type. It will be either slightly above the knee (no more than three inches), at the knee in the mid-section or slightly below the knee.

Pants

For pants with a wide opening or slack style opening at the bottom, keep them as long as possible without dragging them on the ground. Make sure that your pants show your silhouette and always try to have the most attractive part of your leg highlighted.

A word about tailors

Ask for references from people who work in luxury apparel. Find someone that ONLY does fine tailoring, a true artist that understands proportion. You will not need to tell them what to do. They will simply fit you. They will not need to talk much. You will instantly see that they know what they are doing.

Alterations need not be drastic to make a large impact. Often it is only a matter of a fraction of an inch that will take you from dowdy to dazzling.

The post Summer fit appeared first on FamilyToday.

As I attend every fashion show known to man during the spring season, I am reminded of how easy it is to get lost in the excitement of the latest trends. Retailers woo you with the latest and greatest and show you why you MUST have certain items as the season is in full swing. If you wish to be a slave to fashion, by all means, get out your notepad; pull out every article in the fashion magazines which tell you the top five must haves and shop until you drop!

For those of us that keep very busy schedules managing home, work and family and who are doing our best to know what is happening in our own homes, let alone the fashion universe, be of good cheer. You do not need to know the hottest fashion trend of the season each year. It really doesn't matter. Can you believe I just said that out loud and in writing? Yes. I did.

Clarity, relevance and return on investment (ROI) are always in style

Here are some tips you can use while wading through the in's and out's of what is in and out.

• Create a mission statement for yourself. Know who you are and why you matter. This is always in style.

• Clear out that closet. If it does not fit, you must acquit. I will frame closet cleaning in some shape or form in almost every article I write. There is a reason for this.

• Organize your wardrobe by category and by color. (i.e. tank tops all together, short sleeves all together, pants all together) Sort each of these categories by color, light to dark.

• Now, look for holes in your wardrobe and areas where you have too much. You will see some interesting patterns. Do you really need that many pairs of black or khaki pants?

• Look for a balance of prints and solids.

• Create a budget. How much money can you spend on clothing this spring? If your budget is tight, then commit to only one thing that will add maximum value to what you already own. For example, choose a color for a bottom piece, either a pant or skirt that you do not already have which could be worn with at least five of your tops. By adding that one piece, you have at least five new outfits. If you have more bottoms than tops, add a top instead that will go with all of your bottoms.

• To add exponential value, make sure that the new item you choose can be worn in multiple venues, meaning that it could be worn in the place of jeans, in place of a dressy casual pant, and can also be worn very dressy. Now you have one pair of pants, skirt or top which can take you anywhere depending on what else you put with it.

• Create a pie chart which tells how much of your time you are spending in each category of your life. Work, home with family, attending functions and dates. Your wardrobe investment dollars should be allocated to proportionally represent the reality of your lifestyle needs. If you are clever, you will be able to overlap 80 to 90 percent of your clothes. This will help you be more efficient with your capital.

• A high ROI is always in style. Make your clothes work for you and offer you real returns. A wise and well placed investment will keep you and your wardrobe fresh and in style for several years.

• Be relevant to who you are and where you want to go. Clarity is also very much in style!

If you have the ability to hire a personal stylist who does not make their money by selling clothing and does not work for a retailer, it would be well advised. A little bit of money spent on a knowledgeable image consultant will pay for itself within the first session. Find someone that comes with references who are willing to share their experience with you.

Managing it all as a single parent is not easy. By taking the time out to be strategic and create a wardrobe that is a true reflection of yourself, your goals and your authentic lifestyle, you will always feel fresh and current.

The post Don’t let the spring trends give you the blues appeared first on FamilyToday.

"I hate going to church on Mother's Day!"�

The other mother nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean."�

I was confused by this comment. I thought that Mother's Day at church was the BEST day ever! The mothers all got chocolate and flowers. The children sang songs about how they loved their mothers. The talks were all about mothers. What could be better? As a young girl, I was unaware of the deep emotional and mental guilt games that mothers play with themselves.

If you are less than perfect, please enjoy your chocolate!

Maybe you are guilty of being less than perfect. Ten lashes with a wet noodle for you! When at church on Mother's Day, let's have all of the mothers who have been absolutely perfect please rise and remain standing. Those of us that were or are less than perfect can remain seated, eat our chocolate and smell the flowers. Those of us that are divorced will require a double dose of chocolate.

Many of you are single mothers and have had a dynamic life change and shift. Perhaps you have had the need to make changes in your employment. These transitional times are not always easy to navigate. Your schedule is more demanding. Keeping up personal appearance can be a bit of a struggle.

I have learned that the guilt complex of motherhood has a direct correlation with the decisions we make regarding our images. These imbalanced ideas usually create a distorted self-image which is then manifest in one's outward appearance.

You and your children deserve your best self

During these stressful times your feelings of motherly guilt may block you from believing that you deserve to look and feel your best. Allow me to pose this thought: if there were ever a time in your life that looking and feeling your best was most crucial, this would be that time. If you don't believe that youdeserve it, then please believe that your children deserve it.

Here are 10 things that you can do for yourself which will help your outward appearance, will save you time and will cost very little.

Get moving

Take a walk first thing in the morning to get the blood and mental juices flowing. If you cannot leave your home or apartment, do laps in the house or jump rope. Why not?? Keep your movement going for 10 to 20 minutes. If this gets boring, alternate laps with lunging, squatting, side stepping or jump rope. If this requires waking up earlier, do it. You deserve it, and so do your children.

Clean it out

Have the clothes that no longer fit you removed from your closet.

Make it fit

Have the clothes that are too big and worth saving altered to fit properly.

Moving on

The clothes that are more than one size too small need to GO. Clothes that are one size too small and that you LOVE need to be stored anywhere other than your closet.

Make some cash

Some of your clothes might be accepted at a consignment resale store. Wouldn't you rather have a little bit of cash instead of cobwebs?

At least 97 percent of you have clothes in your closet that do not fit. If you are in the 3 percent that do not have this problem, you will be standing at church with all of those other perfect mothers, while the rest of us who remained seated are eating chocolate.

Keeping clothing that does not fit properly in your closet is like inviting obnoxious people you don't like and who mock you into your house. Who wants to do that?

Hair

Get your hair done, not at the same place you send your children for haircuts. Go to a brilliant stylist who comes well recommended.

Makeup

love

Go to a high end makeup counter at least once a year. I recommend going to a Chanel counter as their makeup artists seem to understand age appropriate makeup techniques without fail. Purchase one great makeup item that you love, even if it seems costly. A little of the right makeup goes much further than a lot of the wrong makeup.

Bra

Get fitted by a trained bra specialist and buy a very good bra.

Mix it up

Mix and match in your closet and put together looks you have never tried before.

The power of one

Buy one new scarf, sweater or small accessory that makes you feel great and that can be worn with at least five other things already in your closet.

Make time to care for yourself. When you are well groomed, feel great and look great, you will be more equipped to handle increased emotional and physical demands of being a single mother.

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