the dressing room

Found a great article on The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/) by lifestyle editor Ysolt Usigan:  ”What to Wear to a Black Tie Wedding”.  We get this question all the time as the wording on invitations can be either really general “after 5 attire appropriate” or very creative, “fun and festive “?!!

So what’s a girl to do?  Here’s a couple of rules:

1.  Black Tie Wedding = Guests should wear formal attire.  Men in tuxedos and women in floor-length gowns.

2.  Can I go short?: Yes!  BUT ( and it’s what comes after the “but” that’s most important) IT MUST BE FANCY!!!  I cannot stress that enough.  Your little black dress just won’t cut it.  It has to have some BLING! “You can get away with wearing a short, yet very fancy dress,” she explains. “A short dress covered in beads, crystals or bling-y design could  fall into the black-tie area.”  Just be sure to avoid dresses that look like cocktail dresses or sundresses.

For the full post:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ysolt-usigan/what-to-wear-to-a-blackti_b_993391.html?ref=email_share

I hate taking pictures.  Hate it, hate it, hate it!!! I feel like no matter what I wear, how beautiful I feel, I always look like I’m a starting linebacker for the Oakland Raiders.  No neck, big arms, a double chin…and where did that extra 10lbs come from?!

So in an effort to solve my problem (and be a more gracious photo subject) I did a little research and came across this great article by Julyne Derrick About.com’s Style Guide, “Look 10lbs Thinner in Photos” that I thought I’d share with you.

Here are her 5 easy tips:

1. Turn partially sideways to the camera, planting one foot in front of the other. Point your toe to the camera and place your weight on your back foot.
2. Pull head forward slightly to minimize any appearance of a double chin.
3. Hold arms slightly away from your body. This keeps upper arm flab from flattening out and therefore appearing flabbier (much like thighs do when one sits on a couch).
4.  Pull shoulders back, chest forward and gently suck stomach in. Be careful not to suck stomach so far in that your ribs show, thereby causing those who later see the photo to cluck to themselves in a bemused, sing-song voice, “She’s sucking i-in.”
5.   If you can get away with it without looking like a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Girl wannabe, try the look away trick. To do this, look away from the camera, then turn towards it, breaking into a smile just before the camera clicks. Your smile will appear fresh, not frozen. This trick takes practice behind closed, locked doors.