Fashion and Body

[vaznetti]

Some time between beginning this exercise program and the present I lost a roll of fat from the top of my butt. You'd think that this is a good thing, but that roll of fat was actually keeping my low-waisted jeans up without a belt. Now they slide down my hips in a very unflattering way, and I need to buy a belt. At the same time, my thighs are as massive as ever, so it's not that my jeans have become loose or anything.

I think I am losing weight, though; yesterday I bought a pink and lacy (but not too pink and lacy) skirt on sale; they only had it in a small, which in that shop is usually too small for me, but I tried it and it fit just right.


Today I'm wearing a dress I bought at Marks and Spencer's during the week I was in the UK. It's a blue print kimono-style dress, but in jersey. It is, I think, very flattering -- so flattering that I'm half tempted to instruct my husband to dash over to M&S and see if they still have it in the black-and-white print as well. Except that he'd be hopelessly confused and would probably bring me the wrong dress or something. Anyway, the dress only has one problem -- the top has a sort of faux-wrap to it, which gapes a bit and shows off a bit more breast than I like when I'm teaching. The first day I wore it, I was wearing a sort of push-up bra as well, and I had to wear my cardigan buttoned all the way up; today I've pinned it shut with a round pearl-and-gold thing which must have been my grandmothers. It keeps me from flashing my tits at anyone, but does rather draw attention to the region, rather than away from it.

I never did post about my love for M&S last summer, did I? Although this trip I didn't find any sweaters that I liked, I did come away with four bras in addition to this dress. (When I read posts about the trouble some people have finding good bras, I feel a moment of pity for those who are denied the pleasure of the Marks and Spencer's lingerie department. I do all my underwear shopping in the UK.) I like one of them so much I regret not buying it in many other colors -- but if I continue to lose odd patches of fat here and there (in other words, not on my thighs or belly) I may well go down a cup size, so it was probably better to hold off. And of course, I can't possibly send the BH up to buy a bra for me. He'd consider that grounds for divorce. If only M&S would stop displaying so many long, unhemmed, peasant-style skirts and blouses. Isn't it time for that look to be over already?

Comments

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

Harper's Bazaar tells me the peasant look *is* over, and cited Sienna Miller's short haircut as proof. I hope they're right. I'm not a peasanty person.

I have the same problem with wrap dresses, and also resort to grandmother's pin collection to make sure the cleavage isn't too deep. I wish clothing manufacturers would realize that women's bustline differs dramatically, just like waist and hips and shoulders do. Finding a dress that fits well is very difficult.

[vaznetti]

I like the idea of peasant clothes, but they make me look dumpy and unkempt. (I also like Harper's Bazaar, but for some reason keep expecting them to go out of business.)

I love wrap dresses -- so comfortable! so flattering! -- but they either need to be very well-made or be kept pinned shut. I seem to have left a number of my smaller, plainer pins (also grandma's naturally) in a jewellery box in Oxford. (And I sometimes wonder whether whoever is designing clothes for M&S at the moment thinks that I want to show off my cleavage more than I really do, since I have the same problem with a brown dress I bought from them in the summer.)

[veejane.livejournal.com]

My answer to gappy wraps is the hidden snap, sewn right up near the edge of the fabric.

If you can sew at all (it's a job done by hand), that is.

I occasionally see wrap tops with the snap pre-sewn for you, but usually I end up creating my own modesty-wear.

[vaznetti]

Hm. That's a thought. I don't have snaps on hand right now, but I used to keep them in for those rippons you use to keep you bra-strap from slipping out of a sundress.

I can sew a hem and sew on buttons and snaps by hand, but that's my limit.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Yay! Go you! :) You'll be able to arm wrestle me into submission when you see me with your new massive triceps :)

P.S. Do you think we can chat today? I wanted to run something by you! :)

[vaznetti]

Am signed in now!

Also, I don't think so. I can barely do the reps my trainer has set me. Oh, the pain.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

You are the best. Thank you so much.

I forgot to tell you about the dodgy trainer! He shamefacedly admitted that they're not letting them sell the package he sold to me due to not having the products! He wants to give me more free training this weekend. Hooray! :)

[vonniek.livejournal.com]

Have you tried wearing a camisole under the top of the wrap dress? I usually do this with any top with a plunging neckline, and it works quite well.

[vaznetti]

I did consider that -- that or a full slip. But the jersey is kind of clingy, so none of my camisoles would work without bunching, and I decided to go for the pin.

[ms-pie.livejournal.com]

I just saw this in a catalogue... A lot of money but it looks like it could be quite useful as a camisole replacement. (I hate it when they bunch!)

http://blissworld.com/shop/detail/CAS-10.SM/359/

[vaznetti]

Hm. That looks interesting, although I always worry that a setup like that won't give me quite the support up top that I need.

I actually have a couple pairs of silk tanks -- the long-underwear kind -- which I find are very serviceable camisoles, and are long enough to tuck in and all that. But they're too light-colored to wear with this dress. (Clearly, another couple silk tanks are the answer to my dilemma.)

[muridae-x.livejournal.com]

If only M&S would stop displaying so many long, unhemmed, peasant-style skirts and blouses. Isn't it time for that look to be over already?

Alas, that is the biggest flaw with Marks and Spencers. They never realise a trend is over until it's been gone for a couple of years or more. But if you're after timeless classics or underwear, they're the place to go.

I don't think I've ever bought underwear anywhere else.

As for the revealing dresses, the problem is caused by the fact that the designer dummies and the original models who wear them are all totally flat chested, and on them the flaps don't pull wide. The rest of us mere mortals either have to wear something underneath, put in a stitch, or do the snap fastener thing.

[vaznetti]

I don't think I've ever bought underwear anywhere else.

And really, why would you? I had to buy bras at Victoria's Secret once -- oh, the trauma!

They've had worse phases, at least in my memory. I vaguely remember years when there was nothing wearable at all -- but for simple things like sweaters and underwear and basic work-type clothing, they're wonderful. It's just their attempts to be cutting-edge that end up looking five seasons old. And for seven-foot tall girls with stick-figures, which isn't me, and isn't most of the Englishwomen I know, either.

[muridae-x.livejournal.com]

It's certainly not me. :-)

They are quite useful for their acknowledgement that we're not all the same height though, in the form of skirts and trousers that come in different lengths. I am happy not to have to turn to and rehem everything I purchase the moment I get it home.

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

*longs for a M&S*
I hate buying lingerie. I love lingerie, but buying it is a pain in the butt. I was super skinny most of my adult life, until I hit that middle aged hormonal challenge. Gained 25 pounds, and for the first time in 30 years needed a bra. I hate buying underpants: I am not a big person,(5'3", 135 lbs.) but I'm forced to buy extra large, because the model for them seems to be a 6 year old girl without hips.
I think I own one dress, which I have worn once. I wear a uniform to work, and otherwise live in jeans and teeshirts. I hate trying to buy clothes that fit and flatter: the fashion world doesn't seem to care about women who are short, with hips and boobs. Bah.
Congratulations on your continued fitness programme. I'm working up my stamina on my new lateral thigh strider...I did 200 steps the other day before my quads seized up.

[vaznetti]

I like dressing up, personally, but I agree that it can be hard to find clothes which are cut for real women -- you know, with breasts and other squishy bits. I don't understand the urge to cut womens clothes as if they're to be worn by boys.

Wow, at your workout. That sounds like a lot of steps.

[fourteenlines.livejournal.com]

Hm.

I see my friend K. and I will be taking a trip to Marks & Spencers when in the UK this summer.

[vaznetti]

At least to the lingerie department. Really. Some of the stuff may seem expensive, but in my experience everything is well-made.

[cassandre.livejournal.com]

Whee, new body! Go you! I can't believe you're already achieving noticeable results (results other than pain, of course). That's impressive.

Just wanted to say I'd be more than happy to pick up the other M & S dress for you if you think I'd have better luck identifying it than the BH would!

Also, I am entirely and completely with you on the underwear thing. Buying all my bras and knickers at M & S is apparently the only thing Maggie Thatcher and I agree on.

[vaznetti]

The results are minor -- I'm still my podgy self. But I have to say that I'm half-tempted to take you up on the M&S offer -- I'll try to persuade BH first, but I can almost see the confusion on his face when I say "kimono sleeves."

If we actually move away from the UK, I will have to schedule special underwear-buying trips back, because I'm such an addict.

[cassandre.livejournal.com]

C'mon, let me get the dress for you! You know how good M & S are about returns/exchanges too, if you change your mind...

[vaznetti]

OK, OK! Upstairs in the M&S in central Oxford they have a section devoted to something called the "limited collection" The dress is a black-and white print with a high waistband and kimono/bell sleeves and a sort of faux-wrap top. I wear a size 12 in it, and I think it costs 40 pounds.

I'm just not sure how to get you the money for it -- I don't think I have my UK chequebook here in Canada. I'll look for it, but otherwise I can set something up with Adrian.

You are an absolute wonder for doing this for me. (Don't worry if they don't have it anymore, though)